Free transit for veterans on Remembrance Day 2026

Updated Oct. 26, 2026

Veterans and serving Canadian Armed Forces members have ridden free on public transit on Remembrance Day in several Canadian cities in recent years, including Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Halifax, Winnipeg and Ontario’s GO Transit network. Remembrance Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, and as of Oct. 26 none of these agencies had posted its 2026 offer, so the details below are from their most recent published notices.

Agencies usually announce the offer in the week before Nov. 11, often only days ahead. Check your transit agency’s website or social accounts before you travel.

Free transit for veterans: city by city

Metro Vancouver

TransLink said in its Nov. 5, 2025, notice that eligible riders travelled free on all services, including HandyDART, and did not need to tap a Compass Card. SkyTrain and SeaBus stations kept an accessible fare gate open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus ran a Sunday and holiday schedule, and the West Coast Express did not run. Other riders paid a one-zone holiday fare for travel across all zones. At 11 a.m., TransLink invited riders to observe a moment of silence, and buses pulled over at the nearest safe stop.

Victoria and BC Ferries

BC Transit’s free service in 2025 covered all scheduled routes and handyDART in the Victoria region, with buses on a regular Sunday schedule. BC Ferries gave free passenger fares to veterans and active military members with official Canadian military ID, or anyone travelling in uniform. The offer did not apply on the Inside Passage, Haida Gwaii or Central Coast Connector routes. BC Ferries also let B.C. seniors travel free on Remembrance Day with a BC Services Card, B.C. driver’s licence, BC Identification Card or birth certificate, according to the company’s Nov. 4, 2025, release.

Calgary

The City of Calgary said in 2025 that Calgary Transit would run buses, CTrains and On Demand on a Saturday level of service, and that veterans and accompanying family members would ride free in uniform or with Veteran ID. The city also said on-street ParkPlus zones were free for everyone on Nov. 11, and that veterans with veteran licence plates parked free in city surface lots and parkades. Indoor pools, fitness centres and arenas were closed, apart from the free swims and skates the city listed.

Winnipeg

The City of Winnipeg’s most recent notice that we found was a Nov. 1, 2018, news release. It said veterans and current serving members, including cadets and reservists, could ride free with one companion by wearing a uniform or showing military identification or a CF1 card, and that Mayor Brian Bowman said the service was becoming permanent after a pilot the year before. Buses ran on a Sunday schedule, and operators pulled over at 11 a.m. for a minute of silence. Confirm the current offer with Winnipeg Transit.

Halifax

Halifax Regional Municipality’s page says free transit is offered to veterans, military personnel and accompanying family members on buses and harbour ferries, including registered Access-A-Bus users, if they are in uniform or show military identification. The page is not dated, and Halifax Transit runs its holiday service on Nov. 11.

Toronto and GO Transit

Ontario’s Remembrance Day page says veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members ride GO Transit free year-round, and on Remembrance Day they can bring one companion free. The Toronto Transit Commission has announced free rides for veterans in past years, including in a 2020 notice describing an annual tradition, but its 2026 holiday service page did not list Remembrance Day as of Oct. 26. Check the TTC’s service advisories closer to the date.

Other cities

We did not find a current official notice for Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal or other cities. Where an agency has not posted an offer, ask a driver or customer service before boarding rather than assuming a fare waiver applies.

Two minutes of silence

The two minutes of silence is observed at 11 a.m. local time on Nov. 11. Ontario’s government asks people to pause for two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. and says drivers should pull over if it is safe. Several transit agencies, including TransLink and BC Ferries, have paused service at that time.

Holiday rules by province

Holiday status and store closings vary by province. Our guides cover who gets Nov. 11 off in each province, where it is a paid holiday and how to wear a poppy. For the next holiday on the calendar, see Christmas and Boxing Day stat holidays by province.

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Sources: TransLink, Nov. 5, 2025; BC Ferries, Nov. 4, 2025; City of Calgary, 2025; City of Winnipeg, 2018; Halifax Regional Municipality; Government of Ontario; Toronto Transit Commission.