Room: Mississauga
Sponsor(s)
 
Session Description
The need for public transportation in rural communities has grown substantially, and communities across Ontario are finding new and innovative ways to adapt to these needs in rural, low demand areas. In a panel representing small, rural municipalities in different stages of their public transit programs, we will discuss:
– Lessons learned in the design and implementation of rural transit services.
– The effectiveness of different demand-responsive and on-demand transit models, and ways to adapt and improve services.
– Key challenges and issues to be mindful of when deploying public transit in a small, rural community.
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s)
Hillary works for the Municipality of North Grenville (just south of Ottawa), where she has held a number of roles involving economic development and corporate strategy. Currently she is the Director of Corporate Services, overseeing a broad portfolio including strategic planning, climate action, and the launch of the community’s first public transit system among other exciting initiatives.
Angela Lochtie, a seasoned Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), boasts over 25 years of expertise providing strategic advice across a broad spectrum of sectors. Her diverse experience encompasses areas including sales and distribution for Atlantic snow crab fisheries, aircraft maintenance, commercial printing, news and media, food manufacturing, the federal government, and a rural municipality. Currently serving as the Director, Corporate Services for the City of Pembroke, she spearheads innovative projects like the rollout of “Ottawa River Transit” a new on-demand service launching summer 2025. Angela’s adeptness in managing under pressure has been influenced by her personal journey raising two “Gen Z” sons in beautiful White Lake, Ontario (FRFR no cap)
With a strong background in public relations and marketing, Blaire has played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Ride Norfolk transit system in Norfolk County over the past six years as the regionÂ’s Transportation Coordinator.
Under Blaire’s leadership, Ride Norfolk transitioned from a fixed-route system to an On-Demand model in 2023, in partnership with Blaise Transit, significantly enhancing accessibility and efficiency for rural riders. Despite various challenges, Blaire successfully rebranded the program and increased public awareness. Her strategic direction has driven a 28% increase in ridership in 2024, with an overall 108% growth since the switch to the On-Demand model. As the service continues to evolve, Blaire is committed to shaping its 10-year master plan by actively engaging with riders to ensure the system meets the diverse needs of NorfolkÂ’s communities and supports the regionÂ’s economic development goals.
Blaire is a passionate advocate for rural transportation and the unique operational challenges these systems face. Her dedication was recognized with an Excellence Award at the 2024 CUTA Awards.
As Head of Business Development, Sophie oversees the leadership of Blaise TransitÂ’s growth, channel partnerships and manages their sales team. Prior to joining Blaise in early 2023, Sophie was Business Development Lead for Transit, North America’s most popular transit trip planning app. She also worked in transit planning for the Quebec Ministry of Transportation, in project management with the CDPQ, and in R&D for Transport Canada. Sophie currently sits on the Board of the Ontario Public Transit Association and the Canadian Urban Transit Association, and she holds a Master of Urban Planning degree from McGill University.
Matt Lattavo is a senior transportation consultant and transit planner with 10-years of experience dedicated to transformative improvements to public transit services across North America. In addition to leading a rural transit feasibility study for North Grenville, Matt and his team at LTRT have had the pleasure of supporting Norfolk County, the City of Pembroke and over a dozen small and rural community transit services across Ontario over the past several years. His recent work has focused on helping smaller urban and rural communities identify new and innovative transportation alternatives. Matt is Professional Engineer in Ontario and an Innovation Lead with LTRT.
Moderator(s)
Matthew Lattavo – Left Turn Right Turn
Sophie LeBlanc – Blaise Transit