T’is the season — transit is the season, get it? ? — for holiday cheer and we’ve jam packed December with a bus load of fun, festive activities for the whole family.

Santa Claus Parade

The 15th annual Vancouver Santa Claus Parade returns on Sunday, December 2. The parade starts at West Georgia and Broughton (at noon), travels east along West Georgia, turns south on Howe and finishes at Howe and Davie.

We’re thrilled this year the Reindeer Bus will once again be a part of the parade and for the first time — the Reindeer Shuttle! Make sure you say ‘hello’ to us and share your pictures with the hashtags #MyTransLink and #ReindeerBus.

To get everyone to and from the parade, we’ll be adding extra service on SkyTrain. The Expo and Millennium Lines will operate increased service between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Canada Line will operate peak service from Bridgeport to Waterfront Station.

Different bus routes in downtown Vancouver will be re-routed to accommodate the parade. Check alerts.translink.ca for all the details and use our Trip Planner to plan your trip.

 

West Coast Express Santa Train

The West Coast Express Santa Train is back again, benefiting the toy bureaus of the communities it serves.

On Saturday, December 8 and 15, please bring your entire family and invite all your friends to ride the Santa Train, and help make Christmas brighter for kids in your community!

Bring along a new, unwrapped toy donation (should be similar in value to a WCE ticket) and we’ll give you a free ticket to ride the West Coast Express. The toy will go back to the station’s local Christmas Bureau. It’s a great way to give back to families in your community this holiday season, and will get your friends and family a round-trip ticket.

The Santa Train departs Mission City at 10 a.m. and stops at all West Coast Express stations along the way. Once in Vancouver, enjoy a day of holiday sights and sounds before returning home from Waterfront Station at 4 p.m.

We know yule definitely express your happiness on social media with #MyTransLink! Click here to learn more about the Santa Train.

Toys for Tots

Since its creation in 1985 by a group of bus operators from BC Transit (Coast Mountain Bus Company’s predecessor), transit staff in Metro Vancouver have been donating newly unwrapped toys or money to kids in need through the Toys for Tots program.

TransLink and its subsidiaries have been collecting toys from its employees since the week of November 13. Customers can join in on the Toys for Tots program too! Bring your unwrapped toy to TransLink’s Pop-up shop on December 13, 14 and 15 (details below).

The Reindeer Bus and Reindeer Shuttle picks up the entire supply of donations on December 19 and 20, and delivers it to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau on December 20.

TransLink’s Pop-up Shop

We’re launching 12 new items in the TransLink Store on Monday, December 3 — just in time for the holiday shopping season!

Not an online shopper? We have a pop-up shop happening at Waterfront Station, December 13–15. It’s open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

On December 14 only, Transit Police’s Cst. Julian Ponsioen will be hosting an open house at the Neighbourhood Policing Office at Waterfront Station. It will be open 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

12 Days of Giveaways

We’re launching 12 Days of Giveaways on the blog giving readers a chance to win some awesome prizes! Twelve days, 12 unique giveaways!

While we won’t be sending you French Hens, Golden Rings or a Partridge in a Pear Tree, we’ll be gifting some drool worthy prizes like our all new Compass Wristbands, TransLink merch, and a host of other gold medal winning gear.

Check translink.ca/12days for a new giveaway everyday until December 12!

Author: Santa’s Elves