All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems
British Columbia Communities (P)

Pemberton, British Columbia

Pemberton Valley Transit System (circa 2010 - present)
Circa 2010 PVTS acquired a distinct identity from Whistler. Operated under an agreement between the municipality, BC Transit and contractors. As of 2014 commuter service between Pemberton and Whistler operated by Whistler Transit Ltd. while local service in Pemberton (connecting Xit'olacw and Mount Currie) was operated by Pemberton Taxi (RideGuide 2014). Municipal responsibility for PVTS was transferred from Squamish-Lillooet Regional District to Village of Pemberton circa 01 January 2015.

Penticton, British Columbia

Columbia Coachways Ltd. (23 January 1948 - ?)
Local bus service in Penticton. Still operating in 1952. (BC PUC reports 1949-1953).

Penticton Bus Line Limited (circa July 1967 - ?)
One-bus privately owned transit system. Applied for and was granted municipal subsidy January 1968 (Vancouver Sun Jan. 17, 1968, p. 67). (Canadian Coach 1967).

City of Penticton (? - 03 January 1977)
One bus operation (Transit Canada 1977).

Penticton Transit System (03 January 1977 - 30 June 2017)
(Transit Canada 1976, BC Transit 1988). Operation conducted for BC Transit by contractor. Contractor at start-up was Berry & Smith Trucking Ltd. (John Day 2003). By 1990 contract operator was Penticton Transit Service Ltd. (BC Transit 1989/90, 1997, 2008, website 2010, Street Side Guide 2015). (BC Transit 1996, 2000, photo: 2011 Travis Koch-Gensiorek). Policy permitting transfers between PTS and Naramata (Okanagan-Similkameen), and between PTS and Summerland implemented 19 May 2014. From 19 Jan 2015 transfer policy extends to Okanagan Falls (Okanagan-Similkameen).

South Okanagan - Similkameen Transit (01 July 2017 - present)
Amalgamation/coordination of transit services in Penticton, Okanagan-Similkameen, Summerland, Osoyoos, and Princeton. Service area includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden, Keremeos, Okanagan Falls, Gallagher Lake, Hedley, Oliver, Princeton, Coalmont, and Osoyoos. Penticton, Naramata and Okanagan Falls buses are operated by Penticton Transit Service Ltd. Summerland buses are operated by Penticton & District Community Resources Society. Osoyoos buses are operated by the South Okanagan Transit Society. Princeton buses are operated by Princeton & District Community Services Society. From 01 July 2018 Summerland and Osoyoos operations contracted to Penticton Transit Service Ltd., leaving only Princeton to a second operator. PTS Ltd. is a subsidiary of Berry & Smith Trucking Ltd.

Naramata - Okanagan Falls System

William M. Munro (? - circa 1946)
Operator of scheduled passenger service between Penticton and Naramata (BC PUC 1946).

Robert K. Munro (circa 1946 - circa 1950)
Operator of scheduled passenger service between Penticton and Naramata (BC PUC 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950).

H.D. McCarthy (circa 1950 - ?)
Operator of scheduled passenger service between Penticton and Naramata (BC PUC 1951, 1952, 1953). Still operating as of 01 March 1952.

Okanagan - Similkameen Paratransit System (01 November 1979 - 200x?)
Naramata paratransit service conducted by Ward Warriner under a contract with BC Transit and the municipal government(s) (BC Transit 1989/90: 1 bus). Contractor circa 1997 was Penticton Transit Service Ltd. (BC Transit 1997). (BC Transit web page 2000, 2001).

Okanagan - Similkameen Transit System (200x? - 30 June 2017)
Naramata - Penticton service operated under contract by Penticton Transit Service Ltd. (BC Transit website 2008, website 2010). Policy permitting transfers between OSTS and Penticton implemented 19 May 2014. From 19 January 2015 service also connected Okanagan Falls, Skaha Estates and Heritage Hills with Penticton. Grouped with other area transit systems as South Okanagan - Similkameen Transit in 2017 (see above).

Princeton System

Princeton Paratransit System (01 April 1982 - 200x?)
Paratransit service conducted by Princeton & District Community Services Society under a contract with BC Transit and the municipal government(s) (BC Transit 1989/90: 1 bus). BC Transit web page 2000 implies [Princeton & Area Paratransit System].

Princeton & Area Transit System (200x? - circa 201x?)
Operated under contract by Princeton & District Community Services (BC Transit website 2008, website 2010).

Princeton Regional Transit System (circa 201x? - 30 June 2017)
Operated under contract by Princeton & District Community Services. Service provided to Penticton via Hedley, Keremeos, Cawston, and Olalla three days per week. All trips require booking in advance. Limited on-demand service is also offered to Coalmont. (online Rider's Guide 2015). Grouped with other area transit systems as South Okanagan - Similkameen Transit in 2017 (see above).

Summerland System

Summerland Paratransit System (01 April 1982 - 200x?)
Paratransit service conducted by Summerland Transit Society under a contract with BC Transit and the municipal government(s) (BC Transit 1989/90: 1 bus). (BC Transit web page 2000)

Summerland Transit System (200x? - 30 June 2017)
Operated under contract by Summerland Transit Society (BC Transit website 2008). As of 2010 the contract operator was Penticton & District Community Resources Society (website 2010). Enhanced service between Summerland and Penticton implemented 28 October 2013. Policy permitting transfers between STS and Penticton implemented 19 May 2014. Grouped with other area transit systems as South Okanagan - Similkameen Transit in 2017 (see above).

Osoyoos System

Osoyoos Paratransit System (01 May 1996 - 200x?)
Paratransit service conducted by a contractor for BC Transit and the municipal government(s) Initial contract operator was Osoyoos Seniors Centre Association, ending June 2000 (BC Transit 1997, LD 2001). Operation (from June 2000?) by the Town of Osoyoos (LD 2001). BC Transit 1996 reported the start-up of a conventional transit service for Osoyoos and nearby Oliver but such as service is not included in the list provided by BC Transit 1997 (which does list a paratransit system in Osoyoos). (BC Transit 2000).

Osoyoos Transit System (200x? - circa 2010?)
Operated under contract by South Okanagan Transit Society (BC Transit website 2008, website 2010). Serving Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, and South Okanagan (BC Transit 2008). Some time around 2010 system became know as SOTS.

South Okanagan Transit System (circa 2010? - 30 June 2017)
Operated under contract by South Okanagan Transit Society (BC Transit website 2014). Serving Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, and South Okanagan, with low-frequency services to Kelowna (1/week) and Penticton (3/week). Grouped with other area transit systems as South Okanagan - Similkameen Transit in 2017 (see above).

Port Alberni, British Columbia

Alice Ingham (? - circa 1948)
Operator of scheduled passenger service between Port Alberni and Alberni from before 28 February 1943 (BC PUC 1944, 1946, 1947, 1948).

Alberni Valley Transit Co., Ltd. (circa 1948 - ?)
Operator of scheduled passenger service between Port Alberni and Alberni (BC PUC 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953). Service between Port Alberni, Smith's Landing, and Sproat Lake added circa 1950 (BC PUC 1951). Was still operating as of 01 March 1952 (BC PUC 1953).

Tyee Bus Company (September 1952 - 30 April 1971)
(Canadian Coach 1965, 1967, 1969). (Photo: Peter Cox)

Port Alberni Transit System (01 May 1971 - circa 1995)
Operated by TBCo until they were acquired by WBL circa February 1972 (Canadian Coach 1972). From 1975 operation conducted for BC Transit by a contractor. Contractor was Western Bus Lines (Port Alberni) Ltd. (Dawes et al. 1972, Canadian Coach 1973, Transit News Canada 1983, BC Transit 1988, 1989/90).

Port Alberni/Clayoquot Transit System (circa 1995 - present)
Name change in 1996 reference, which may indicate an increased service area (BC Transit 1996). BC Transit 1997 still lists PATS and contract operating company WBL. BC Transit web page 2000 also implies PATS and lists a separate HandiDART service for “Alberni - Clayoquot”. Operated under contract by Western Bus Lines Ltd. serving Alberni-Clayoquot and Port Alberni (BC Transit website 2008). (website 2010). Operated under contract by Diversified Transportation Ltd. (Street Side Guide 2015).

References

• “Transit in Port Alberni, B.C.,” Canadian Coach, September 1968, Vol. IV, No. 9, p. 5.

Powell River, British Columbia

Principal System

Powell River Stages, Ltd. (? - ?)
Local bus service in Powell River from some time before 01 March 1945 to some time after 01 March 1952 (BC PUC 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953).

Powell River Bus Lines Ltd. (1958 - 01 September 1968)
Private enterprise eventually receiving municipal subsidy. Controlling interest purchased by the municipality in August 1968. (Powell River Peak 27 December 2018).

Powell River Transit System (01 September 1968 - circa 1998)
(Dawes et al. 1972 lists Corporation of the District of Powell River, Canadian Coach 1973 lists Powell River Municipal Transit). From 1975 operation conducted by District of Powell River (or Powell River Municipal Transportation) (the municipality) under a contract with BC Transit (pb89, BC Transit 1989/90, BCT 1977, pb98). The 1998 telephone directory shows PRTS in the advertisement, but Powell River Regional Transit System in the listing. (Transit News Canada 1984, BC Transit 1988, 1996, 2000).

Powell River Regional Transit System (circa 1998 - present)
Service in Powell River and Texada Island. Operated under contract by Powell River Municipal Transportation (the municipality) with rural operation by Powell River Taxi 2001 Service extended to Tla'amin Nation 2002. (BC Transit 2008, website 2010).

Secondary System

The Wildwood Bus, Ltd. (circa 1944 - ?)
Operating licence transferred from M.J. Van Es to the incorporated company circa 1944 (BC PUC 1945). Operator of scheduled passenger service between Powell River and Wildwood [Powell River] (8km) to some time after 01 March 1952 (BC PUC 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953).

Prince George, British Columbia

Albert Goglin (? - circa 1946)
Operator of scheduled passenger service between Prince George and the neighbouring Government Airport and Army Camp (BC PUC 1944, 1946).

Canadian Trailways Stages (circa 1946 - circa 1952)
Owner Harold W. Smith. Purchased a local bus service at Prince George circa 1946. CTS also operated intercity routes in the area. Company incorporated as NSL circa 1952. (Smith).

Northern Stage Lines Limited (circa 1952 - 1964)
Transit operation in Prince George prior to Coachways (John Day 2003). Company acquired by Coachways 1964. (Smith).

Canadian Coachways System (1964 - ?)
City service. Company also operated intercity service in Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and Alaska. (Canadian Coach 1966, John Day 1966, Smith, photo: William A. Luke).

Prince George Transit Limited (1970s?)
(Canadian Coach 1971, Dawes et al. 1972, CUTA 1976-77). (Transit Canada 1976 cites Prince George Transit & Charter Ltd.) PGT Ltd. was also the contract operator of the PGTS 1988 (pb89). (Photo: Peter Cox)

Prince George Transit System (08 November 1978 - present)
(BC Transit 1988). Operation conducted by Diversified Transportation Ltd. under a contract with BC Transit (CUTA Transit Topics 1989). BC Transit 1989/90 list contractor Prince George Transit Limited, as does BC Transit 1997. The 1997 telephone directory implies the contract operator is Pacific Western Transportation (same telephone number). Contracting municipality: City of Prince George (pb97). (BC Transit 1996, 2000). Operated under contract by Prince George Transit Limited (BC Transit website 2008, website 2010, Street Side Guide 2015). (Photo: Peter Cox)

References

• Smith, Dick, “Northern Stages Ltd.,” explorenorth.com, a world wide web page at the URL: http://www.explorenorth.com/library/bus/northern_stage-history.html 2018. Reprinted from The Coachways Thunderbird, Volume 2, Number 4 (October/November 1967).

Prince Rupert, British Columbia

Principal System

Arrow Bus Lines (? - circa 1948)
Unincorporated operation owned by Leonard C. Griffiths. In 1945 was operating Prince Rupert to Seal Cove (BC PUC 1946). In 1946 added second route between Prince Rupert and Port Edwards (BC PUC 1947). Dropped route to Port Edwards October 1948.

Arrow Bus Lines Ltd. (circa 1948 - ?)
City service in Prince Rupert. Added route between Prince Rupert and Port Edward circa 1951 when KIS was purchased (BC PUC 1951). Operating within Prince Rupert, and to nearby Watson Island in 1952 (RS).

T.M.C. Transportation Ltd. (? - July 1977)
Seven times daily service (Transit Canada 1977). (Dawes et al. 1972 lists T.M.C. Transportation City Bus Lines).

Prince Rupert Transit System (15 August 1977 - 200x?)
(Transit Canada 1976) Operation conducted by Coastal Bus Lines Ltd. under a contract with BC Transit (pb89, BC Transit 1989/90, BC Transit 1997, pb97). Contracting municipality: City of Prince Rupert (pb97). Jointly listed with Port Edward on BC Transit website 2008. (BC Transit 1996, 2000).

Prince Rupert and Port Edward Transit Systems (200x? - present)
Jointly listed on BC Transit website 2008. Operated under contract by Coastal Bus Lines Ltd. (BC Transit website 2008, website 2010). Operated under contract by FirstCanada ULC (Street Side Guide 2015). From 01 April 2018 contract operator was Pacific Western Transit Canada.

Secondary Systems

Watson Island Stages Ltd. (circa 1948 - circa 1950)
Initially operated chartered employee buses between Prince Rupert and Watson Island near Port Edward. Applied for permission to additionally carry the public refused in 1949 but accepted in 1950, in competition with KIS. WIS withdrew its Watson Island service in 1950. (BC PUC 1950, 1951). The company appears in later BC PUC lists providing long distance bus service from Prince Rupert. Competed on the Watson Island route with ABL (RS).

Friendship House Association of Prince Rupert (mid January 2018 - present)
Twice weekly bus service connecting Prince Rupert with Terrace launched as part of BC Transit's “Highway 16” transit initiative.

Port Edward System

Arthur W. Murray (circa 1947 - circa 1948)
Service between Prince Rupert and Port Edwards in competition with ABL (BC PUC 1948).

Kaien Island Stages, Limited (circa 1948 - circa 1951)
Owned by Arthur W. Murray (BC PUC 1949). Bus service between Prince Rupert and Port Edwards. (BC PUC 1949, 1950). Company acquired circa 1951 by ABL (BC PUC 1952).

Port Edward Paratransit System (08 September 1992 - 200x?)
Paratransit service conducted by Coastal Bus Lines Ltd. (see Prince Rupert) under a contract with BC Transit and the municipal government(s) (BC Transit 1997). By 2008 this system is co-listed with Prince Rupert on the BC Transit website. (BC Transit 2000).