STO - International Day of Older Persons

The Programme d’aide à l’apprentissage au transport en commun (assistance program to learn to use public transit) has been set up to encourage and make it easier for independent seniors and retirees to use public transit so that they can maintain their ties to their environment. This initiative has been introduced in response to the growing needs of the ageing population in the Outaouais.

The program is designed for seniors and retirees, as well as their entourage, so that they can be accompanied in the learning process. It is intended specifically for families that have dependent seniors and for third parties that work daily with elderly people to ensure they remain independent and active.

A kit with several tools has been developed for the program to help people become more familiar with public transit.

The kit includes:

Pamphlet explaining how to use the bus (in French only)

How to get to the bus stop
How to recognize the correct bus
How to board
How to pay
How to get off the bus

The first step is easy!

Trip planning sheet (in French only)

Rider ID card (in French only)

The full kit is included in the support program offered by the CSSS Gatineau and the PAVRE that provide personalized approaches for their clientele through third parties. The Académie des retraités de l’Outaouais (ARO) will also be offering group sessions starting in the winter of 2010. The details of this training will be available in its winter program.

Next group sessions offered by l'ARO :
(in French only)

Date : Mondays, March 15 and April 12, 2010
Time : 9:30 am (length of session 3 hours)
Where: Cabane en bois rond, 331 Cité-des-Jeunes blvd. (Hull Sector)
Cost: FREE

You must register with Martin Picard at 819 776-5052

Various promotions are offered during training sessions, including two special bus tickets to try out the bus system for free, a coupon for Second Cup and more!

The kit for the STO's assistance program to learn to use public transit has been made possible by:

For more information about the program, call the STO's Information service at 819 770-3242.