Surrey, B.C. – Student Raman Kaur is the 5,000th Compass Card recipient at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
KPU, the Kwantlen Student Association and TransLink celebrated the milestone last week by presenting Kaur, a Surrey resident in her fourth year of KPU’s human resources management program, with loads of sustainability- and transit-themed prizes.
“It's fantastic to see Compass Card rolling out successfully and we've been impressed with the effectiveness of TransLink's rollout,” said Alex McGowan, the KSA’s vice-president of external affairs. “We look forward to further investments in public transit to improve students' lives."
A limited number of KPU students began test-driving the new Compass Card in January as part of the first wave of a phased introduction of the Compass Card. In April, the rollout expanded to spring/summer semester students at KPU, Emily Carr University of Art + Design and Douglas College. By September, TransLink anticipates that 130,000 students at 10 participating post-secondary schools in the region will be using the Compass Card.
The Compass Card has all the benefits of the U-Pass BC program, and more. Eligible KPU students can pick up a Compass Card at any campus bookstore; there is no deposit fee for initial release cards. Students can then use any device to link their Compass Card and load it with their U-Pass BC pass at upassbc.translink.ca, allowing 24 hours for the pass to upload. After 24 hours, students can start riding transit.
“Students will keep their Compass Cards and never have to stand in line at the bookstore again waiting for a paper pass,” said Jennifer MacArthur, KPU’s manager of student services. “All they have to do is load their monthly U-Pass BC pass online after the 16th of each month.”
Students can also sign up to receive notifications reminding them to reload their Compass Cards.
“Compass is simple to use, but launching the unique U-Pass BC program was a complex project-within-a-project that involved many partners,” said Colleen Brennan, vice-president communications and customer engagement at TransLink. “We appreciate the teamwork we received from KPU and all participating post-secondary institutions and we're pleased to be completing our Compass rollout to all U-Pass BC students over the next month.”
For more information, visit http://www.kpu.ca/upass, translink.ca/compasscard or contact multipass@kusa.ca
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 124 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
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Caption: Raman Kaur is the 5,000th recipient of the Compass Card at KPU. The university, the Kwantlen Student Association and TransLink celebrated the milestone by awarding Kaur some sustainability-themed prizes.
Media contact:
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c: 604.364.1288
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca
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