Transportation information now available on BusPlanner!
As of July 24, 2023, student transportation information for the 2023-24 school year will be available to view online through the BusPlanner Parent Portal!
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Families eligible for transportation will receive an email to access the Parent Portal to view their child’s bus information once it is available.
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Once you receive the email, you must follow the instructions to activate your Parent Portal account and create a password (previous BusPlanner Parent Portal login information will not work).
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If you can't find the email, please contact 902-431-4723 or transportation@hrce.ca for assistance.
Over the summer, our Transportation Team will also reach out to new HRCE families and those families who may require special needs transportation for their children with more information about busing.
Unassigned seating applications now open!
As of July 26, 2023, families can submit a request for an unassigned bus seat for the 2023-24 school year. Click here to apply.
Am I eligible for transportation?
Students must reside within their designated catchment of the school they are attending and meet the minimum distance criteria to be eligible for transportation.
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Click School Catchment to determine what school your child(ren) would attend based on your primary residence.
Busing is provided to:
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Pre-Primary children and students in elementary (PP to Grade 6) who live more than 1.6 km from their school.
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Students in junior high and secondary (Grades 7 to 12) who live more than 2.4 km from their school.
What do you need to know about school registration and busing?
Bus eligibility and routing are based on a student’s transportation address information in PowerSchool.
Once your child is registered in PowerSchool, BusPlanner Parent Portal is the best way to access and review transportation information at hrcetransportation.mybusplanner.ca when routing is finalized.
BusPlanner Text Messaging
To ensure compliance with Canadian Anti-Spam laws, you must opt-in to receive information by text message. Click here for more information.
How/when can I view my child's busing information for the 2023-24 school year?
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Families eligible for busing will receive an email to access their Parent Portal account to review busing information. If you haven't received your email by the end of July, please contact us for assistance.
Do you want to change your address or caregiver information?
During the summer from July 1 to August 25, 2023, families can change their primary/residential address information online by filling out the HRCE Active Student Change of Address Form found on our Student Registration page. As of August 28, 2023, families can continue to change their address online, or contact their child’s school.
If you have an update to your alternate address (e.g. daycare or after-school program), you may contact the Student Transportation Team directly year-round by calling 902-431-4723 or emailing
transportation@hrce.ca .
Please note that changes to address information on file may affect bus routing and eligibility.
Not eligible for student transportation?
If a student attends school as an out-of-catchment area student, they are not eligible for transportation and parents/guardians must make arrangements to transport their children to school. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us.
Transportation Review Committee for Policy Review
As part of the provincial School Transportation Policy, families can request a review of any non-behaviour related transportation decision. Click here to learn more.
Purple Tag Program
To help our youngest riders arrive to/from school safely, the HRCE implements the Purple Tag Program in September. This program helps school staff and bus drivers identify children in Grades Pre-Primary-2 to ensure they are not left alone at a stop and receive the assistance they may need. Families will receive a purple tag from their child’s school this month. Click here for more information.
Student Transit Pass Pilot Program
Last fall the Student Transit Pass Pilot Program was extended and expanded. For more information, click here.
Letters to Families
Other References
Contact Us
We are here to support you with your questions or concerns about school bus routes, stops and schedules throughout the year.
If you have questions about student transportation, please contact 902-431-4723 or transportation@hrce.ca.
You can also submit a question or concern using our convenient online inquiry form. Click here to get started.
Families can submit a request for an unassigned bus seat for the 2023-24 school year by clicking here.