Older adult day pass

The Older Adult Day Pass pilot program offers one free day pass per week on GRT services for adults turning 65 this year and older, using the GRT Pay app.

The day pass can be used any day of the week for unlimited rides on GRT buses, ION trains, MobilityPLUS vehicles and Kiwanis Transit.

A new day pass will be issued each Wednesday and can be used for unlimited rides one day between Wednesday and the following Tuesday. Day passes can be found in your GRT Pay Ticket Wallet.

The pilot runs from July 1, 2026 until Jan. 5, 2027.

Take these steps to ride for free:

  • Download the GRT Pay app on your smartphone
  • Verify your age
  • Activate your day pass before you board

Download GRT Pay app 

  1. Download GRT Pay from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store on your mobile device.
  2. Create an account.
  3. The email address you use must also be the same one you use when verifying your age. The email address links your account to your verification.

Read GRT Pay app terms and conditions as well as the privacy statement.

Verify your age

You must be turning 65 this year or older to participate. A one-time age verification is required to confirm your year of birth, either online or at a GRT customer service location You will need valid photo identification with your name and birthdate on it. 

Allow up to five business days for processing after completion of either online or in-person verification. You will receive an email confirming the process has been completed. 

Your first free day pass will appear in your app Ticket Wallet the Wednesday following receipt of your age verification confirmation email. 

Accepted forms of identification:

  • Driver’s license
  • Passport
  • Health card (only accepted for in-person verification)
  • Ontario Photo Card
  • Senior membership cards
  • Permanent resident card
  • Secure Certificate of Indian Status card
  • Canadian Armed Forces ID card

If you are registered with MobilityPLUS, you only need to provide your MobilityPLUS ID number to verify your age. 

Online verification:

In-person verification:

  • Visit any of our GRT customer service locations. 
  • Present your photo ID and provide your email address. 

Personal information is being collected through this form for age verification for the Older Adults Free Day Pass pilot program. This information will be used to administer the program.

Personal information is collected under the authority of section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001 and in accordance with the Region of Waterloo’s transit services mandate. The information will be used for the purpose of program administration, including age verification and program evaluation.

Supporting documentation provided as part of this application will be securely deleted within 10 business days of submission. Your birth year will be retained for reporting and program purposes.
Questions about the collection, use, or disclosure of this information may be directed to Renee Fonte (Assistant Manager, Customer Experience) at grtinfo@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-585-7597 extension 7347.

Use your day pass

The day pass can be used any day of the week for unlimited rides on GRT buses, ION trains, MobilityPLUS vehicles and Kiwanis Transit.

A new day pass will be issued each Wednesday and can be used for unlimited rides one day between Wednesday and the following Tuesday.

Day passes can be found in your GRT Pay Ticket Wallet.

Unused day passes cannot be carried over to another week.

Day passes are not transferrable and can only be used by the age verified person. 

Day passes issued on December 30 are valid until Jan. 5, 2027.

Activating your day pass:

Activate your ticket just prior to boarding the bus, ION light rail, a MobilityPLUS vehicle or Kiwanis Transit.

Once activated, your pass cannot be deactivated. Day passes activated in error will not be refunded.

  • Open GRT Pay.
  • Go to your Ticket Wallet and tap on your day pass. 
  • Tap the blue 'Activate Ticket' button. Confirm that you want to activate your pass. Once it's been activated, your pass cannot be deactivated. 
  • When boarding a bus, show your activated pass to the bus operator for visual validation. 
    • When transferring from one bus to another, you’ll need to show your pass again when you board the second bus. To display the activated ticket, open GRT Pay, go to your Ticket Wallet where the activated day pass is located and tap it.
    • Reminder, do not reach around the barrier with your mobile device.
  • When travelling on ION light rail, board with your activated pass. You may be asked to show your activated pass to a fare inspector during your trip. They will scan your pass.
  • When boarding a MobilityPLUS vehicle, show your activated pass to the bus operator for visual validation.
  • To see when your pass expires, tap on the 'Details' button in the bottom corner. Under 'Valid Until', you’ll see the how much time is remaining on your pass.

Attend outreach events

GRT staff will be at the following community events and locations.
All events are free to attend, however some may require registration. Check each individual event for further details. 

Older adult outreach events
Date Time Location City/Township
Wed. June 17 9 - 11 a.m. Waterloo Memorial Recreation Centre Waterloo
Thurs. June 18 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Region of Waterloo, St. Jacobs Library Elmira
Mon. June 22 10 - 11:30 a.m. Rockway Community Centre Kitchener
Tues. June 23 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hespeler Village Community Centre Cambridge
Wed. June 24 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ride-a-bus Kitchener
Fri. June 26 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Cambridge Public Library, Old Post Office Cambridge
Mon. June 29 12 - 2 p.m. Ainslie Terminal Station Cambridge
Thurs. July 2 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. GRT Customer Service Centre, 105 King St. E. Kitchener
Mon. July 6 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Waterloo Public Library, Main Branch Waterloo
Tues. July 7 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Kitchener Public Library, Central Branch Kitchener
Thurs. July 9 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Preston Heights Community Centre Cambridge
Fri. July 10 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Kitchener Public Library, Forest Heights Branch Kitchener
Mon. July 13 1 - 3 p.m. Waterloo Public Library, McCormick Branch Waterloo
Tues. July 14 12 - 2 p.m. Region of Waterloo Library, New Hamburg Branch Wilmot
Thurs. July 16 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Region of Waterloo, Breslau Branch Woolwich
Mon. July 20 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Galt Community Centre Cambridge
Tues. July 21 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Kitchener Public Library, Stanley Park Branch Kitchener
Thurs. July 23 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Waterloo Community Pavilion Waterloo
Tues. July 28 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Cambridge Public Library, Queen's Square Branch Cambridge
Tues. July 30 12 - 2 p.m. GRT Customer Service Centre, 105 King. St. E. Kitchener
Fri. July 31 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ainslie Street Terminal Cambridge

Give us feedback

As a pilot program, your feedback will help us shape future programming. Fill out our GRT customer feedback form or call GRT customer service at 519-585-7555.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. However, the email address provided for the app and age verification must not only be the same, it must also be one that can be accessed by the customer on their phone.

Supporting documentation provided as part of this application will be securely deleted within 10 business days of submission. Questions about the collection, use, or disclosure of this information may be directed to Renee Fonte (Assistant Manager, Customer Experience) at grtinfor@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-585-7597 extension 7347.

No. Each person must have their own mobile device and GRT Pay account when travelling.

The older adult free day pass was motioned as part of the Final 2026 Plan, 2026 Operating Budget and 2026-2035 Capital Program.

Get to know public transit

GRT offers tips and tools on how to use transit and help you get around Waterloo Region.

Did you know?

In addition to the Older Adult Day Pass program, you may also be eligible for other transit cost-saving programs: