St. Mary Hosts YOUthfest in Support of Transit Literacy
In partnership with Metrolinx, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School recently hosted the first-ever YOUthfest, welcoming approximately 250 Grade 10 students into the school gym for an engaging and interactive event focused on transit literacy.
The fair-style experience, which emphasized the importance of sustainable mobility, also highlighted the wide range of career pathways connected to public transportation.
Throughout the day, students rotated through three hands-on workshops and explored eleven transit-themed booths including teams from Metrolinx, the Hamilton Street Railway, and City of Hamilton partners.
“YOUthfest was an outstanding example of authentic learning in action,” said Principal Sofia Palermo.
From learning how transit systems operate, to discovering emerging career opportunities, to understanding how sustainable transit shapes thriving communities, YOUthfest offered students a meaningful look at how transportation connects them to future possibilities.
A highlight of the day included a presentation where trained working dogs showed off their smarts in detecting and alerting their handler on any suspicious substances that could potentially disrupt passengers on public transit.
“Our students gained real-world knowledge directly from experts on topics such as transit safety and careers within the transportation sector. This experience not only connected seamlessly to our Careers Studies curriculum but it also connected to the learning and experience we offer in our Pathways programs such as Specialist High Skills Major and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.”
“Transportation is transformational,” remarked David Jang, Chief Communications & Community Engagement Officer, Metrolinx.
“YOUthfest brought important conversations about transit literacy, safety and careers to life in a meaningful way through interactive booths with many Hamilton community partners.”
“By giving young people access to key information, we help open doors to an incredible range of career opportunities and transit options available both today with Hamilton Street Railway and those coming in the future through projects like the Hamilton Light Rail Transit.”
YOUthfest not only linked students to local transit systems but also opened a window into the wider world of transportation innovation. The event showed how essential transit is to community growth, environmental responsibility, and preparing the workforce of tomorrow, leaving students with a clearer sense of the possibilities moving them forward.
“It was energizing to see community partners and educators working side by side to create authentic learning experiences for our Grade 10 students,” said Assistant Superintendent of Education Adrienne Coletto, reflecting on the event.
“The success of YOUthfest reflects not only strong partnerships, but also the exceptional work of our curriculum-based team, who consistently support innovative opportunities that help students see the relevance of their learning beyond the classroom and the amazing support and collaboration of the staff at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, whose commitment helped bring this experience to life for our students.”
