Click here to return to the main page
Event date: Saturday, March 21 2026
First posted: Friday, March 27 2026
Last updated: Tuesday, April 14 2026 - revised linking to North event
This story continues from the Newmarket/North event
On Saturday, March 21 2026, York Region Transit hosted an open house event at its Richmond Hill Operations and Maintenance Facility, sometimes referred to as "BRT division" and/or “Southeast division” by transit enthusiasts. This event was free of charge, but registration was mandatory and spots filled up quickly.
No shuttle between the garage and a bus terminal/stop was operated, but on-site parking was available. Like the Newmarket/North open house, the exterior bus wash was demonstrated, this time as part of the guided facility tour on board a bus. For those who want to know, a VIVA branded New Flyer XD60 (2601) was the tour bus.
A variety of vehicles were on display: VIVA branded Van Hool A330 and Nova Bus LFS Articulated buses, Conventional branded New Flyer XE40, New Flyer XD60, and ElDorado National EZ-Rider II BRT buses, a Special Constable Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUV, and accessible RAM Promaster and Chevrolet Express chassis buses.
Like the Newmarket/North open house, the driver's area of most buses were open and changing of external destination signs were allowed.
A smaller number of tables were set up as information booths for VIVA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects, other transit services/initiatives, and for various swag/freebies. An activity booth was set up for button making - visitors could pick an image, colour them in, and have them pressed into wearable buttons. True to its advertisement, refreshments of Tim Bits and various beverages were provided. Unlike the Newmarket/North open house, no allegations of result fixing surfaced as Tim Hortons was no longer running their Roll Up To Win contest. Finally, several static posters detailing major milestones of YRT were set up.
Miscellaneous footage
Click here to return to the main page