2024/25 School Bus Registration Application 

The deadline for submitting your school bus registration application was June 14, 2024. If you missed the deadline, you may still be able to register for a seat on the bus, if space is available on your route.  

Complete the school bus registration application form Apply Now

All bus registration applications received before the deadline are processed over the summer. Once processing is complete, you will receive a confirmation email including your student’s Bus Route and Bus Stop information.

Bus registrations received after the submission deadline are processed throughout the start of the school year. 

Students eligible for SD8 bussing will be awarded a seat on the bus. Students not eligible for SD8 bussing (courtesy riders) may be granted a seat on the bus after all eligible students are placed and only if there is an extra seat available on a set run.

• School bus privileges are reserved for students who have been registered for SD8 bussing for the given school year and who have received a confirmation email including the assigned bus route information.
• Students are only permitted to ride the school bus as assigned.
• Families must agree to SD8 bus pass procedures and bus conduct guidelines in order to ride the school bus.

• School bus routes are built annually by the Transportation Department prior to September school start up.
• Route design is based on school catchment and eligible rider demand as of the registration deadline.
• A student’s bus route and stop assignment will be determined based on the home address on file with the school.
• Families will receive a bus registration confirmation email communicating which routes and stops are assigned to their student. 

2023/24 Bus Route Details

• Bus Routes - East (Creston - Crawford Bay)
• Bus Routes - West (Nelson, Kalso, Salmo, Slocan Valley)

Students who live within their school's catchment and outside of the school walk limits

Students who live outside of their school catchment 

Students who live within school walk limits 

Students who ride the bus infrequently, less than 4 times per week.

Students are expected to walk to school wherever possible. To be eligible to ride an SD8 school bus a student must reside at a distance from their catchment school greater than 2.5 km for elementary, and 3 km for intermediate and secondary. 

• To enhance student safety, every student who is registered for transportation receives a bus pass in the form of a hard plastic card. If you are confirmed registered for SD8 bussing service but do not have a bus pass, please inquire with your school office
• Students must scan their pass each time they enter onto or exit off the bus. In the event we have a missing child the transportation department can look up the location of where the student entered and exited the bus in real time.  Bus Passes also provide the school with an accurate list of riders, should the bus be involved in an emergency
• Please hold onto your pass over the summer! Students will continue to use their bus pass for each school year. Students new to SD8 bussing will have a bus pass delivered to their school for September startup. 
• Students must follow bus pass procedures to utilize their SD8 bussing privileges.

Read the Bus Pass FAQs

School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) makes every effort to ensure that our school buses are operating on schedule daily.  Disruptions to the bussing schedule are possible due to road conditions, severe weather, bus driver shortages and other events.  It is recommended that you and your child have a plan and a safe location for your child to return to, in the event the school bus does not arrive after 15 minutes or is cancelled.

  Here is what you can expect if there is a school bus disruption in service:

School Bus Delay of over 15 mins

• Notice of any delay over 15 minutes will be communicated through the following:
  • School and district websites
  • Posted on social media

School Bus Cancellation

• An email will be sent to all bussing student contacts registered with the school
• Notice of any cancellation will be communicated through the following:
  • School and district websites
  • Posted on social media

Most transportation related inquiries can be answered by your school office.

If you have emergent questions, such as a lost bussing student, contact the operations office in your area to speak with a transportation staff member.

SD8 Nelson Operations

Phone: 250 354-4871
Fax: 250-354-4255

SD8 Creston Operations

Phone: 250 428-5329
Fax: 250-428-9917

The mailing address for both Nelson and Creston Operations is: 811 Stanley St.  Nelson BC  V1L 1N8