Edmonton Transit Riders is a volunteer-run registered nonprofit, working to make our public transportation system better for all Edmontonians.
Our Board Members
Bernard Llanos
Bernard lived in Ottawa for many years and dreamed of LRT, which came to Ottawa after they had moved away. Bernard experienced transit systems developing in several Canadian cities and finds public transit so exciting that they ride public transit as an attraction when travelling away from home. In Edmonton, they saw a culture surrounding public transit containing conceptions of who rides transit that they wanted to change. Bernard works as a software developer and has long had an interest in science and mathematics, studying at the University of Waterloo, Carleton University, and the University of Alberta. An undergraduate course on technology and society shifted Bernard’s understanding of environmental and other challenges facing society from a technical lens towards a social lens, and motivated Bernard to engage in non-technical solutions outside of work. Bernard is fascinated by public transit as a socio-technical system embedded in the culture of a city, but Bernard unexpectedly moved away from Edmonton in 2024 and will need to study public transit elsewhere for now. Bernard’s favourite transit line in Edmonton is the Capital Line for its speed and long history.
Cheryl Villetard
Cheryl Villetard was born and raised in the Edmonton area, and is passionate about transportation choice, accessibility and environmental sustainability. She has a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Alberta focused in human resources and marketing, and currently works at MacEwan University as a human resources professional. She’s always been an active member in her community and loves taking part in advocacy and community building initiatives that make a positive impact on our city. Her favourite transit line is the new Valley Line South, due to its modern and accessible design and its beautiful views!
Daniel Witte
Hi there, I am Daniel and I am so excited to be working with you all to make Edmonton’s public transit system better! I have always been very passionate about public transit, and as an urban planning student, its impact on emissions reduction and community building. I am a passionate volunteer, helping plan Mill Woods Dining Week, paintings of pride crosswalks, as well as President of the Geography and Planning Students’ Society. I am looking forward to so many conversations about public transit with people from all around our great city.
The 56 bus route is easily my favourite transit line in Edmonton. Seeing full buses at all times of the day connecting so many key suburban nodes really makes me believe that transit can be good not just into and around the core, but in all corners of our city.
Shannon Lohner
Shannon grew up in the car-centric city of Camrose, AB, and moving to Edmonton opened their eyes to the possibilities of choice in how they moved around their city. Since then, they’ve been eagerly working as a community advocate for transportation choices across the City of Edmonton, and love to get around by bike, bus, train, and streetcar!
Shannon has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta, and currently works as an advisor in higher education. Shannon also serves as chair of local nonprofit Paths for People. As a serial crafter, you can often find them knitting, weaving, reading, or sewing. Their favorite bus route is the 701, as it runs right past their front door and drops them off right in the middle of Whyte Ave!
Spencer O’Hara
Spencer is one the board members here at Edmonton Transit Riders. He’s originally from Duchess, a village about 2 hours east of Calgary; transit is still relatively new to him. His first memory of public transit is riding the LRT to Clareview and back with his grandparents. As a student in the Master’s of Public Health at the University of Alberta, he understands the impact that good transit has on the health and well being of our community. Spencer likes decaf coffee, loves exploring the city, and his favourite transit line is the Metro Line (less crowded when going between downtown to Health Sciences).