Edmonton Transit Riders is a local non-profit organization made up of passionate community builders and frequent transit riders, advocating for a transit system that gets the funding, care, and attention that it deserves. We strongly believe in the power of community members coming together to bring positive change to our city and want to see a strong public transit system that supports all Edmontonians.
Our Board Members
Daniel Witte | Chair
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 planner, its impact on emissions reduction and community building. I am a passionate volunteer, helping plan Mill Woods Dining Week and 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, it really makes me believe that transit can be good not just into and around the core, but in all corners of our city.
Emily Stremel | Vice-Chair
Emily grew up in Sherwood Park, and she is excited to be organizing for more comprehensive public transit to help create safe, urban, modern, equitable, and connected communities across the Edmonton area. She works in records and information management in the public sector and is working on a degree in Computing and Information Studies. When not reading studies, journals, or council reports on transit, Emily sings in Chronos Vocal Ensemble, watches a lot of pro wrestling, and always has too many arts and crafts projects on the go. Her favourite transit line is the 701, since it gets her everywhere she needs to go!
Sean McKeown | Treasurer
Howdy! I am a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and I have a background in accounting, including experience both in public practice and industry. As a frequent transit user, I joined ETR to help improve the system and build community, and I am currently serving as treasurer. My favourite transit route is probably the Capital Line, as it can take me almost anywhere I want to go in the city, although the 101 bus is a close second. When I am not working/volunteering, I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, and playing guitar.
Karen Lee | Director at Large
Karen is a lifelong Edmontonian who is passionate about community building, environmental sustainability, arts and culture, and public transit. She relies on public transit regularly to get around the city. Living and working in the Mill Woods area, she frequently enjoys the new Valley Line South. Outside of work, she is an avid community volunteer and enjoys attending local events and festivals.
Adam Dubourdieu | Director at Large
Adam has called Edmonton home since 2020, when he moved from the east coast to be closer to his partner, Matthew. A frequent transit rider between Griesbach and downtown, he sees a robust public transit system as key to building an equitable, accessible, and safe city. Before becoming a policy analyst with the Government of Alberta, Adam supported public health and addiction clinics across Edmonton through his work with Alberta Health Services. In terms of education, he holds a Bachelor of Science and a Certificate of Public Policy, both from Memorial University of Newfoundland. In his downtime, Adam enjoys trivia, swimming, and spending quality time with his partner and two cats.
Jeffrey Swanson | Director at Large
Jeffrey is a lifelong Edmontonian who is passionate about all things trains, as well as making a brighter and sustainable future for Edmonton! Public transit lies at the corner of these two passions. In his off time, Jeffrey can be found writing, playing tabletop games, or spending time with family.
Heidi | Secretary
[email protected]
Heidi has always had a fascination for buses and transit systems. As an avid transit rider, she is passionate about advocating for accessible public transit in Edmonton. She also advocates for individuals with disabilities and hopes to bring awareness to invisible disabilities through public speaking engagements and her personal blog. In 2023, she was invited to speak at the Red Shoes FASD Walk. As a writer, Heidi has a short story published in the book “Born Broken,” with contributors sharing the challenges and realities of navigating life with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Heidi enjoys sharing her day-to-day adventures in the city, especially when taking public transit.
Poorva Jain | Director at Large
Poorva is a researcher at the University of Alberta and a newcomer to community advocacy, passionate about building equitable and sustainable public transit systems. Her work focuses on integrating equity into the evaluation and planning of transit interventions and how projects like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) can improve access, safety, and affordability for equity-deserving groups. She brings experience in gender and mobility studies and transportation equity and is committed to amplifying rider voices in shaping Edmonton’s transit future.
Jess Smith (they/them) | Director at Large
Jess Smith is a dynamic project manager with extensive experience in the non-profit sector. As Manager of Commercialization and Operations at the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), they lead innovative projects advancing zero-emission public transit, including trials of hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric buses. Jess blends strategic thinking with a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, sustainability, and stakeholder relations — forging partnerships across public, private, and community sectors. They have presented and represented CUTRIC at major conferences and events throughout Canada and the United States.
Alongside their professional role, Jess applies their expertise in digital production and social media to support 2SLGBTQ+ community members, small businesses, non-profits, and entertainers in strengthening their online presence. Known for their attention to detail and strong organizational skills, they have held leadership and governance roles across numerous 2SLGBTQ+ and community-focused organizations. Jess currently co-chairs the Policy Subcommittee of the Women’s Advisory Voice of Edmonton (WAVE) Committee and serves on the Edmonton Transit Riders board, reflecting their dedication to building inclusive, sustainable communities.
If you’d like to connect with Jess or learn more about their work, please visit their LinkedIn profile.
Jade Charlery Vidmar | Director at Large
Having grown up in Edmonton’s downtown core, Jade has always understood the importance of the public transit system for travelling across the city. As a wheelchair user, she is passionate about promoting accessibility within built environments—from implementing elevators and ramps to improving wayfinding and location systems. She is completing her Bachelor of Design at MacEwan University with a focus on information design, environmental design, and motion graphics. Jade’s favourite mode of transit is the LRT system; she uses both the Capital and Metro Lines to travel to school and work. She is looking forward to the ongoing extensions and improvements to the system.