Patrick Yutiga received the Young Leaders  Award at the 2024 CUTA Awards Ceremony.

Patrick Yutiga is a young professional making a remarkable impact in Canadian public transit. In under five years, he’s significantly advanced the Canadian Urban Transit Association’s goal of attracting and retaining young professionals. With the industry’s aging workforce, Patrick’s contributions are crucial for building a sustainable transit future.

As chair of the Youth and Emerging Leaders Sub-Committee (YELSC), Patrick has championed initiatives to bring youth into transit, such as organizing a Youth Booth at the Montreal tradeshow and leading the successful 2023 Young Leaders Summit in Edmonton. His leadership on webinars, social media outreach, and CUTA’s Mentorship Program has helped elevate YELSC’s visibility and engagement across the country.

Patrick also spearheaded “Minding the Gap” with Timothy Young, a research project examining transit-related content in post-secondary programs to better equip future transit professionals. Additionally, he leads the Careers in Public Transit Program’s member outreach to showcase industry opportunities.

Under his chairmanship, YELSC’s membership has been revitalized, the Young Leaders Summit modelled for future success, and a new strategic plan is underway, reflecting Patrick’s inclusive and forward-thinking approach. Patrick is a driving force for youth engagement and transit advocacy in Canada.