About us

Urban/Rural Rides is a community transportation service operated by volunteer drivers who are dedicated to bridging transportation gaps in both urban and rural communities in New Brunswick. 

As a registered charity, our mission is to provide safe, affordable, and reliable transportation solutions to seniors and low-income families. Roundtrip transportation services are offered primarily for medical appointments and access to food banks.

With Urban/Rural Rides, those in need can rely on our dependable transportation service that prioritizes their safety and well-being. We take pride in our commitment to meeting the diverse needs of our clients with compassion and efficiency.

Our Drivers

Every month we profile one of our Volunteer Drivers.
Find out more about these awesome individuals and why they volunteer to help those in need in our community!

URR Volunteer Driver Profile – Month of April 

URR Volunteer Driver Profile – Month of April 

James (Jim) Brown I am honoured to be a part of the Urban/ Rural Rides Board, currently serving as your President. I have been involved with URR from the beginning and have served in several positions over the past decade or so. I am also one of the volunteer drivers,...

Volunteer Driver Profile for February – Carl Killam [SE Region]

Volunteer Driver Profile for February – Carl Killam [SE Region]

I have lived in Harwood [near Petitcodiac] all of my life with wife and now married two children.  I have been retired as a Highway Transport Driver for several years now. I love watching movies as a hobby and always enjoyed driving. When I heard about Urban...

Our Board of Directors

Kristin Shortt

Kirstin Shortt
President

Founder of affordable transportation in Albert County, on executive committee for URR since its inception. Involved in all operational decisions and also part of the volunteer driver team. Passionate about our service and always trying to find new ways to ensure inclusiveness of people living in extremely rural areas, trying to find more ways to eliminate the hardship of isolation.
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Background, Information Science and Social Studies, Mayor of Alma for nine years on Council for fifteen plus years, member of executive Board for Hospice SENB, engaged in end-of-life care issues and coping with bereavement. Hobbies: travel, painting and writing, last published work “Flight into Dark Dawn”.
James Brown

James (Jim) Brown
Past-President

I am a licensed paramedic with 28 years experience and retired from the provincial ambulance service about 2 years ago. I am employed part-time at a private health care clinic in Dieppe NB, Medicalux Private Care. I provide all kinds of medical services with them, and I am responsible for managing their HCP (hearing conservation program). I travel all around our province and others in this capacity. I am also a hyperbaric oxygen therapy technician with them.

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I am involved with Saint John Ambulance and volunteer in all manners of what services they provide including: Instructor Trainer, First Aid & MFR instructor, CSUL (community service unit leader) of the Moncton 275 Brigade, member of the newly formed ERU Team (Emergency Response Unit), one of 25 federally regulated teams that respond to natural and man-made disasters. A Youth Group Leader with 15 years experience working with young people.
I am married to my wife Bea, of 22 years and have been friends for a great number of years prior. We both have 2 children each from previous marriages, and 5 grandchildren. We like to travel, tenting, hiking, enjoy our cats and ballroom dancing.
I was fortunate enough to be involved with one of the parent groups “Rural Rides” from the very beginning. Myself and several others were involved with the pilot amalgamation process that led to the successful formation of the current charitable organization “Urban/Rural Rides Inc.”
I am the current President of Urban/Rural Rides Inc and a volunteer driver. I work closely with our valued staff and sit on our Strategic Planning Committee/Bylaws Committee. I chair our Executive and Board meetings. I also enjoy meeting with other stakeholder groups and related conferences.
It is my greatest desire to see our services being established and provided for those communities still without affordable transportation and other transportation services to meet the demands of all New Brunswick.

Dan Matthews

Dan Matthews
Treasurer

A retired Meteorologist with 35 years of service with Environment Canada. Originating from Nova Scotia, he did his service in various locations in Canada before settling in Dorchester. Has an avid interest in volunteering and supporting his community. Dan Holds a position as Secretary of the Dorchester Lions Club.
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Aside from being a volunteer driver for Urban/Rural Rides, he serves as Treasurer on the board of directors.

He loves the interaction with the clients and has an opportunity to learn a lot of history and stories from this area as they travel to and from various appointments.

Diane Wilson

Diane Wilson
Secretary

Work: Retired. Volunteer at Salisbury Helping Hands, Inc. Food Bank and Urban/Rural Rides. Interests/hobbies: Enjoy travelling, crafts, reading.

I have been volunteering in the Secretary position of Urban/Rural Rides since 2019.

Jason Gallant

Jason Gallant
Vice President

Jason joined the Board of Directors for Urban/Rural Rides in 2023. He is a devoted husband, dad of three adult children and a proud Grampie to one beautiful little girl.
Jason has had a lengthy career in the IT Industry and most recently holds the position of IT Manager for a leading Health Insurance Company in Moncton.
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In addition to his corporate career, he is also a Councillor for the Town of Salisbury and has been an active volunteer over the years. Jason is also a board member with the Volunteer Centre of Southeastern New Brunswick and with Touchstone Counselling Group.
His primary drive is to make a difference in any organization he’s a part of and is happy to be making a difference as a board member with Urban/Rural Rides.
Michelle Tupper

Michelle Tupy
Vice President

Michelle Tupy is originally from Australia and is currently the Chapter Director for Shelter Movers Greater Moncton.  She enjoys working with businesses and nonprofits to develop community relationships and believes that working together is the key to success.

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Urban/Rural Rides aligns with her beliefs, and she has enjoyed watching the organization grow in terms of processes and the areas that it covers. Accessibility should be afforded to every individual regardless of their circumstances.
Normand Dupuis

Pamela O’Brien
Board Member

Pamela is a Board member and volunteer driver for Urban Rural Rides. She is also a member of The Town of Riverview Seniors Roundtable and assisted The Town of Riverview achieve its Age-Friendly Community Designation. She is an active volunteer at Hospice SENB.

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Using her knowledge and expertise gained during her time in the Health and Fitness Industry in Ottawa, she developed and is currently using a specialized program that entails all aspects of Active Aging for the 55 plus crowd that helps them remain strong and independent for a lifetime. She is a frequent presenter on this topic and offers workshops in the Moncton and Riverview area. She also volunteers with The Butterflyway Project with The David Suzuki Foundation as a Butterflyway Ranger growing native habitat for bees and butterflies in the Riverview and Moncton area. She created and actively maintains a native plant park area, Greenpark Meadows, for residents to enjoy and learn about native plants and wildlife.

Katherine Thorne
Board Member

Hello, my name is Katherine Thorne. I relocated from Ontario to Riverview nine years ago and have enjoyed becoming part of this vibrant community. In September 2025, I was delighted to join Urban Rural Rides as a Board member, as I look forward to my retirement in December 2025.

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I am eager to meet new people and contribute as a volunteer, helping others and giving back to the community. My professional background is primarily in administration and sales, where I have gained valuable experience throughout my career.
As I enter this new chapter, I look forward to spending more time volunteering and embracing new opportunities ahead.
Dave Gouthro

Josette Depres
Board Member

Josette brings over 20 years of service management experience in group insurance to her role as a Board Member with Urban Rural Rides. She currently serves as Client Services Manager for group business at Medavie Blue Cross, where she leads a team of professionals in delivering service excellence through collaboration, strategic development, and process harmonization. Josette is a designated Group Benefits Associate and a certified Change Practitioner, with prior experience in the healthcare sector.

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Her decision to join Urban Rural Rides was deeply personal, she was inspired by the time she spent driving her late mother to medical appointments, moments they both cherished. Volunteering with the organization allows her to honour that legacy while helping others maintain independence and connection through accessible transportation.

Outside of work, Josette is married and a proud mom to two teenagers and a spirited Yorkshire Terrier mix. She is passionate about contributing to initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and takes great pride in supporting Urban Rural Rides’ mission to serve communities with care and compassion. 

Michelle Tupper

Raksha Ramesh
Board Member

Raksha is an active community builder in Moncton who dedicates much of her time to volunteer work and initiatives that strengthen community connections. Since moving to Canada in 2023, she has been eager to contribute her skills and energy to causes that support inclusion, accessibility, and collaboration.
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Along with her volunteer commitments, Raksha works as an Artist Manager, where she supports local talent and helps amplify their visibility in the community. She brings strong communication skills and a passion for creating awareness to her role as a board member with Urban Rural Rides and is proud to support its mission of providing safe, reliable transportation that connects people across the region.

Board Value Statement

 

We lead with dignity, listen with purpose, and serve with heart — honoring our volunteers, empowering our riders, and building trust through transparent, community-driven governance.

 

CORE VALUES OF URBAN RURAL RIDES

  1. Service with Respect and Dignity

We treat every rider, volunteer, and community partner with compassion and respect. Our service is grounded in dignity — recognizing the worth of every person and the importance of mobility in fostering independence and inclusion.

  1. Volunteer-Centered Mission

Our volunteer drivers are the backbone of our organization. We honour their generosity, support their needs, and celebrate their role in connecting communities across the province.

  1. User-Driven Responsiveness

We listen actively and adapt thoughtfully. Our programs evolve based on the real needs of riders and volunteers, ensuring our services remain relevant, accessible, and empowering.

  1. Transparent and Engaged Governance

We commit to open communication, ethical decision-making, and active engagement with our stakeholders. Our Board leads with integrity, accountability, and a shared sense of purpose.

  1. Equity Through Access

We believe transportation is a bridge to opportunity. We work to eliminate barriers and expand access for underserved populations, both urban and rural.

  1. Supporter-Centric Stewardship

We are accountable to the communities, donors, and partners who sustain our work. We steward resources responsibly and build trust through transparency and collaboration.

  1. Local Roots, Provincial Reach

We grow with care. Our province-wide impact is built on local knowledge, community trust, and scalable, sustainable practices.

 

Changing lives, One ride at a time

“They Make Me Feel Like I Matter“

Michael has been using Urban/Rural Rides for several years now. He has been dealing with a multitude of medical needs and relies on Urban/Rural Rides for his transportation into the city for his appointments.

“They are always kind when I interact with them – the drivers and the staff. They listen and are very helpful. The drivers are volunteers. They give up their time to make sure I get to my appointments. That makes me feel like I matter because someone is willing to give up their own time to help me. The benefit of this service goes well beyond the ride itself. I have a lot of health issues and I am in constant pain. However, when I am in the car having a friendly conversation with a driver, I am distracted in a way. I feel better. My pain is lower for a time because I am interacting with someone.” said Michael.

Michael is one of the many lives being changed one ride at a time. In addition to assisting people to get to their appointments, a friendly conversation, interaction with someone and knowing that they matter enough for someone to take the time to help them goes a long way to improving the lives of those without transportation who may be isolated from people and services.

One such story is a woman in Shediac who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and needed frequent transportation to the hospital for treatment. There is a shortage of volunteers in Shediac but, because of the seriousness of the need, a driver was brought in from another area to provide transportation to treatments.

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The two ladies became fast friends and as the client’s health worsened, the driver looked for ways to help. Eventually on a trip for treatment, the volunteer driver was told her new friend would not be leaving the hospital again and was admitted to palliative care. This was all happening while the provincial borders were closed due to COVID effectively cutting off the client’s family from visiting or assisting in any way. The amazing volunteer took it upon herself to visit the client in hospital regularly and to be her friend and comfort in her last days. The extra time and care the volunteer offered deeply touched the client and her family that was unable to be by her side.

Sometimes lack of transportation is not the only barrier to accessing services. One Wednesday in August, we received a letter in the mail from a senior lady living in a remote area with no phone or Internet, who needed a ride to the food bank. Our service requires 48 hours to book transportation and unfortunately the letter was received on the day she was asking for transportation.

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Further complicating the situation is the fact that her local foodbank is only open for 2 hours a week on Wednesday and we had already missed that window of time. Our ride coordinator tried to contact someone at the food bank to see if we could arrange to pick up food and deliver some to her as we were concerned about her having to wait another week to access food. She was unsuccessful.

The following Wednesday, a driver was out in that area for another ride and stopped in to check on this client and offer to take her to the food bank that afternoon. When the driver arrived at the home, the client did not answer the door but the driver could hear the radio on inside the house. The concern for the welfare of this client increased dramatically. After a conversation with the ride coordinator, it was decided to go ahead and do the other ride and then return to this client’s home to check on her again. If there was still no response, a call would be made for a wellness check. Thankfully, when the driver returned, the client answered the door. She had merely gone out for a walk. The driver took the client to the food bank to get supplies. We later received a letter of thanks from the food bank commending our driver and ride coordinator for going above and beyond to make sure this isolated senior had food.

thank you card

Our Partners