Canadians from over 150 communities across the country walked, biked, took transit, carpooled or worked from home as part of the National Commuter Challenge in June. Last Friday, ACT coordinator Daryl Bender paid a visit to the President's Residence to present alumni officer, Lori Moulden with her VIA Rail pass as a prize for participating in McMaster's Commuter Challenge.

Daryl Bender, ACT coordinator presents Lori Moulden '06 with her VIA Rail prize. Click here for FULL SIZE. Photo credit: Deborah McIvor

Moulden may travel to anywhere in the Quebec city-Windsor corridor within the next year. “It is the second year I've participated in the challenge,” says Moulden. “I never win anything, so it was exciting to hear I was the one who won.”

Moulden graduated this spring from McMaster with an Honours BA in commerce and recently joined the Alumni Association, working in the President's Residence along side last year's VIA Rail winner, Marisa Loduca. “I've walked to school every day for four years and now I walk here to work. During Commuter Challenge week I also roller bladed to the grocery store and carpooled with friends for any trips I had to take.”

What will she do with the tickets? “I haven't decided yet,” she says. “But it would be cool to go the Montreal Jazz Festival next summer.”

This year, the City of Hamilton also selected winners of a VIA Rail pass to celebrate the sixth years of participation in the Commuter Challenge, bringing the list of participants up to 10,000. In recognition of this achievement, the City conducted a random draw and pleasantly surprising yet another member of the McMaster community. Graduate student in engineering physics, Behrooz Komeili, received four VIA tickets to any location along the Quebec City – Windsor corridor from the City of Hamilton for taking part in National Environment Week.

Komeili, pictured here with his fiancee and fellow graduate student, Rund Abou-Marie, plans to visit Quebec City to appreciate the architecture and cultural nuances. Click here for FULL SIZE. Photo credit: Deborah McIvor

“I have been in Canada for 16 years, and I've always wanted to travel on a VIA train – now we'll have a chance to do just that!” says Komeili. “I'm really grateful to the City and to VIA for this opportunity to travel with Rund and see more of this beautiful country.”

Read more about the 2006 Commuter Challenge on the Daily News.