MONTREAL — The winners of the 2026 Canada Traveller’s Best Awards have been announced, recognizing bus operators and frontline employees for service excellence across the country.
The awards are based on thousands of verified customer reviews and booking data from trips taken in 2025. According to the organizers, the program highlights operators that consistently earned high marks from both Canadian travelers and international visitors.
“This year’s program honors a diverse group of operators and frontline heroes who have demonstrated resilience and a steadfast commitment to quality,” said Busbud, the global ground travel booking platform behind the awards. The company said winners were selected entirely based on verified traveler feedback.
John Stepovy, senior regional director of commercial at Busbud, said intercity bus companies play a critical role in connecting communities.
“Intercity bus operators provide a high-quality, essential service that keeps our communities connected,” Stepovy said. “I’m proud that we’re able to provide these unsung heroes the visibility they’ve earned.”
This year’s winners
Maritime Bus, which operates in Atlantic Canada, received the Best of the Best Award. The company was recognized for consistently exceeding customer expectations, with an emphasis on comfort and convenience.
“Customer feedback is a key metric of our success, which makes receiving Busbud’s ‘Best of the Best’ award — an honor based entirely on verified reviews — one of the highest recognitions we could achieve,” said Ryan Cassidy, director of people and processes at Maritime Bus. “We are deeply grateful to every traveler who chose Maritime Bus and took the time to share their experience with the global Busbud community.”
Red Arrow, which operates in Alberta and Ontario, was a double-category winner, taking home the Connectivity Award for best Wi-Fi and the Time Trust Award for on-time performance. Busbud said the company set a “gold standard” for business-class bus travel by combining reliable schedules with high-quality onboard internet service.
In Quebec, Autobus Maheux won the Stellar Service Award for best customer service, recognized for its efforts to resolve issues and support passengers across the province.
Banff Explorer in Alberta received the Shuttle Star Award for best shuttle service. It was cited for connecting travelers to destinations in the Rocky Mountains through scenic and efficient routes.
For the first time, Busbud also recognized individual employees. Samuel Liebermann of Quick Shuttle by Traxx in British Columbia was named Driver of the Year for his safety record and service to cross-border travelers. Tess Cooper of Banff Explorer was named Customer Service Person of the Year for her work assisting passengers and managing logistics.
“We are especially proud to honour Samuel as Driver of the Year and Tess as Customer Service Person of the Year,” Stepovy said. “It is the people on the front lines who truly drive the industry forward.”
Busbud operates a marketplace for ground travel, allowing customers to book bus and train tickets on more than 3 million routes in over 80 countries.
Photo provided by Busbud
