Our Story

Bancroft Community Transit (BCT) is a local not-for-profit charitable organization created in 2001. A group of community members and agency representatives recognized a major gap in accessible, affordable transportation in the northern portion of Hastings County. Through their collaboration, BCT was born.

In the early years, volunteer drivers provided transportation for individuals 55 and under. By 2010, BCT began to expand by purchasing its first vehicle—marking the start of our specialized transportation service.

Key milestones in our growth include:

  • 2015: Opening a satellite office in Belleville

  • 2016: Adding our first accessible vehicle to the fleet

  • 2017: Integrating local Public Transit into BCT operations

Today, BCT provides reliable transportation for all, connecting people in northern Hastings County to local destinations, outlying city centres, and communities beyond.

Our Wattle & Daub & Charcuterie Studio Story

As a nonprofit, BCT knew early on that diversifying revenue was essential for sustaining and growing our transportation services. In 2013, the idea of the Wattle & Daub Café was first imagined in partnership with “Youth in Action (YIA).” The plan was to create a canteen and rental facility in Riverside Park—YIA would run the canteen, and BCT would manage the rentals.

When YIA underwent changes and subsequently disbanded, BCT took on the full financial responsibility as well as full ownership, to make the project a reality.

In 2014, BCT partnered with Fleming College’s Sustainable Building and Design Program. Students and faculty provided the labour to construct a sustainable, eco-friendly building in Riverside Park, while BCT covered all material costs and ongoing tax obligations.

The building—now known as Heart of the Park, located at 26 B Station Street—opened Wattle & Daub Café in Spring 2015. It was created to help generate long-term revenue to support community transportation.

A Training Ground for Local Youth

To honour its origins with YIA, the Wattle & Daub Café also operates as a youth employment and training program each summer, all under the guidance of dedicated adult mentors. Young people gain hands-on experience in:

  • Customer service

  • Food preparation

  • Business operations

  • Marketing

  • Workplace skills

The café serves homemade, delicious food in a one-of-a-kind park setting—bringing together good meals, community pride, and social purpose.

The Charcuterie Studio

Following the same social enterprise model, BCT opened the Charcuterie Studio at 24 Flint Ave., Bancroft. This second venture supports financial gaps in our transportation service by offering beautifully crafted charcuterie boards and specialty food products to the community.

Both social enterprises:

  • Operate like traditional businesses

  • Employ paid staff

  • Carry their own overhead and tax responsibilities

  • Directly support BCT’s transportation programs

Every purchase—whether you dine in, grab-and-go, or order a custom board—helps keep our community moving.

Thank You From All of Us

Your support of our café, our studio, and our transportation programs means the world to us.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!