Volunteers for the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts won鈥檛 be having to pay to get to and from the event, which takes place in Penticton for the first time next January.

鈥淭he majority of the volunteers will be from Penticton and the surrounding area but there will be a number of volunteers who are from out of town, province and country,鈥� wrote event manager Neil Houston in a letter to council requesting volunteers be allowed to ride free on city transit. 鈥淕iven the number of volunteers needed on a daily basis, my assumption is that no more than 100 people would use this service on a daily basis.鈥�

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Council voted unanimously to allow the request, with Mayor Andrew Jakubeit noting it had been done for other events.

鈥淚 think this is a volunteer-based community and whatever we can do to support the volunteers is a small token on the part of the city,鈥� said Coun. Max Picton.

The free transit rides didn鈥檛 pass without comment, though. During question period, council watcher Lynn Kelsey asked for a list of what events have secured transit privileges.

鈥淚 would like to know that we are taking care of our citizens as well so that free transit is offered for Nov. 11 (Remembrance Day) and for elections,鈥� she said.

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鈥淭hese guys are making money,鈥� said Kelsey. 鈥淪urely they can provide a shuttle for their own volunteers.鈥�

鈥淚 know we have done elections. B.C. Winter Games was probably the next biggest one,鈥� said Jakubeit.