Innisfail's first fully licensed professional cab service under its new Taxi Bylaw is finally rolling.
Four drivers just hired for the new Associated Cab Innisfail came to town hall on Oct. 7 to get their badges, and company owner Daryl Frenette couldn't be happier.
“I kept pushing. I got to be a believer. I got drivers who said they wanted to work here and I did a sales pitch on them to see if they wanted to work in Innisfail,” said Frenette, adding that two of the four new drivers are Innisfail residents, while one is from Penhold and the fourth from Red Deer.
The town is enthusiastically welcoming the news of the cab company's long-awaited arrival as well.
“This is excellent and not just for the liquor establishments, the golf course or the Eagles games. There are all sorts of functions that go on where people need cabs and I think this will be great for the town,” said Mayor Brian Spiller, noting the town once did have “two or three” cab companies operating full-time 20 to 25 years ago, but they were not governed by a taxi bylaw. “Lately our service has not been affording us with 24-hour service in a town of 8,000 citizens, which it quite rightly needs.
“I am very pleased that they (Associated Cab Innisfail) is finally here, and hopefully Innisfail residents will find their number, patronize them and we will have good service.”
Frenette, who has owned Associated Cab Red Deer since 2003, said the new taxi service, which will see all four of his Innisfail designated drivers fully registered, insured and licensed with the town, should begin taking its first local fares on Oct. 10, just before the Thanksgiving long weekend.
It has been a nearly three-month arduous journey for Frenette to get his new venture up and running. He was given the green light to proceed last July after town council approved Innisfail's first-ever Taxi Bylaw that allows up to eight licensed metered cabs to serve the community with a communication system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Frenette invested about $50,000 for his new fleet of four taxis specifically brought in to serve Innisfail, as well as updating his computer dispatch system.
But finding four drivers – necessary to fully maintain a 24-hour, seven-day- a-week service -- to start his new operation proved a tougher than expected challenge.
“It has been a longer process than I thought it would be, a little bit more challenging than I thought,” said Frenette, who advertised heavily for new drivers and was prepared to post notices at many public places in town to attract interest. “It was unfinished. I am not a fan of unfinished business. I hate that. I want it done. Hopefully this will work out.
“There will be some teething pains but we are pushing forward. That is the important part,” he added.
Meanwhile, Frenette was fine-tuning the new taxi service's local phone numbers into the company's dispatch computer programs last week before the first Innisfail taxis rolled out for their first fares. He said locals can call either 403-227-2229 or 403-227-2272 for a taxi.
Associated Cab Innisfail also has a website that details additional information about its service. It can be found at www.Innisfailassociatedcab.com
