Although it may not be a perfect solution, Olds & District Chamber of Commerce president Ben Stone predicts someone will step in to fill the gap when Greyhound Canada stops providing passenger and freight service in Olds this fall.
Greyhound Canada announced July 9 that, effective Oct. 31, it will no longer provide any bus service in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as northwestern Ontario, starting at Sudbury. It will only offer one route in B.C. which runs from Vancouver to Seattle.
"The absence of a bus service in Olds opens up an opportunity for someone else to find a solution," Stone said in an email to the Albertan.
Several firms -- especially those in the marijuana production business -- are setting up shop in Olds.
Stone suggested the business that could arise from that may entice a company to provide bus service in the community.
"With the growth that is expected for the town, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a company step in to fill the void and help provide better inter-city transportation," he wrote.
"Unfortunately, despite the prospect of an improved route from Olds to neighboring cities, I don’t believe that will provide much solace to the people that relied on this service on a day-to-day basis."
He noted that sometimes businesses have to make tough decisions like the one Greyhound Canada made.
"Unfortunately, for-profit business have to make decisions that contribute to the long term health of their company and I think this is another reminder of that," Stone wrote.
