SUNDRE – With the recent purchase of a brand new bus made possible in large part because of provincial grant funding, the Sundre Community Van Association hopes to expand its service.
Leigh Smithson, president of the local non-profit organization that’s been rolling since 1997, said during a presentation during the most recent council meeting that the association aspires to grow its reach to include more residents such as single parents and low-income individuals.
Traditionally it has subsidized transportation services for a client base of people aged 55-plus as well as individuals with mobility issues to destinations such as doctors’ appointments and even social engagements.
The association recently increased its service area to cover 10 kilometres surrounding Sundre as per a requirement for the Healthy Aging Alberta grant that enabled the purchase of the new van, said Smithson.
While the association had set aside savings for a new bus to the tune of $50,000 through donations, the total cost of $170,000 was covered mostly by the provincial grant of $120,000, he said, adding the funds also enabled the organization to hire a coordinator with enough leftover to ensure sustained operations for the next couple of years.
The bus that was replaced is now in Calgary waiting to be sold. Meanwhile the new van – a 2023 GM 18-passenger – is in service. Expressing gratitude for the town’s annual contribution of $7,000, Smithson said the amount the association had saved up over the years was “a wonderful testament that we can work as a private non-profit in conjunction with the town,” he said.
“You should know, all of the money that you give us for that is to subsidize the ridership,” he said, adding none is spent on expenses such as repairs.
And while Smithson said those contributions from the municipality also demonstrates the dedication of past councils’ shared commitments to support the community van, he added the association wouldn’t have been able to get the new bus without the Healthy Aging Alberta grant.
Furthermore, ongoing community involvement and support helps ensure the bus keeps rolling, he said.
“This bus has got the heart of this town, is the way I look at it,” he said, later suggesting council might consider including information about the van in the municipality’s monthly newsletter.
Looking ahead, he said the association wants to work alongside other local groups to not only find more opportunities for possible partnerships but also to raise awareness about the service. Plans are also underway to provide first aid training to all volunteers so they’re better prepared in the event of medical issues, which sometimes happen on the bus, he said.
Additionally, the association aspires to expand its service to include single parents as well as low-income citizens, he said.
“We can do this but we don’t have the money,” he said, adding that any funding received toward the eventual replacement of the new van – a cost being estimated at $200,000 – will be sitting for at least 10 years while operational funds are needed.
Also, he said the association feels it could potentially have a role to play in providing assistance in the event of a natural emergency.
Inspired by the approach of a similar organization in Hinton, the group in Sundre wants to explore in discussions with the municipality the possibility of entering into a formal agreement or understanding to make the van available if needed to evacuate people, for example, he said.
But that would require some advanced proactive planing as well as additional drivers, he said.
However, operating the van only requires a Class 4 licence, and the association is prepared to provide orientations of the bus and offer the keys to qualified town staff or possibly even volunteer firefighters who might be interested, for example, he said.
“It’s a challenge to get drivers,” he said. “I don’t know why; there’s school bus drivers all over the place, there’s people that can drive that bus for us, (but) it’s very tough to get them.”
Coun. Paul Isaac said the takeaway message he heard from Smithson’s presentation was a request for council to consider ways to further help promote the community van, and supported the idea of brainstorming ideas with his colleagues.
Coun. Todd Dalke asked who potentially interested drivers or even volunteers including board members, could contact with inquiries.
Smithson encouraged council to refer any residents who express an interest to reach out directly to him by email at [email protected].
And depending on what lies on the road ahead, the association also hopes to one day acquire a smaller van that would be more efficient for longer trips with fewer passengers.
“We’re looking at that in the future,” he said.
Council carried a motion accepting the presentation for information.
