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Helping where it's needed most
Mac Olsen
for South Peace News
Wahid Khan enjoys being the bus driver for the Golden Age Centre, driving in High Prairie and the M.D. of Big Lakes.
“I like to help people,” says Khan. “I like all of my clients; they’re very nice to me.”
He drives the seniors’ bus Monday, Wednesday and Friday in High Prairie, as well as Tuesday in the M.D.
The rates are $5 per person in town and $10 per person in the M.D., for pick up and drop off. He drives about 25 km outside High Prairie.
Clients include Pleasantview Lodge and Heritage House and the service is available to anybody 50 years and over.
The bus service is well used, with 136 passengers in January, says Alicemary Olansky, the centre’s secretary.
The bus can handle 16 passengers, including people in wheelchairs. However, the latter clients must have someone with them, as Khan handles only the driving, loading and unloading of passengers.
The centre uses the bus for seniors’ activities, but they also pay to use it.
“It’s a costly venture, it does cost us,” says Olansky.
Part of the cost is covered through the centre’s casino license, as well as annual grants from the Town of High Prairie and the M.D. of Big Lakes.
Helen Lines and Erika Taylor rely on the service, as both live in the Triangle area. Lines likes to use it in the winter and comes in for shopping and other errands.
Taylor has been using it since 2005 and appreciates Khan’s courteous manner.
“He’s so nice and helpful,” Taylor says.
Khan has his Class 1 license and standard first aid training. He also drives a school bus for the High Prairie School Division.
He started driving for the centre in August 2009 and with the school division in August 2008.
To arrange a ride with the seniors’ bus, please call 780-536-7362.
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Wahid Khan enjoys driving seniors in High Prairie and the M.D. of Big Lakes. Two of his clients, Helen Lines, at the far left, and Erika Taylor, live in the Triangle area and depend on the seniors’ bus.
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