Big Lakes Family and Community Services is ready to roll the transportation bus Feb. 16 to medical appointments in Grande Prairie with the bus from the High Prairie Golden Age Club. Left-right, are the FCS transportation committee members High Prairie outreach worker Nancy Marquardt, FCS manager Louise Myre, driver and Grouard outreach worker Sherry Monteith, main driver Wahid Khan, High Prairie Golden Age Club transportation committee members Olga Johnson, Mary Zabolotniuk and Wendell Ebbett. Missing is Ray Lavoie of the Golden Age Club.

Richard Froese
South Peace News
Seniors and others requiring a ride to medical appointments in High Prairie and Grande Prairie can get on board a small bus starting in two weeks.

Big Lakes County Transportation Program will officially roll out Feb. 16 with a trip to High Prairie under Big Lakes Family and Community Services (FCS) using the High Prairie Golden Age Club bus in a 12-month pilot project.

“The service is provided for seniors 60 years of age and older, medically-at-risk and disadvantaged individuals,” says FCSS manager Louise Myre.
“We expect that, as a result of this project, our community members will experience significant and direct benefits to their health, physical welfare and social well-being.”

Monthly rides to Grande Prairie will start in March while the bus will transport passengers to High Prairie twice a week from hamlets and outlying areas of the county.

“The program will enhance the quality of life for people by connecting them to essential services in an efficient and responsible manner,” says Grouard outreach worker Sherry Mon- teith, who will also be the secondary bus driver.

A return trip to High Prairie appointments is $20 while the rate to Grande Prairie is $40.

“Our fees were set by comparing other rural transportation systems and make it similar,” Myre says.

She notes that people who may not be able to afford the cost will have to enquire about alternative options for the fee.

“We will pick up county residents from their homes for the High Prairie trips,” Monteith says.

“For Grande Prairie trips, the bus will leave from High Prairie so residents will have to either find transportation in, or we may look at establishing a shuttle system from the hamlets and outlying areas,” Myre says.

Capacity of the bus is 12 seats and space for two wheelchairs.

Organizers anticipate the service to be popular.

“Those interviewed were enthusiastic about the program,” Myre says.

Surveys were done by seniors and seniors’ groups in July and August 2016, Monteith says.

FCS appreciates the support from community partners.

“We extend a big thanks to High Prairie Golden Age Club for being open to working with us, to Big Lakes County council for its unanimous endorsement of this most worthy project and the FCS board for its support,”

To reserve a seat or for more information, phone the Grouard FCS office at [780] 751-3806.