Pembroke – Residents of Laurentian Valley (LV) Township and the City of Pembroke now have a newer and more accessible transit option thanks to joint funding from the federal and provincial governments.

The Pembroke and LV Handi-Bus is a fully accessible door-to-door transit service which has provided rides to help the disabled with various tasks and activities, like going to appointments, grocery shopping, adult day/school programs, swimming, church services, weddings, funerals, celebrations, ceremonies and sporting events just to name a few.

The program has been overseen by the Friends of the Disabled organization since 1989 and after nearly 5,000 trips to date just this year, they’re finally rolling out some well-earned new wheels. Their now retired 14-year-old GMC 15-passenger kneeling (low-floor) bus had undergone extensive maintenance for several years before ultimately going out of commission in 2023. Their updated fleet consists of a 2014 Ford bus, which they’ll consider replacing in the future, a 2019 Dodge ProMaster passenger van and the additional 2024 ProMaster, which should keep the wheels on the Handi-Bus spinning ‘round and ‘round for at least another decade.

The purchase was made possible through $119,000 in funding to the City of Pembroke, with the federal government investing 40 per cent ($65,000) and the province contributing 33 per cent ($54,000). The city is contributing about $43,000 to the total bill of over $162,000, which will be funded through the transit gas tax reserve fund.

Handi-Bus Manager, Dan Callaghan, was up at the crack of dawn the morning of August 15, wiping down the new passenger van and arranging a podium to welcome dignitaries to make a special announcement. They went on to present the shiny new van to the community and elaborated on the many services the funding would benefit. Before the presentation, Mr. Callaghan gave an impromptu speech highlighting the importance of the Handi-Bus and its services.

“If you’re going grocery shopping, we’ll assist with your packages,” he said. “We will put them in the vehicle, get you to your home, stop at the door and put them inside, so all you have to do is unload. There’s no charge for caregivers as well. We assist you with everything, and it is door-to-door.”

Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski kicked off the formal event by thanking attendees and highlighting the importance of making grants for these opportunities.

“This system provides such a tremendous benefit to those who are challenged by transportation,” he remarked. “This is a special program here today; it’s so wonderful to have. I want to congratulate them for their initiative, forward-thinking and commitment they’ve made to providing this service to the people here.”

Hastings-Lennox-Addington MPP Ric Bresee, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, said the ability to connect with peers, family and friends is incredibly important.

“Our government is dedicated to investing in public transit across the province because we know all of our municipalities need this to succeed,” he stated. “That need has never been greater. That’s why our government is investing close to $70 billion over the next 10 years on public transit that will connect communities and allow Ontarians to thrive.

“Today we’re doing more than investing in a van, we’re investing in Pembroke’s future. Our government is here to make sure the city has what it needs, so together we can support the hard-working people who make it such a wonderful place.”

Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais explained the importance of retiring the aging vehicle with the service’s quickly escalating use.

“We have an awesome manager, Dan Callaghan, who provides the board with updated information on a monthly basis, so we know what’s transpiring,” he shared. “What’s interesting this year is that in 2023, year-over-year, there’s a whopping 37 per cent increase in the use of this service.”

Despite holding about half the passengers, it will actually increase service capacity since it’s more easily maneuverable and doesn’t require a special driver’s license.

It took approximately six months to fully convert the van to be accessible for wheelchair passengers and about two years for the whole process from application to approval. The conversion was handled by the Canadian company MoveMobility, which specializes in manufacturing accessible vehicles.

The organization employs three professional full-time drivers and one part-timer, who are not only equipped with CPR and first-aid training but also have a deep connection to their riders.

Actively open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., they also announced the expansion of the services to include Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

However, they urge booking as soon as possible to arrange a driver in advance. In case of emergency unscheduled appointments, they ask trips to be booked at least two hours ahead of time.

Services for out-of-town locations such as Petawawa, Beachburg, Westmeath and Eganville can be reserved but should be booked several days in advance.

There are no restrictions other than scheduling your ride at least 24 hours in advance, and service fees are based on the trip length. Shorter trips cost about $7 each way, but they also offer prepaid passes, providing 10 rides for $65.

Find the Pembroke and LV Handi-Bus at 170 Ellis Ave or contact them at (613) 735-6889.