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Laurentian Valley – A not-for-profit transportation service for individuals with disabilities that operates in and is jointly funded by the City of Pembroke and Laurentian Valley (LV) Township, continued to see demand for service increase in 2024.
During the Friends of the Disabled report, presented by Councillor Wendy Hewitt at the January 7 meeting, she shared data from the annual report from Pembroke/Laurentian Valley Handi-Bus manager Dan Callaghan.
“I wanted to share some of these facts because I have been asked in the community different things about how many buses we have,” she said.
Coun. Hewitt noted 2024 marked the 35th year the Handi-Bus was in operation.
“And we have an amazing group of professional, reliable, people who run the service for the seniors and those with physical disabilities,” she said.
The service traditionally operated Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. but in 2024, it expanded to include Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“That has been great, and I know that’s a continued thing,” she remarked. “I can see it getting busier.”
There are three vehicles in the fleet, including a 2013 that “is getting older”, a 2019 model, and the new vehicle that was acquired through a grant in 2024. The 2013 vehicle has 209,000 kilometres on it as of year-end and is due to be replaced in the next few years.
Coun. Hewitt said as required by law, the vehicles are checked daily in a walk-around inspection and any major deficiency is reported and the vehicle is automatically taken out of service.
“They also do random checks from MTO (Ministry of Transportation) and they are unannounced,” she pointed out. “And for the past 14 years straight, there has been no deficiencies.”
Last year, the buses travelled over 4,400 kms, transporting groups and individuals. All three vehicles are wheelchair accessible, as well as for people with ambulatory equipment such as walkers.
“They did 662 trips with the wheelchairs and 6,716 trips with ambulatory people using walkers,” she shared. “And Laurentian Valley residents alone, there were 121 trips using the wheelchairs and 748 ambulatory, which is a very huge increase from the previous year as well.”
She said the service provides transportation to medical appointments, shopping, banking, part-time jobs, special family events, funerals and birthdays, dialysis, hair appointments, etc.
“The service is door-to-door, just as a reminder,” she noted, citing one example where a client attending a funeral was assisted into the funeral home by the driver and stayed with the individual until they were finished.
“Which I think is a pretty amazing service,” she added.
She acknowledged and thanked the three full-time and two part-time staff for their dedication.
“One of our drivers, Margaret Wren, has been there for 33 years, Nora Johnston has been there for seven years,” she stated.
She was unsure how long the part-time drivers had been there, adding a driver was added due to the expansion to Sunday service. All drivers are CPR and emergency first aid certified.
“And they have all passed a Vulnerable Sector Check with the OPP as well.”
Emergency protocols are in place for Marianhill, Miramichi Lodge, Riverview Heights and Supples Landing, she said.
“What that means is in the event of an emergency evacuation we will be contacted through a very specific protocol to be on-site within 55 minutes and provide transportation.”
She said service manager Dan Callaghan does a wonderful job of running the operation and is on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
“So, as you can see, it is a very professional and essential service,” she said.