Late last year, the Jasper Seniors Society applied for a provincial grant to keep the seniors bus on the road, and on Nov. 9, its request was finally granted.
The bus fund will receive $17,000 from the Community Initiatives Program.
Yellowhead MLA Eric Rosendahl was in Jasper to announce the news. He applauded the seniors society for its ongoing dedication to the seniors bus and for its efforts to apply for funding.
“Without the seniors group, this just wouldn’t happen,” he said.
Glenda Cornforth, president of the Jasper Seniors Society, said the funding is greatly appreciated and will be put to good use.
In November 2014, the society announced that its reserve funds—which have kept the bus on the road for the past few years—were running low.
At that time it applied for the Community Initiatives Program grant and also issued a plea for help, asking the community to pitch in, either by offering donations or by taking over the operation of the bus all together, and shortly after, cheques started rolling in.
“We waited a year for this,” said Cornforth of the grant funding. “We weren’t sure we’d get it, that’s why we started fundraising last year, which was very successful. We’ve also had good reception this year, so now this will just make [the fund] solid so we can keep operating for another three or four years.”
The seniors bus has been operating in Jasper since 1994, bringing seniors to town to run errands or visit the doctor each Friday and travelling to Hinton once a month for medical appointments.
Prior to 2010, it received provincial funding for its operational costs. But that year the funding was cut so the municipality stepped in to ensure the service would continue for another year.
Then in 2011, the seniors society received a one-time provincial grant for another year of operation. Since then, it has been on the society’s shoulders to come up with the funds to provide Jasper’s seniors with safe transportation to and from town.
It costs about $18,000 to keep the bus rolling each year and with the loss of grants, the seniors society has struggled to raise those funds.
The current bus—the only vehicle in town with a wheelchair lift—was purchased in 2002, after a substantial fundraising effort by the seniors. Each year it sees about 500 users, whether it’s just for a trip to town or to Hinton for a medical appointment.
It’s also used by the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge for group outings, like picnics and afternoon tea at Marmot Basin.
Seniors interested in catching the bus are encouraged to call 780-852-3447 and anyone interested in donating to the bus fund is invited to call Cornforth at 780-852-4578.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
