Family and Community Support Services – In Focus
Georgia Dubois
Director
Smoky River FCSS
The Smoky River Community Transportation program has obtained a second smaller wheelchair accessible van to provide a much needed shuttle service between the various municipalities of the Smoky River Region.
The launch of the shuttle service will hopefully begin sometime in 2016! There are few things that are needed to finish the process, and we are looking for the help from our residents, organizations, businesses, etc.
The goal is to obtain as many completed needs surveys from as many residents, organizations, businesses, etc. in the region so that we may better understand the sort of shuttle service needed to assist the residents. Part of the process allows us to set up a pilot program that we are hoping will being in the fall of 2016.
Another use of the smaller bus will be our medical trips, for a fee of $100 we provide the service of being picked up at the Sacred Heart Community Health Centre and taken home as long as the resident is in the Smoky River region and is unable to be transported in a regular vehicle.
This service provides a much needed access for residents who are wheelchair bound that would otherwise need to call on an ambulance to get them home for a much higher rate. This also alleviates the non-emergent use of our ambulances.
The shuttle bus will not be used as a taxi service, as that falls under a different array of regulations, policies and insurance.
The existing Smoky River Community Transportation began more than ten years ago and is unique to the Smoky River region. General operating funds are derived through rider fees, as well as contributions from the municipalities of Donnelly, Falher, Girouxville, McLennan and the M.D. of Smoky River No. 130. It is the only program of its kind in Alberta.
The program is administered by Smoky River FCSS who in turn schedule, maintain and ensure all drivers, licensing, inspection and insurance requirements are met. The Smoky River Transportation Committee, comprised of members from all contributing municipalities as well as members from SRFCSS and members at large, meets about four times a year.
Please check out our Facebook page, as well as the survey that has been placed in this week Smoky River Express. Please fill it out and send it in to our FCSS office by April 29. Call our office at (780) 837-2220 if you would like a transportation schedule mailed to you, or if you would like to put your name on the list to take a trip!