Lynn Florence
Director
Smoky River Community Transportation Program
Smoky River Community Transportation Program; more than just a Senior’s bus, more than just a medical trip bus, more than just a wheel chair accessible bus – much, much more!
The Smoky River Community Transportation is now in the thirteenth year of operating and is unique to the Smoky River region. The program, administered by Smoky River FCSS, is funded through user fees and the generosity of our five municipalities – the MD of Smoky River No. 130, the Towns of Falher and McLennan as well as the Villages of Donnelly and Girouxville.
The program originated to provide access to doctors and specialists in the larger centres and has evolved into a program that encourages social visits to family and friends for all. This program is very important not only to help older persons’ age in place but also for younger people who need to get about.
Who can ride? Residents of the Smoky River region can all access the van for trips to Peace River, Grande Prairie and High Prairie as well as special trips. Coming up is the “Trips with Jean” to the Grande Prairie Casino to see the Irish Descendants, To the Triangle Hall for a Canadian Barn Dance and Crystal has a family trip to see the Black Umfolosi in Slave Lake and the “Youth PD Days” to go snow shoeing in Muskoseepi Park in Grande Prairie, glass blowing in Berwyn, skiing at Little Smoky Ski Hill and tobogganing at EC Bar Ranch in High Prairie.
The van is also utilized by the FCSS Summer Youth Program participants for trips around the region as well as weekly trips for swimming as well as a day in Winagami. In addition, the smaller van is used for hospital runs by persons unable to travel in a normal vehicle. The van can also be rented by individuals or families for wheelchair bound persons wanting to attend family functions.
Currently, the service provides two scheduled trips a month to Grande Prairie, one trip a month to Peace River and one trip a month to High Prairie. And we want to continue to expand the program to make it as user friendly as possible. This means we need additional funds to help cover the cost of these regular trips we are looking for business or corporations to sponsor these regular trips. Your donation for these trips would help us continue to provide this service for all ages to access medical appointments, socialize or enjoy the many sights of the Peace region. If you would like to help us, please contact Jean or Lynn at (780) 837-2220.
If you would like to receive the three-month schedule of up and coming trips with the Smoky River Community Program bus, please contact the office at (780) 837-2220 so we may add you to our mailing list. Or like us on Facebook for more up to date postings of current trips available.