WINDSOR, N.S. — After a challenging few years, members of the Windsor Senior Citizen Bus Society have reason to celebrate.
The group has succeeded in purchasing a new, customized bus for its clients. And, the non-profit organization owns it outright.
On Nov. 26, the provincial government announced $40,000 in funding while at a ribbon cutting ceremony at Haliburton Place in Windsor.
The funding, along with a $13,780 donation from Tim Hortons a few days earlier, brought the funding to $234,566.82 — the necessary amount to purchase the new bus.
“Getting the support from the Smile Cookie campaign and the provincial government means that the society does not have to take out a line of credit to pay back for the bus, we own it free and clear. That is nothing short of amazing, considering in 2016, we were not sure the society could even continue to exist,” Leslie Porter, chairwoman of the bus society, said prior to the ceremony.
“The board and members of the society are extremely happy and thankful that we have this new bus to add to our fleet and that we will continue to have three buses at work without any interruption to our clients.”
Porter has been involved with the organization for four years and was delighted to make the announcement in front of a room full of seniors.
“Not only did we want to cut a ribbon today to officially welcome No. 18 to the fleet but we felt it only fitting that we dedicate this new bus in memory of Mr. Grant Boyd — founder, caretaker and driver of the very first Windsor Seniors Bus,” she told the crowd gathered for the announcement.
Porter explained how the organization came to be and how far the group has come over the decades
“This great adventure began with a very strong community-minded person who had a great vision. This person was Grant Boyd, a retired school bus driver from Hants County,” said Porter.
Boyd, a retired school bus driver who was also a well-known musician, saw the need in the community and purchased a retired school bus, remodeled the inside, installed a lift for those in wheelchairs, and left some seats for those who were able to walk or could transfer.
“As the story goes, Grant didn’t charge a dime for this service, he took care of everything himself,” said Porter.
On Feb. 6, 1985, the Windsor Senior Citizen Bus Society was formed. In 1989, the group helped purchase a new snub nose bus to replace Grant’s first vehicle. That carried a price tag of about $69,000. Thirteen years later, the government inspector suggested the bus be replaced due to a rusting frame. By February 2005, enough money was raised (including a $10,000 bus trade in) to afford the new $188,465.40 bus. That bus operated until Oct. 31 of this year.
Porter said a new board took over in 2016, allowing the dedicated, hardworking directors a chance to retire. The society initiated a capital campaign to replace the 13-year-old bus. At the time, the estimate to replace the bus was $250,000. They began fundraising in earnest, as well as seeking grants and community support. One of their most popular fundraisers has been an online Facebook auction, which is held a couple times a year.
Bob Boyd, and his sister, Melodee Boyd, attended the naming ceremony that honoured their late father.
“It’s quite a day. It’s quite a step up to a quarter of a million dollar bus from a panel truck with benches in it... On behalf of our family, it’s quite an honour,” he told the audience.
“He put a lot of time (into it). Mom always came first but second was family, music and bus driving... it was a dead heat,” he said with a laugh, recollecting how much time his father gave to helping others and how proud he would be to see where the organization is now.
SMILES ABOUND
The government’s funding comes on the heels of a highly-successful cookie campaign.
Tim Hortons’ 2019 Smile Cookie campaign was held Sept. 16-22 across Canada. This year, the Windsor locations donated the proceeds raised to the Windsor Senior Citizen Bus Society.
“I think it was one of the best years we've had so far — $13,780. That's a lot of cookies,” said Ashley Langille-Wood, one of the local franchise co-owners.
“We had a lot of support from the community this year; we really tried hard to reach out and make sure everybody knew what we were raising money for and 100 per cent of funds raised went to the Windsor Senior Citizen Bus Society,” she added.
Throughout the campaign, Tim Hortons guests could purchase a signature chocolate chunk cookie, decorated with blue eyes and an iconic pink smile, for $1, plus applicable taxes. One dollar from every sale was then donated by Tim Hortons restaurant owners.
Several society members stopped by the downtown Windsor Tim Hortons’ location on Nov. 20 to pick up the cheque — and show off the new bus.
“It's so nice to see where the money goes,” said Langille-Wood. “A lot of times we don't really get to see that. So it's really nice to be able to say, 'here's the money that we raised for you' and they're like, 'well, here's what we're using it for.' And I think it's a much-needed society in our community.”
The new bus, which the society had been fundraising for several years to afford, arrived Nov. 1.
EXPANDED SERVICE
The Windsor Senior Citizen Bus Society operates three buses. They specialize in the transportation of senior citizens and people with accessibility issues. They’re frequently used by senior citizen homes and assisted care facilities, offering residents “a window to the world.”
The society also rents out their vehicles, enabling them to transport large groups to events or to take them on tours.
In February 2018, the group received a license to charter out the bus to other groups in the Kings-Hants area. Then, in December 2018, Callow Wheelchair Buses, which provided a similar service in Halifax, announced it was discontinuing its service.
Concerned with what that loss would mean to veterans, seniors, para-athletes and others with mobility challenges, the Windsor Senior Citizen Bus Society approached Callow, which resulted in the acquisition of two of their three buses — which provide larger capacity lifts that are able to support much larger bariatric chairs — and the organization requesting to transfer its motor carrier licence to the Windsor society. On Jan. 24, that transfer was approved. The fleet is now known as The Community Bus N.S. and can provide transportation service to anyone in the province who requires accessible and affordable transportation.
It’s been a long road to getting the new bus and expanding the scope of the group’s service, but Porter said it’s been a worthwhile venture.
“As I mentioned, this bus was built around what our clients themselves asked for in a bus, except the request for a bathroom,” she continued. “So far, the few clients that have had the bus already out for a spin are very happy with it.”
Porter said about 47,000 residents living in Haliburton Place, Dykeland Lodge, Windsor Elms Village, Hants Community Homes and Wolfville Nursing Home have benefited from the service over the past 34 years.
“As we move forward, we will maintain a capital campaign account so that any funds raised will be placed in this account for the new bus,” she said.
“Our operating account is now, we are very happy to say, able to sustain the business portion of running the bus so all the extra fundraising money we make can go directly into our campaign account for the next new bus.”
CONTACT INFO
To learn more about the Windsor Senior Citizen Bus Society, to donate to their ongoing fundraiser to keep rental costs low, or to book a trip aboard the bus, here's how to get in touch.
Call: 1-902-306-0625
Email: [email protected]
