Drivers Needed to Help Elk Point Seniors

Drivers are needed to help seniors in Elk Point get to and from doctors’ appointments. Town Councillor Lorne Young, explains the Town has a van ready to go, but they are lacking the volunteers to drive it.

“We’ve had a few people in the community bring up the issue of seniors’ transportation,” Young explains Council spent quite a bit of time discussing ways to resolve the issue. “there is a handi-bus available for seniors living in the lodge, Buckingham and Fort George, but the problem we’re having now is drivers to drive the bus. We’re putting it out there, that maybe if [people knew] we would get some volunteers.” The bus has always been driven by volunteers, reports Young, “we’re running short on volunteers; some are getting older or facing health issues, or some just aren’t able to do it anymore.”

Our challenge is we have the bus, but we don’t have the drivers – Lorne Young Councillor for the Town of Elk Point

The bus is operated by the MD of St Paul Foundation, who will work with potential drivers to arrange a schedule that works for the driver, as well as the seniors in need of making their appointments. Typically, the bus will stay in the general Elk Point and County of St. Paul area, but there are cases where patients need to get to Lamont for an eye appointment.

“The fact that we have more than a few seniors living in the community, whether they are living in seniors’ facilities or not, who don’t have access to transportation and in a lot of cases don’t have access to family,” Young says it’s one of the Town’s top priorities to help the senior community.

If you would like to become a driver, please contact the Town of Elk Point by calling 780-724-3810 or email town@elkpoint.ca