The new bus should arrive some time this month. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

accessibility

Children North meets fundraising goal to purchase new accessible bus

Nov 4, 2022 | 3:08 PM

La Ronge’s Children North has met its fundraising goal to purchase a new 15-passenger bus.

A $25,000 grant from the Union of Safety and Justice Employees announced earlier this week was enough for the organization to finally purchase the wheelchair-accessible bus.

The fundraiser has been ongoing for more than a year.

“Just a huge thank you to everybody who helped us because that was a huge purchase and we would not be able to do that without everybody’s support,” executive director Daina Lapworth said. “We’re not allowed to buy capital like no vehicles, no places or anything like that. No capital purchases through our funding. The only way we can get vehicles is to fundraise.”

Lapworth told larongeNOW in November 2021 the cost for a 15-passenger van, which Children North was seeking to buy at the time, would cost an estimated $80,000. During that time, she explained prices continued to increase and the supply for vans available to purchase in Canada dwindled. Instead of the van, the organization went ahead and purchased a bus instead.

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Lapworth was unable to provide the make, model, and estimated value of the bus.

The bus will be used to transport clients to therapy, as well as be used for family engagement support, parenting classes, mentorships, staff training, and recreational outings.

“It’s fantastic. We are very excited,” Lapworth said. “They are painting our stuff on the side of it right now, so as soon as that’s done, we can pick it up.”

Children North, which has 25 staff and operates in several northern Saskatchewan communities, includes services such as early childhood intervention, speech-language pathology, cognitive disability strategy, family support, father engagement, mentorship, specialized support, and an outreach clinic.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno