Kikinahk used a 15-passenger van to operate the free service. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

transportation

Seniors targeted for free bus service study

Mar 28, 2025 | 5:00 PM

An assistant professor with the University of Saskatchewan is continuing his research on the free bus service formerly provided by La Ronge’s Kikinahk Friendship Centre.

The new study by Jacob Alhassan is called Sustaining Innovative Community-Driven Transportation in Northern Saskatchewan: Exploring the Impact of Kikinahk Free Bus Service on Older Adults’ Quality of Life and Social Participation. He’s seeking about 15 participants for the study, which he hopes to launch in the very near future.

“We will actually do another study on youth in the coming months, but we are starting with seniors (65 and up) because seniors face restrictive mobility even in situations when transportation is available,” Alhassan said, noting they are also a group bearing the largest brunt of lack of access to transportation, both in Northern Saskatchewan and all over the province.

“Seniors deal with isolation, loneliness, and sometimes they also find it difficult to participate socially.”

Participants will be involved in what’s called a photovoice activity, which will include being given a camera and being asked to document images that show how a lack of transportation affects their lives. Those images will then be collected, and the group of participants will decide which photos are the most impactful.

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The data will then be compiled in a report that Alhassan explained can be used by decision makers to advocate for a return of the free bus service. The service from La Ronge to Prince Albert was provided by Kikinahk via federal funding from April 2023 to June 2024.

“All of this is geared towards advocacy because we are bent on working with community members and partners to help bring back this crucial service because we know what it did to help people in terms of family visits, medicals and just freedom to be able to move around,” Alhassan said.

In his previous research, Alhassan found the free bus service had a “tremendous” impact on northerners, and in particular, seniors. The service allowed users to make it to medical appointments, attend cultural activities, visit with friends and family, and more.

If anyone is interested in taking part in Alhassan’s newest study, they should reach out to him as soon as possible at 1-306-966-5655. Participants will be given gift cards as compensation for their time.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com