Kikinahk Friendship Centre has purchased three 15-passenger vans and a 32-passenger bus in the last year. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

transportation

Kikinahk discussing ways to serve public with extra vans

Feb 8, 2022 | 5:08 PM

La Ronge’s Kikinahk Friendship Centre has a surplus of 15-passenger vans and board members are in the midst of determining how those vehicles could assist tri-community residents.

Two weeks ago, Kikinahk received a 32-passenger Ford F-550 bus to transport children in the Headstart program, replacing the need of two 15-passenger vans previously used.

Executive director Ron Woytowich explained within the last year, the centre was able to purchase three vans and the bus with all four vehicles being completely funded by the federal government. The bus took more than one year to arrive from Texas due to COVID-related issues, so the vans were purchased as a short-term solution.

“If you go back a year or so we had a contract with NorthWinds Bus Lines for regular school bussing,” he said. “Federally, the decision was made… that we were going to have our own bus service and that the children would not mix with others.”

All four vehicles cost close to $300,000 with the F-550 coming in at $140,000. While the 15-passenger vans require a regular Class 5 license to operate, those driving the Ford F-550 need a Class 2 license. Woytowich employs one full-time bus driver already, but would like to hire another as a spare.

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With the extra vans available, Woytowich noted Kikinahk board members have ideas on how they could serve the public. He said there’s been talk about using a van to make trips to Prince Albert and back once or twice per week, or using a van to make local stops at grocery stores, schools, pharmacies and other businesses and organizations.

This new 32-passenger bus will transport Headstart students. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Woytowich added the board might also be open to lending out a van to local sports groups and others to make group trips to out of town events or tournaments.

“We’re working on trying to figure out a service that would provide bussing in La Ronge in some regular way,” he said. “At the board level, we kind of talked about what we are going to do and what we can get permissions for.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno