TERRACE BAY — The township of Terrace Bay is seeking funding for a new vehicle to run their medical transportation service to Thunder Bay and Marathon.
The “community health travel program,” run in collaboration with the Terrace Bay Superior Seniors Centre, is open to all residents from Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Marathon, Jackfish, Rossport, and Pays Plat First Nation.
The project began in June 2015 as an initiative between the township and the Ministry of Transportation and saw 98 riders in its first year.
To date, they’ve had approximately 1,200 total passenger trips, a number which seems to only be growing.
“It’s a service that is really needed by people,” said ride coordinator Edna Arthur. “As we age, many people don’t like to drive to the city anymore and, for the most part, if you’re seeing a specialist you have to go to the city. I speak as a senior myself: you don’t like to call your family and friends all the time just for a routine appointment. So, by having the health transportation that means your family don’t have to take a day off of work to drive you to the city.”
Arthur said that many of the people she schedules rides for on a weekly basis are regular clients but that she also receives calls from new clients at an increasing rate, especially as more people become aware of the service.
Of course, as Arthur pointed out, the program isn’t “just for seniors” — and companions travelling to support those with an appointment travel at no cost.
The program is funded in part by the township, with the rest coming from the ministry.
In 2018, the township successfully applied to the community transportation grant program and received just over $266,000 to continue running their community health travel service.
“The MTO provides us with annual operating funding,” said community development supervisor Luke Bedard. “[They] give us between $35,000 to $40,000 dollars a year to operate the program, and it costs the residents of Terrace Bay roughly $5,000… but it’s dependent on how many riders we do or don’t have.”
Funding was set until 2023 but has since been extended to 2025.
The ministry recently opened a “request for additional funding” that the township has applied for, but that is in addition to the rural transit solutions fund grant for which the township has also applied.
The rural transit solutions fund would provide Terrace Bay with enough support to purchase a new vehicle for the health travel program.
Currently, volunteers are using a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse to transport passengers from nearby townships to their medical and specialist appointments.
Bedard mentioned that there are between 10 to 15 drivers who all use the same vehicle.
With the Traverse sitting at around 300,000 kilometres on the odometer, the township is well-ready to get funding for something new — especially for what has proven to be such a vital service.
“We’re on our second vehicle at this point,” said Arthur.
Bedard said that the township is hoping to hear back about the rural transit solutions fund before the end of the year.
“The really great thing about the program is that it gives people the opportunity to stay in their homes and stay in the community of their choice,” said Bedard. “Where, if they have those regular medical appointments – whether it be for a check-up or dialysis or anything – and, maybe they are unable to drive or just not comfortable… this provides people the opportunity to go see those specialists but still live in Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Jackfish, Marathon, or wherever they choose to and not be forced to live in the city to [have] access to those medical appointments.”
“The people are so grateful for this service,” said Arthur. “And we have excellent drivers – we are very lucky to have that.”
Residents looking to book travel time are urged to call 1-807-825-3315 extension 7204 to arrange their trip. Reservations are made 24 hours in advance.
