The Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre is celebrating a boost to its ‘Go Friendly Shuttle’ program.
The initiative has been offering door-to-door transportation to local seniors, from their homes to the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre since 2008, with service later expanded to the Lethbridge Seniors Citizens Organization in the city’s downtown area.
This month, officials unveiled a new 2025 Ford Transit passenger van purchased for the program. “This service eliminates a lot of barriers for a lot of seniors,” said David Ng, the executive director at Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre.
He noted that there are many clients that do not drive, whether it be because they never got their license or cannot drive anymore due to mobility issues. The service helps them stay socially connected to the community.
“[It is] really [important] for a senior to [avoid becoming] isolated at home because they’re unable to get transportation to a social event,” Ng said.
SUCCESSFUL PILOT
The program began as a pilot initiative in 2008, between Nord-Bridge, the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Transit. Following a successful first year, council renewed the shuttle service, with the LSCO joining the program.
Ng explained that the shuttle was driven by a Lethbridge Transit driver, with the department also handling maintenance of the vehicle.
Currently, Ng said the program is primarily funded through Family and Community Support Services, with funding provided by the City of Lethbridge through the Community Social Development Committee.
“[At the] beginning of this year, January 1, [Lethbridge] Transit was no longer able to help us with the servicing and maintenance of the buses, so [Lethbridge] Transit got removed from that partnership. Now it’s just ourselves – Nord-Bridge – and the City funders,” he added.
The provincial government provided $38,500 in funding for the new van and program, and the City contributed $50,000 through the ‘Make Your Mark: One Time Grant Funding Opportunity’. Ng adds additional contributions came from Nord-Bridge members Terry Legg and Jackie Young, as well as other members of the centre and community.
“We definitely have seen a lot more use of the service. We have a little over 120 riders at certain times throughout the year, and we see a big spike in the fall and winter months, where people aren’t driving,” he said.
A GROWING COMMUNITY
Ng added that with population growth and new developments in Lethbridge, the shuttle route has expanded.
“We had to expand our services in the fact that our driver starts a little bit earlier now and sometimes his day ends a little [later] because we’re just spread out more geographically in the city now,” he explained.
The program currently operates over 7,500 one-way trips for seniors every year in Lethbridge.
Ng said seniors interested in booking transport can do so by calling the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre at 403-329-3222 the day before their pick-up.
Service is available between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Ng added that a one-way trip is $3.00, and the service maintains the same fare rates as Lethbridge Transit.
More information about the ‘Go Friendly’ shuttle program is available on the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre website.
