CHAD has ‘ever-increasing’ client base
Approximately five years ago, CHAD Transit launched its charter service, transporting people to weddings, birthday parties and other places they need to go.
“It allows groups and individuals to participate in social events,” said board chairperson Faus Johnson, “and allowing us to keep fares at reasonable rates.”
But that success has created capacity issues. “We’re not always able to meet the demand of the ever-increasing client base,” said Johnson.
This led to the idea of offering a fixed route transit service in Pictou County. “Despite overwhelming public support, we were unable to get the consensus of the six municipalities, so it’s been put on back burner indefinitely,” Johnson told those present at CHAD’s annual general meeting last week.
In order to have the fixed route service operational by the fall, it was necessary for the Pictou County municipalities – the towns of Pictou, Westville, Stellarton, Trenton and New Glasgow and the Municipality of Pictou County – to commit to funding for the pilot project earlier than originally anticipated.
Johnson said the issue was that the bus had to be ordered and the chassis built. “That’s the reason we had to speed up the process.”
Representatives from Westville and Pictou County attended the meeting, and noted that the timeline change didn’t allow them to earmark funds for the project.
“The county didn’t turn it down,” said county councillor Peter Boyles. “We just didn’t have time. It was pushed on us real quick.”
Westville councillor Lynn MacDonald said her town was willing to look at the request from CHAD, but the deadline passed before their budget deliberations were complete.
CHAD began in 1996 primarily
as a service for seniors and people with disabilities.
Executive director Danny MacGillivray said it has “grown exponentially” since then.
“The number of trips is growing, what we’re offering the community is growing, and we
expect growth in the foreseeable future.”
Six buses and one minivan service the community, including a safe drive home program sponsored by NSLC from such large-scale events as the Pictou Lobster Carnival and the New Glasgow Riverfront Music Jubilee.
Linda Fraser of Park Falls is a CHAD client who experienced a brain injury five years ago. She said as she was regaining her independence, she relied on the transit service to engage in community events such as going to the YMCA or meeting a friend for coffee.
Troy Lees is a client coordinator for Community Services who works with the disability support program. He said approximately 400 clients in Pictou County are served by CHAD, such as clients living in their own homes, along with those from Highland Community Residential Services, which serves persons with a developmental disability and/or those who are dealing with a mental
health issue, and Riverview Home Corporation, which provides services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, brain injuries and long-term mental illness.
He said CHAD allows clients to travel to medical appointments, shopping, social events and work placements. “CHAD is the best, cost effective service we have in Pictou County in terms of people with disabilities.”
JoAnn van Vulpen, a teacher at Pictou Academy who facilitates the Options and Opportunities program, said CHAD’s service has been instrumental in allowing students to travel to learning opportunities outside the school. About three years ago use of school buses was restricted, and the transit service has been used for more than 30 trips to such places as universities, the Frasers Mills fish hatchery, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport where they learned about security and airport operations, and Sugar Moon Farm, where students learned about entrepreneurship.
“This is reliable transportation,” she said. “We can count on this transportation to get students there safely. It’s been a great partnership, and I’m so relieved it’s available to my students.”