Stock photo used to protect client’s privacy.
“Since having brain surgery, I have not been able to drive because of dizziness, blurred vision, and nausea. For the first few months following my surgery, I had friends drive me to my medical appointments, but as time went on, it became hard to continue to ask for help,” shared KC.
“Then, I found the Archway Community Van program who was able to set me up with rides to and from my appointments for a small fee, as taking a taxi was out of my budget.
“This program has been absolutely life-changing for me. I’ve been able to take care of my health and manage my pain.”
The Community Van offers a low barrier, affordable transportation service to residents in Abbotsford. The program originated in 2020 as a pilot project with support from community partners including numerous local businesses and the City of Abbotsford. It currently operates with grants and generous contributions from donors and users of the service.
The service is available weekdays and costs are kept nominal through the commitment of volunteer drivers. The service can be used to access support and services throughout Abbotsford, and in some instances, to other communities. Abbotsford is the largest municipality in British Columbia in terms of land area, and transportation options can be limited for vulnerable populations who may not have proximity or require additional support to reach transit stops.
Clients only pay 65 cents a kilometer which is significantly cheaper than taxis or Ubers, where a fee upwards of $3 can be charged before the ride even begins.
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Sign up to volunteer or donate at Archway.ca/CommunityVan
Alida in the Community Van.
Sarah’s Story
Sarah first started accessing Community Van two years ago.
“It was important for me to no longer have to rely on my son,” said Sarah.
She uses the service to attend medical appointments, run errands, and visit her husband who lives in a care home.
“Without the Community Van, I would not have the opportunity to visit my husband as often as I am able to,” said Sarah.
Due to the flexibility of Archway’s Community Van program, she can safely take her husband back to his nursery to visit former employees and have his favourite sushi for lunch; providing him with a much-needed change of scenery.
“I prefer to use Community Van as it is one third or less the cost of a taxi,” said Sarah.
“Our service is not only affordable, but it provides clients with a social connection as they are able to connect with the volunteers and see them on a regular basis,” said Alida Swanson, the Community Van Coordinator.
“The drivers are polite and very accommodating. I have never had any issues with the service,” said Sarah.
“Without the Community Van, I would not have the opportunity to visit my husband as often as I am able to. The drivers are polite and very accommodating. I have never had any issues with the service.”
Impact of the Transit Strike
In the spring of 2023, there was a four-month transit strike that severely impacted public transit users including many of the most vulnerable in our community. At 124 days, the Fraser Valley transit strike was the second longest transit strike in BC history.
Seniors, students, newcomers, those with disabilities and low-income families were among those that were hardest hit, with few alternatives that worked for their budget.
“We were hearing from seniors who were experiencing increased isolation and loneliness because of the transit strike which significantly impacted their mental health and well-being. Clients weren’t able to pick up their food bank hampers or travel to work, which put them even further behind,” said Rod Santiago, Archway’s Central Executive Officer (CEO).
“Youth and newcomers had difficulty getting to school and there were adult learners falling asleep in their English classes because they were so tired from working overtime to pay for the increased transportation costs.”
“During the transit strike, the number of clients requesting rides doubled,” said Alida. “The increased demand was very hard to meet with our limited number of volunteers and the restricted number of staff hours to coordinate all the rides.”
The program had to start booking 10 days in advance to accommodate the increased requests.
Since the beginning of the year, the program has had 117 new clients which is far more than ever before.
“The strike demonstrated how important reliable and affordable public transportation is for our community’s health and wellbeing,” said Rod.
While demand has slowed since the strike ended, there is still a need for the Community Van for those with barriers to accessing public transportation. Clients may not live near a bus route or may be uncomfortable with public transportation due to health concerns, trauma or mobility barriers.
“Youth and newcomers had difficulty getting to school and there were adult learners falling asleep in their English classes because they were so tired from working overtime to pay for the increased transportation costs.”
Growing Concerns
“We currently only have 3-4 volunteers which is the lowest we have been at in a while,” said Alida.
Finding volunteers has been a challenge as the position requires all drivers to have a first aid certificate.
“Some people are interested in volunteering, but some are not interested or able to obtain a first aid certificate which is around $100,” said Alida.
Due to budget constraints, the program cannot cover the certificate’s cost.
The program was at risk of closure due to funding running out in March during the beginning of the transit strike, however a generous anonymous donation has allowed them to continue running.
“We currently only have 3-4 volunteers which is the lowest we have been at in a while.”
Volunteer Feature
Norm has been a volunteer driver for Community Van for over a year.
He first heard about the program after an Archway staff member came to his church to speak about the various programs offered to residents in Abbotsford.
“Since I’m retired, I was looking for a hands-on opportunity to give back to the community,” said Norm.
Norm volunteers three times a week for five hours a day which has allowed him to first-hand see the beneficial impact this program has had on residents in Abbotsford.
“Clients are very gracious and thankful that I am able to drive them anywhere they need. The variety of people I am able to interact with on a daily basis has been a wonderful experience so far.”
Clients often share how meaningful the connections are to them.
“The volunteer drivers and staff at Archway take care of me like I am a family member! This ride program is helping me get on my feet again!” said KC.
Looking Ahead
“The anonymous donation allowed us to keep running during a critical time and gave us more time to search for reliable and sustainable funding,” said Alida. “We’re not sure what the future looks for us when the funding runs out in the fall.”
In the meantime, Alida and her crew of volunteer drivers continue to help their community one ride and connection at a time.
“Clients are very gracious and thankful that I am able to drive them anywhere they need. The variety of people I am able to interact with on a daily basis has been a wonderful experience so far.”