NUNAVUT - With the health centre located at the other end of town, the hamlet of Pangnirtung needed a way for elders to get to their appointments.

Kimmirut and Pangnirtung have buses to transport their youngest and oldest residents to where they need to go, but while the buses were paid for by other sources, the operating costs are up to them. From left passenger, Joanasie Atsiaq enjoys the bus ride while former driver Noah Lyta makes his rounds around Kimmirut. - photo courtesy of Billy Akavak

"There are five or six individuals in town who are wheelchair bound and they need a way to move around town," said Ron Mongeau, senior administrative officer.

Using money from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association social development fund, the hamlet purchased a bus equipped for handicapped access for $79,000, including freight, from Kemptville, Ont., which arrived in the summer of 2009.

But the questions remains how long it will be before they can put the bus into service. Right now, it is being used sporadically until it can be figured out who will fund the running of the bus and the salary of the driver.

The SAO and the youth committee are working together to ensure the elders can get around town.

Mongeau said the goal is to have the bus in operation by March 1.

Communities in the territory with buses are eager to use them and are trying to find the money to get them up and running.

"We just went for it as there's not a lot of money available for accessibility enhancements," said Mongeau.

It seems in order to get transportation for the young and old, hamlets have had to step up to the plate and pay for it themselves.

Kimmirut's 24-seater bus has been running for about a month. The bus itself was purchased by the Government of Nunavut and has been in the community for about four years. The problem was there was no one who had the proper licence to drive it.

In December, an instructor and driver examiner came and certified four bus drivers. There is now one primary driver.

Every morning, noon hour and at the end of the day, the bus does a circuit from the school making stops near the arena, the airport, uptown and near the gas station.

"I think the kids really rely on it now," said Akeego Ikkidluak, hamlet SAO.

In the past they would have walked or rode Ski-Doos in the chilly temperatures to the school. Ikkidluak said she heard of one boy who was not keen on going to school but now with the bus his attendance has greatly improved.

On Feb. 3, Ikkidluak said the bus had been full for the last couple of days due to cooler temperatures and blowing snow. The driver has had to tell the older kids to walk.

Ikkidluak said the school first had the contract for the bus but the costs were getting too high. The hamlet took over the contract this fast fall. The hamlet pays for the gas.

Ikkidluak said she is happy to have the bus running but was frustrated with the GN that it took so long to get the process of driver certification going.

When hearing about how the elders are using the bus in Pangnirtung, she said it might come to that but for now it is only the youth who are using the bus.

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