Stephen Pyke is one of the early users of Veiner Vintage Transport. The new service shuttles seniors to and from appointments and the Veiner Centre for socialization. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

By Chris Brown

Veiner Vintage Transport rolling to get seniors to appointments, social time

Aug 21, 2023 | 3:53 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The wheels are in motion on a new service at the Veiner Centre that is helping community members get to where they need to go.

For almost two weeks now a small group of volunteer drivers have been shuttling people like Stephen Pyke to and from appointments, and giving them a chance to get out of the house to socialize.

“I suffer from Parkinson’s so it gets me out and when I play cards my shakes are a little bit smaller so I enjoy coming,” says Stephen.

He says he used to take Special Transit in from Redcliff but finds Veiner Vintage Transport much more convenient.

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He has been catching rides from Emma Walker.

“He has a fairly quiet week I think when he’s not down here,” she says. “But bringing him down here that’s his full day – seeing his friends, playing crib, he gets to chat to me and yeah I think that’s really nice. I get to sit and ask them about their life as well in between.”

Walker has been driving one day a week so far for about an hour each day. She looks forward to driving more often as interest and use of the service picks up.

A membership for the Veiner Centre is not required to book a ride says Cori Fischer, director of Unison at Veiner Centre.

She says when Unison took over operations at the centre they quickly learned some seniors were finding it tough to get around the community, particularly those who have a low income. Fares are based on income and start at $5 for a roundtrip.

Fischer says for now the service is focused on getting people to necessary appointments.

“We want to get them to medical appointments. We want to be able to get them to the dentist, to the bank, to the lawyers,” she says.

They’re also helping get people to the Veiner Centre and may expand to drive people to other social activities.

Walker is going the extra mile for the clients she serves.

“I personally am one of the volunteers that has said I will take to the vet with their pets. I’ve got some clients for who that’s really important and my vehicle is set up that I’m happy to do that service for people.”

Stephen can’t say enough about his driver and the service.

“They’re prompt, they’re courteous, they’re nice and it’s good,” he says.

Veiner Vintage Transport is currently available for people in Medicine Hat, Redcliff and Dunmore and plans are to get into the rural areas when more drivers from the smaller communities are on board.

Anyone interested in becoming a driver can call Tammy at 403-525-8657.