BORDER CITY CONNECTS

A BIT OF HISTORY

The Lloydminster Handivan Society started 1980 when a group of community members took the initiative to explore the opportunities in finding a solution to the transportation needs of community member with had mobility challenges.  The Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation at that time had a grant program that was instrumental in providing part of the initial capital and the community group was able to raise additional funds and purchase their first wheelchair accessible unit. This gave citizens with mobility challenges an opportunity for more freedom and the independence to go where and when they wanted to.

BORDER CITY CONNECTS

In 2018 in order to recognize neutrality within the corporate name the Board of Directors officially changed the corporate charitable name from the “Lloydminster Handivan Society” to the ”Border City Connects Society”. As the overarching non-profit charitable Society it is the official recipient of all the donations, gifts and bequeaths and the corporation is CRA approved to issue charitable tax receipts for the other divisions under the Border City Connects Society’s corporate name.

The Border City Connects Society is governed by a volunteer board which consists of a variety of community members from many walks of life and a part time executive director.

BORDER CITY EXPRESS

Under the umbrella society we have also changed the Lloyd Handivan to the new name….”The Border City Express” and we continue to provide transportation to serve the mobility challenged individuals in our community both short and long term as we always have for more than 39 years.  BBExpress is a fixed cost per trip ($7.25) and provides door to door service that picks up clients at their residence, takes them to their destination and returned back to their home.

Border City Express clients use the service for a variety of reasons work, pleasure, educational medical appointments and spiritual worship. We have senior facilities that will go out on tours and adventure trips to the country, watch the annual parade and a variety of other social outings.

Some of our clients:

-     Public & Catholic School Division - K to 12

-    Senior Facilities – Dr Cook, Pioneer Lodge, LCC etc.

-    Community Groups such as LABIS and the MS Society etc.

-    Individual community and family members

-     Partnership with the Olive Tree Community Kitchen in assisting and transporting their guests to the evening meals and relationships with other community organizations

A fulltime Driver-Manager coordinates all logistics and oversees a staff of 6 part and full time drivers for the 7 day a week operation.  During the week we have 3 full time units on the road and one spare, the units in 2018 performed more than 16,000 trips.

BORDER CITY CAREAVAN

BCCareavan Provides transportation for both able bodied and physically challenged community members to “out of town” non-emergency medical appointments utilizing minivans as the means of transportation.

This division of the Border City Connects started in early 2016 after the Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation approached the Handivan Society with an issue they had identified within our community and asked if we could find a solution to transport community members that were unable to attend their out of town medical appointments.

A number of Lloydminster community members were finding it very difficult or impossible to attend for a variety of reasons:

-    Some folks didn’t drive or have a license

-    Didn’t have a reliable vehicle

-    Or have friends of family to assist

-    Many lacked confidence driving in the larger centers or in, winter conditions.

-    Many residents simply couldn’t afford traveling costs and the associated expenses, so they wouldn’t go causing personal health issues and potential additional overall costs to the healthcare system

A “Made in Lloydminster” solution was devised to offer this service to our community members in need and provide same day transportation as far east as Saskatoon and west to the greater Edmonton region.  For this model we use volunteer drivers to pick up the client from their residence and take them to their “out of town appointment” wait for them and return them to their home.

It is a door to door service and we supply the vehicle, fuel, volunteer driver and the volunteer coordinator who looks after all the logistics.

Cost to the client is a suggested donation of $100 or more for return trips to Edmonton or Saskatoon, $60 to Battleford $40 to Vermilion

For individuals with financial restrictions if they have a case worker most often, they have some transportation funding for out of town medical appointments.  For individuals that have no social assistance and financial restrictions we will work with you to get you to your appointment, we will never refuse a ride because of finances.

This service Is operated 100% by volunteers and we have approximately 25 volunteer drivers and a dedicated logistic volunteer that coordinates our clients and our volunteer drivers.  This service could simply not operate with out the volunteers….end of story. We receive absolutely no Government funding in any way and depend on donations generated by our clients and the generosity of business, service clubs, local foundations and individuals to assist with our day to day operations.

The Lloydminster Hospital Foundation allowed us start up immediately as they purchased our first mini van.  To date we now have 3 regular mini vans and a minivan with wheelchair accessibility that have been donated by the 100 + Women Who Care  organization, a volunteer driver fundraiser initiated by Clancy Hodgeson and a private local individual to the charity.

In 2018 we served more than 340 clients

The Border City Carevan has no set hours, we operate when ever there is a request and as long as we can get volunteer driver. We are proud that we  have a 99% average in matching volunteer and client.

BORDER CITY SHUTTLE

Is a subsidiary the Border City Connects Society and provides shuttle services for any kind of event or tour.  Going to Saskatoon or Edmonton for a sporting event or a concert, we can get your group there and back. Weddings whether it is getting wedding party participants out for pictures or providing transportation for your bachelorette or bachelor party or any pre or post wedding family and friends events we are able to provide you with professional service help make your special day memorable.

We also offer a “Safe Ride Home” service for all staff and corporate functions and whether it is a golf tournament or an employee function one aspect that can often be overlooked is transportation.  A Safe Ride Home, or even to and from a function or event, can help make your event more relaxing and memorable as you can rest assured that your staff and participants will arrive home safely.

While most employees look forward to staff functions, many employers aren’t aware of their own obligations for the event. Legally, an employer could be held liable or even partially responsible for an employee or guest’s accident where alcohol or cannabis is involved. Not only does hiring the Border City Shuttle service make sense for your guests, it is also a very smart business move.

Let us help you celebrate your event and provide your guests with a safe and reliable ride home which is very efficient and affordable by utilizing our expertise and our 14-seat tour van.

We have no fixed price so when you are booking our shuttle service for your event your donation will also be greatly assisting our non-profit organization allowing us to serve the Lloydminster community members that have mobility challenges.   A charitable tax receipt is also available for your donation.