Juan de Fuca seniors are always on the go and soon they’ll travel in a new ride.
The City of Colwood guaranteed the 55+ Juan de Fuca Seniors Activity Centre up to $22,000 toward a bus.
“I don’t want to take the whole $22,000 if we don’t need it all,” said Rita Perren, the centre’s director and fundraising chair.
The five-member executive will meet in the next few weeks to add up current donations and determine exactly how much more is needed.
“We want to provide them with the opportunity to go and purchase a new bus,” said Mayor Carol Hamilton.
The seniors group applied for a $5,000 grant this year, but Hamilton explained the centre spends about $4,000 on maintenance each year on the current bus. With a new one, they would spend significantly less on annual maintenance.
The centre has been fundraising for new wheels with the last reported amount needed was $22,0000. Colwood approved giving the centre that amount if the centre does not apply for any other grants through council for the next five years.
The money came from funds Colwood was reimbursed after overpaying for policing.
The centre plans to buy a new Suburban bus, being sold to the seniors at cost. Its retail value is more than $130,000. The new bus will seat 24 people, six more than the previous bus.
The seniors centre is still collecting donations for the new bus and hopes to sell the old one. For more information call 250-474-8618.