by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region council will send a letter about the importance of Greyhound bus service as a follow-up to Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon’s recent letter to the company.
The letter speaks to the concern of only one bus a day departing from Pembroke to Ottawa at 5:15 in the morning.
Part of Warden Emon’s letter reads: “I would also respectfully suggest to you the single bus with a very early start is having a detrimental affect on the residents of the Town of Deep River and area community, the Town of Petawawa and area community, the Village of Cobden and area, the Township of Renfrew and area community and the Town of Arnprior and the area communities…..
“I would hope Greyhound would consider adjusting the route time, adding additional routes and same day return along the Highway 17 corridor. To that end I would be willing in collaboration with (Pembroke Mayor Mike Lemay), to arrange and host a series of meetings in the six communities mentioned to introduce your company to a number of community members whose demographic might utilize improved service.”
The letter also noted Greyhound does not advertise regarding its route, which means businesses cannot rely on it for product delivery. He further noted, “I must confess I am a bit perplexed at the business model which bears an eerie similarity to the one which foreshadowed the demise of train traffic through our communities.”
During the Oct. 21 council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons said, “The Warden wrote an impassioned plea to Greyhound and I think he’s looking for support.”
She questioned if council wanted her to draft a letter of support on behalf of council.
Mayor Johnson said, “I think it’s a good idea to support this. People use it.”
While the service may have been cut because it’s not being used as much as it once was, he still believes it’s a service that is necessary.
“I’d be in support of a letter of support,” he said, with concurrence from Councillor Daryl McLaughlin.
“When my daughter wants to come home from North Bay, she has to get on the bus at midnight,” he said. “That’s not happening, so dad has to go get her, he said.
Council agreed to send a letter supporting Warden Emon’s letter to Greyhound
