THUNDER BAY — The 32nd annual First Rider program took off at Confederation College on Saturday.
“We’ve run continuously every year since 1994. We're very happy to be able to continue this tradition. It's seen generational movements through the program, so that's fantastic,” said Craig Murphy, Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay Consortium Manager.
With just under 400 kids registered in the program, Murphy said numbers are starting to come back to normal after the pandemic.
“It is one of the largest attendances since the pandemic.
“Prior to the pandemic, we would see roughly between 450 to 500 children come through the program. We practiced all the safety protocols, and we are very proud to be able to still offer the program during that time.
“We did see our numbers significantly drop as much as 50 per cent, but since that time, it has steadily been increasing, and we are just shy of 400 registered attendees here today,” he said.
The program aims to give parents and children a chance to try out the bus before it picks up the little ones on their first day of school.
“They're jumping on the buses and exploring. They get to go on a bus ride around the college campus here and experience how to ride a bus while we have instructors on the bus to talk to them about school bus safety and basically how to ride the bus.
“They get that experience, so that first day of school when they get on the bus, we hope that's one less apprehension or this is the easing of that apprehension that they had that first day,” Murphy said.
Thunder Bay was one of the first areas in Ontario to do a First Rider program.
“It is something we're very proud of, and it was recognized even then and continues to this day, that we need to instill school bus safety practices before they even get on the bus for the first time.
“It's very important that we give that opportunity, and we want their bus ride to be as enjoyable as possible, so we give them the experience to have some fun and enjoy the ride. It's all about student safety, and it's about helping,” he said.
When the kids jump off the bus, Murphy knows the program is worth it.
“You'll see the bus come back and they'll leap off the bottom step, all smiles into their mother or father's arms, and just had a blast.
“That just tells us right there that it's worthwhile because they get on the bus, not sure what to expect, and then come off very excited,” he said.
Edith Tivendale was a bus driver for 45 years and has been involved with the First Rider program for 30 years.
“This program is wonderful.
“The little kids get to go, and get on the bus and get the big certificate that says they passed, and then they get a treat, and get to see all these other little kids. It's just been a great thing,” she said.
Hillary Sparkes and her son, Graham, attended the program for his upcoming first day of school.
“We loved it. We thought it was so great because he was a little nervous at first, so this was a great experience for him to check out the buses and get comfortable with them.
“It's a big change getting on the school bus at home, so we're hoping that it'll help, but we think it will,” Sparkes said.
