Did you know that one of the major factors that puts seniors at risk of social isolation and loneliness is lack of transportation? Did you know that about 30 per cent of Canadian seniors are at risk of becoming socially isolated? Did you know that the consequences of social isolation include increased chance of premature death, depression, dementia, poor mental health, poor general health and reduced quality of life? (Social Isolation of Seniors, Volume 1, Government of Canada, 2017). Over the past 25 years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering and/or being present for discussions at several groups within Cochrane including FCSS, Let’s Touch the Skies, Cochrane Seniors Advisory Committee, Connecting DOTS (a support and education group for those with dementia and their families), Cochrane Society for Housing Options, Cochrane Caregiver Support Group, Cochrane Hospice Society and others. At virtually every one of these meetings, the need for public transportation has been raised and the programs or services might have reached more people and been offered in a more efficient and cost-effective way had a transit system been in place. For those citizens who are healthy, young, own a car for each driver in the family and may have no need for transit, I urge you to consider those who are not as fortunate and be supportive of their needs. We are now a large and spread-out community. Transportation is a huge issue for many citizens. A local transit system for Cochrane would also tie into a regional transportation system, which is also in the planning stages and would improve transportation options even further. I urge our Mayor and Councillors to work together to achieve a high quality of life for those they govern, with transit as part of that. The arguments and dithering over a transit system for Cochrane have continued for years. This is not the first council to do it. But this could be the first council to fix it. What a legacy it could be! A transit system for Cochrane is long overdue. Other communities are eager to have the funding we have been promised; if we do not reach an agreement and commit to a transit system, they will get it. Della Robertson
