MOOSE JAW — A new pilot project in Moose Jaw is set to improve mobility for adults aged 55 and older, tackling one of the biggest barriers to independence and community connection: transportation.
The Age-Friendly Transportation Pilot: Enhancing Mobility for Older Adults in Moose Jaw will run from Aug. 14 to Dec. 31, 2025. Led by the Age-Friendly Moose Jaw Committee and based out of the Timothy Eaton Centre, the initiative is designed to test a community-based shared vehicle model that could one day form the foundation of a permanent transportation strategy.
Reliable and accessible transportation remains a challenge for many older adults in Moose Jaw.
“Age-Friendly Moose Jaw receives grant funding to pursue a few projects related to supporting older adults in particular, trying to overcome isolation and facilitate aging in place, such as aging at home,” said Rom Jukes of the Age-Friendly Moose Jaw Committee. “One thing … that has come up with our work in determining what’s an obstacle for people to be more connected and … stay at home independently as they get older … is transportation in any number of forms.”
Through the pilot project, Age-Friendly Moose Jaw has partnered with several local organizations, including Métis Local No. 160, the Moose Jaw & District Senior Citizens Association, and the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council. The City of Moose Jaw has committed an electrified parking stall until the end of the year, while the Regina Car Share Co-Operative is supplying a vehicle and handling maintenance.
“We now have quite a few of the pieces we need,” Jukes said. “Those three agencies will partner with Age-Friendly and … Regina Car Share and the City of Moose Jaw to use this vehicle in a number of different ways.”
A project co-ordinator has been hired to oversee the pilot. Their role will include co-ordinating the vehicle’s schedule, supporting the development of a volunteer driver pool, and gathering data to evaluate the program.
Organizers will track how the vehicle is used, the types of trips made, and whether older adults are driving themselves or being driven by volunteers. Focus groups and community feedback sessions are also planned over the coming months.
At the conclusion of the six-month pilot, the Age-Friendly Committee will deliver a final report outlining usage data, costs, satisfaction levels, and recommendations for next steps.
“The goal … (is to) keep track of all the data in terms of what kinds of rides are being used, how much the vehicle is being used, and (compiling) as much generic information (as we can) without getting into people’s specifics … so we can use that at the end of the year in a final report on our findings,” Jukes said. “Hopefully the success of the report and the impact it has on our partner organizations will justify us being able to sustain it into the future.”
A formal launch event is expected to be announced in the coming weeks once a few remaining details have been finalized among each partner organization.
To learn more about Age-Friendly Moose Jaw, visit AgeFriendlyMJ.Wordpress.com. The Timothy Eaton Centre is located at 510 Main Street North.
