A Teulon entrepreneur is hoping to drive forward with a creative way to transport daycare kids for activities and excursions.
Kirt Ansell, founder of Playstreet Childcare, is customizing a retired school bus to look like a life-sized toy car. Along with a friend, he purchased the used bus for a unique restoration project that is sure to catch the attention of youngsters — and the young at heart.
The bright orange bus, nicknamed “Hot One,” features detailed decals and racing-style letters on the tires to make it look like an enormous child’s toy.
Ansell is steering towards his vision of using the eye-catching bus as a way to transport daycare kids on field trips and other outings. He envisions a non-profit entity to manage this new transportation service project, which would be available specifically for childcare organizations.
“There are some very specific grants out there for the transportation challenges in rural communities. This is very much something that childcare facilities could enjoy at a very low cost if subsidized by the right grant or other funding support,” said Ansell, who is also a town councillor.
“The eventual management entity would have a responsibility to manage and operate a bus-type vehicle to provide that transportation service between communities of the Interlake.”
As an example, Ansell said the bus could bring daycare kids to visit a splash pad in a neighbouring community for some summertime fun in the sun.
“What about a trip to Oak Hammock Marsh or simply an outing to another community’s park for different surroundings? I’m sure there are a multitude of ideas that could be solved with an easy-to-retain, dedicated transportation service,” he said.
“Some childcare facilities have buses already but most do not. Individually, most centres can’t justify the cost of owning a bus for an on-occasion use, and organizing transportation through the school division during the summer off-season has challenges as well.”
The shared bus could offer transportation at a fraction of the cost of sole ownership, he added.
“The reality is that a new dedicated childcare transportation service will likely have to run as a business first before it can be successfully proven and graduate into a charitable non-profit down the road,” Ansell said.
“Aside from licensed childcare-specific organizations, there are other community groups that could also benefit from a dedicated childcare transportation service. Summer day camps operating in small communities are becoming more and more popular. There’s only so many things for kids to do in the summer with one organization in one small community. Why not include a field trip if transportation isn’t a headache?”
Anyone who would like more information about organizing transportation on “Hot One” or who would like to learn about Ansell’s non-profit vision can contact him at 204-886-7717.
And anyone who is curious to check out the restored school bus can find it on display at the World of Wheels custom car show at RBC Convention Centre from March 22 to 24.
