EBus is hoping to add a bus route through the Shuswap that would serve communities like Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, and Enderby.

Village of Chase CAO Joni Heinrich says the EBus application is being considered by the Passenger Transportation Board.

Heinrich isn’t sure when a decision will be made, but she says the village is hoping for a positive result.

“Greyhound stopped in Chase a few times a week for many, many years and then of course, with their departure we haven’t had a bus service, sort of a regular promoted passenger bus service,” she said. “So it would be very very beneficial for our community.”

Heinrich says the all three area First Nations – Neskonlith, Little Shuswap Lake, and the Adams Lake Indian Band – have written letters of support in favour of the new bus route. That’s in addition to letters of support from the village of Chase and the city of Enderby.

“That’s always really helpful to have that partnership and that networking showing that regional support,” she added.

“If that is approved, and we very much hope that it is, but we do anticipate from what Mr. [Bill] Ony, [Ebus’s Business Director for BC & Yukon Territory] was explaining to us at our meeting that as soon as they are able to, they want to get this service up and running.”

If the route is approved, Heinrich says the bus will stop at the Chase Visitor Centre whenever needed.