New medical transportation service

Volunteer Assisted Service (VAS), which is a collaboration between the West Island Local Development Centre, West Island Social Services Centre, West Island Community Resource Centre and Volunteer West Island, will help vulnerable people get to intensive and recurrent medical treatment for serious illnesses, such as for cancer. Volunteers will use their own vehicles drive people to Lakeshore General Hospital or downtown facilities for a fee. A typical roundtrip to downtown will cost about $20 to $30. The new service takes over from a similar one that was run by Volunteer West Island until April 2006, as it focused its attention on finding volunteers for community groups. So far, 30 volunteers have committed themselves to VAS, but officials are hoping to have about 100 on board.

"Yes, people can take a taxi downtown, but it could cost you $125 to get you there and back," said VAS board chairman André Hupé, a Pierrefonds resident. "More importantly, our volunteers accompany people to their appointment."

The volunteers are to be given parking permits so they don't have to pay hospital parking fees.

Gerry Arsenault, director of the local development centre, said the high quality of life in the West Island keeps seniors from leaving the area. "We have our little distinct society here. We're a victim of our own success. Seniors continue to live in their own homes, even if their family has moved away, because of what we have to offer them here," he said. "But we have to thank all the volunteers that make it happen," he added, a sentiment shared by several local mayors in attendance at the launch.

"Without these volunteers we wouldn't be able to offer these services, the costs would be too high," said Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau.

Clients will come the way of referrals from hospitals but people looking for more information can call the West Island Local Development Centre at 514-694-0260 ext. 209. A new phone number for a yet-to-be-hired VAS co-ordinator will be set up in the coming weeks.