FNUniv students embark on battle for a bus stop
- Adam Gamble | February 16, 2014
Attending class at the First Nations University of Canada (FNUNiv) remains a difficult task for students who take the bus.
Since being built in 2002, FNUniv has never had its own bus stop.
Students either have to catch a bus to the Riddell Centre, Classroom Building or Luther College and walk the remaining distance. The Luther College stop is the closest - 230 metres away from FNUniv. The other stops are on the opposite side of the University of Regina.
"It is difficult to know why a bus stop was never built, considering there have been many changes over the years, including administration," according to Rocelle Kooy, FNUniv communications director.
During the 2005-2006 school year, Adam Martin, then a student at FNUniv, spoke to a City of Regina employee about getting a bus stop along First Nations Way, which loops around FNUniv.
"He told me that a city bus would not be able to fit on the road because it's too narrow. And even if it could, having a bus stop there would take up valuable time for the current bus routes. These weren't answers. They were excuses."
Charter buses drive on it to drop off those taking a tour of FNUniv during the summer months. City buses also take that route to drop off people at the First Nations Pavilion during Mosaic.
"Not having a bus stop really frustrates me especially during the winter," says Keccia Cook, a student at FNUniv. Last year, Cook dropped off a request at Transit Services. Like Martin's effort, nothing transpired.
"I know it may not be a big deal to some, but there are bus stops all over U of R and not one at FNU," says Cook.
"We can't do any work without the authorization of the administration of the U of R," says nathan Luhning, City of Regina business development manager.
In the past two and a half years, Luhning says the City of Regina has received three requests to construct a bus stop at FNUniv.
One of these requests was from Brad Bellegarde, FNUniv Student Association vice president of communications. Bellegarde's request prompted a meeting between Luhning, Nelson Wagner, vice president of facilities management at the U of R and himself respectively one-and-a-half years ago.
"We talked about how the stop by Luther...perhaps should be closer to FNUniv, along First Nations Way...But, that's as far as we went," said Wagner.
After CTV News Regina Jan. 8 aired FNUniv lacking a bus stop, discussion resumed.
Wagner spoke with Lorne Wolfe, director of plant, property and maintenance at FNUniv, about the future of a bus stop for the federated college, along University Drive East.
The west side, near the cross walk from Luther to FNUniv is now a possible location, Wagner explained. He also says the facilities management is considering its submission for the new budget this May.
In order for a bus stop to be built there, FNUniv would have to submit a proposal to facilities management.
Wagner says this has never been done since becoming vice president of facilities management in 2006.
Based on urgency and safety, facilities management would then approve it and submit it to the U of R budget committee for a final approval. Their decision is based on the operating grant from the province and what is most needed around campus.
But, would the need for a bus stop be enough?
In 2005, Nicole Bear began requesting the U of R and FNUniv build a sidewalk from Luther College to FNUniv.
"Every winter, I kept getting stuck in the snow on my way to class at FNUniv," says Bear, who is dependent on an electric wheelchair to get around. "After I appeared on the news (in 2009) on the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, the sidewalk between Luther and FNUniv was done within months."
Perhaps now that the lack of a bus stop at FNUniv has media coverage, one will actually be built.