Regular delays and cancellations of school buses in Dawson City, Yukon, are creating significant stress for local families. Staff at Robert Service School informed parents on Monday that afternoon pickups would halt from the following day through the end of the month due to driver shortages.
Impact on Families and Caregivers
These disruptions occur frequently with little advance notice, forcing parents to hastily arrange alternatives such as relying on friends or extending school hours until they finish work. Klondike MLA Brent McDonald highlighted the added financial burden, as caregivers often must leave work early or miss shifts entirely to transport their children.
“When changes happen on short notice, parents have to make other arrangements, asking friends or the school to keep kids until they’re done work,” McDonald stated.
He noted particular challenges for essential workers like doctors, nurses, ambulance personnel, police officers, and emergency responders, whose employers may not easily accommodate such disruptions.
Call for Government Action
Representing Dawson City, McDonald has written to Education Minister Scott Kent, pressing him to resolve ongoing systemic problems with Yukon school bus services. After consulting concerned residents, he identified key issues including operations in extreme cold, insufficient staffing, and persistent late or cancelled routes.
“Once in a while it’s understandable that things happen, but school bus transportation seems to suffer from systemic issues right now,” McDonald said. “There have been many problems with operating at cold temperatures, adequate staffing, and a lot of cancelled and late routes.”
Department’s Response and Solutions
The Education Department acknowledges the inconvenience of the temporary afternoon route suspension in Dawson City. Officials are collaborating with Standard Bus to explore fixes, including flying in a qualified driver.
Local options proved unviable; a community charter company could not provide student transport services. Cabinet spokesperson Tim Kucharuk stated: “Standard Bus has explored immediate local options, including contacting a charter company in the community. However, that company is unable to provide student transportation services.”
Local Operator Eyes Opportunity
Jesse Cooke, owner of Husky Bus—a Dawson City tour and transport service—expressed interest in the territory’s bidding process for rural bus contracts. He advocates for local providers to handle community routes.
“I understood that maybe the territory does all rural transportation all at once. They’re probably looking for a company to do it all. I’m just suggesting that probably locally here in Dawson it probably makes most sense to have a local company do it,” Cooke said.
Though his current fleet lacks certified school buses, Cooke would invest in suitable vehicles for a three- to five-year contract. “It’s not to throw any other company under the proverbial bus, but there are gaps in the service,” he added. “I think any parent of any student here can tell you that. I would just like to see it done better and I’d be happy to take a crack at it.”
