| 1975 |
Group of people with disabilities banded together to form an organization called Parkland Action Group for the Physically Disabled. Purpose was to have a louder voice to bring attention to barriers and problems with accessibility in the City of Red Deer.
- No accessible transportation
- No curb cuts or sidewalks
- No ramps into public buildings
|
| 1976 |
The Action Group applied to the City for a Community Initiative Grant to start a transportation service called the Citizens Action Bus Service. |
| 1977 |
January, the first Action Bus trip rolled out. |
| 1978 |
The transportation service was deemed a success and the City agreed to fund the operation. |
| 1980 |
Name was changed to the Red Deer Action Group and became a Registered Charity. |
| 1981 |
The service grew every year and was taken over by the City of Red Deer Transit Department as of September 1, 2007. |
| 2007 |
As of the takeover, the Action Bus fleet numbered 15 full time fully accessible handi-buses with 1750 registered users.
The Action Group has been the driving force behind many initiatives including the following:
- Handicapped parking stalls
- Curb cuts on sidewalks/intersections
- Elevators in public buildings
- Wheelchair ramps in swimming pools including hydrolifts
- Accessible playgrounds
- Accessibility awareness and initiatives
The following service clubs and agencies made generous contributions to support the Action Bus service between 1976 and 2007:
- Loyal Order of the Moose – 1639
- Elks Lodge #35
- Red Deer Central Lions Club
- Orange Men’s Lodge
- Optimist Club of Red Deer 13115
- Association of Community Travellers
- Phillipine Canadian Association of Red Deer
- Red Deer & District Community Foundation
- Red Deer Oddfellows and Rebekah Lodges
|
| 2008 |
The Red Deer Action Group Board of Directors refocused and developed a new strategic plan. Out of this came the Subsidy Ride Program. |
| 2009 |
Initially, the Subsidy Ride Program was designed to assist individuals in need of trips to hospitals and other medical facilities. However, in the fall of 2009, the Program was expanded to include travel for social and educational purposes as well as for medical trips. |
| 2010 |
Our mission statement was changed to include “disadvantaged’ persons, officially broadening our focus to include low income individuals and families. Name was changed to Red Deer Action Group Society and registered under the Societies Act of the Province of Alberta.
|
| 2014 |
The Red Deer Action Group Society set up Donate-A-Ride modelled after Edmonton we also partner with the City of Red Deer Transit. |
| 2015 |
We helped 7 agencies with 220 adult tickets and 156 senior/youth tickets. |
| 2020 |
The subsidy ride program has helped 840 individuals and their families since 2009. The Donate A Ride has helped 69 partner agencies to a total of 12,974 transit tickets since 2014. |
