MANITOULIN—There has been a major change in school bus operations around Manitoulin Island this fall.
“We still have two buses, but we are no longer doing contract work with the (Sudbury Student Services) Consortium (SSSC),” said Robert Brown of Carl Brown Bus last week. “A.J. Bus Lines now has all the routes we had, and we are helping them to get everything organized during the transaction. I was with a driver this morning from A.J. going over the routes they are to be taking.”
Mr. Brown said, “we had nine bus runs when we quit, from having 11 school bus routes on the Island. We decided to decline putting in a bid on the request for proposals for a renewed contract put out by the SSSC for this year. You never know, you can never say never that we would ever get back into the school bus business.”
“We plan to do school charters, whenever they are needed,” said Mr. Brown, who pointed out those who wanted to continue to drive from Brown’s have gone on to work with A.J. Bus Lines. “I had promised Renee Boucher of the SSSC that we would work with A.J.s to provide a smooth transition.”
“Our busing business started in 1949 by our grandfather,” said Mr. Brown. “There was a party held in July for us being in the trading post business (Carl’s Trading Post in South Baymouth) for 60 years as well. We have three of our drivers staying with us,” he said, noting he and his brother operate both businesses.
“The drivers like seeing the kids (students) every day, you get attached to them,” said Mr. Brown. “I know I’m going to miss that.”
“We’ve had a great relationship with John Shamas and A.J. Bus Lines over the years. He will work and do the best for the people on the Island,” said Mr. Brown.
Mr. Shamas told The Expositor. “I’m happy to see Robert and Gary will still be dabbling in busing and not totally getting out of the business. We’ve had a great rapport with them over the years.”
“Yes, I hired as many of Brown’s drivers as we could,” said Mr. Shamas. “I wanted the transition to be as seamless as possible. And Robert has been helping through all of this process. He has been helping my manager at Little Current and our drivers.”
A.J. Bus Lines now has all 30 school bus routes on Manitoulin with SSSC and with First Nation communities on the Island, explained Mr. Shamas.
“We were really sad to hear in June that Carl Brown Bus would no longer be in the school bus business,” said Renee Boucher, of SSSC. “But they are working with A.J. Bus Lines and helping them make the transition.”
