CENTRAL MANITOULIN—The new Ontario Northland bus service on Manitoulin Island got an enthusiastic review from Central Manitoulin Mayor Richard Stephens this week. Mayor Stephens utilized the services of the bus line to travel to the recent Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) conference in Parry Sound.
“It was fantastic,” said Mayor Stephens of his experience aboard the Ontario Northland bus. “It was the most relaxing trip I ever had. I left all the driving, scheduling and everything to somebody else.”
Mayor Stephens caught the bus in Sudbury, where he was on other business when it was time to set out for the conference, but he travelled all the way back to Mindemoya aboard the bus service.
“It was really great because FONOM picked up the tab for the cab from the bus to the conference and the hotel,” said Mayor Stephens. “As for coming back, I just got on the bus in Parry Sound and got dropped off in Mindemoya.”
As an added bonus on the trip, Mayor Stephens struck up a conversation with fellow travellers that led to a potential family connection. “We realized we were probably cousins,” he said. “We exchanged business cards and will keep in touch.”
Mayor Stephens said the buses were clean and comfortable and he would heartily recommend the service to anyone.
“It was pretty economical too,” he said. “It cost about $40 to go from Sudbury to Parry Sound, you would be hard pressed to match that if you were paying for gas in your own vehicle.”
As to whether he would choose to take the bus again the future, Mayor Stephens did not hesitate. “You bet,” he said. “It was a great experience.”
