THUNDER BAY – The 31st annual First Rider program was held at Confederation College on Saturday.
Craig Murphy, Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay Consortium Manager, said the program has been continuously run since 1994.
“It's a program that was brought in, at the time, by the Lakehead District School Board and the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and is now run by all four of our local school boards.
“It's an opportunity for students entering school for the first time, JK, to experience riding the bus and learn about it and to hopefully alleviate any fears they may have on the first day of school.
“When the bus arrives, they've already ridden the bus and it's no big deal. So, we like to have this opportunity in a controlled environment.
Confederation College has been an excellent partner, Murphy said.
“We've been coming here for most of those 30 years that we've been doing the program.”
Originally with the program there was a classroom portion, Murphy said.
“We showed the kids a video on school bus safety and I spoke to both the kids and the parents.
“During the pandemic, we had a pivot and we put the classroom portion online. It turned out to be very popular with parents to be able to sit in the comfort of their own home with their children to watch the video before coming here today.
Today is now just about the bus ride, he said.
“Thunder Bay was one of the first areas in the province to actually run a First Rider program. Now it's all over the province, it's something we're quite proud of.”
There were about 350 JK students registered for today’s ride, Murphy said.
“With all the changes and going to school on that first day, we want to do our part to help alleviate concerns that they have by giving them the opportunity to learn how to ride a bus safely.
“And learn what it's like to ride a school bus. The big benefit is on that first day of school, there’s not as much apprehension of trying to get their child on the bus when it pulls up,” he said.
When children come off the bus, they receive a certificate made for them saying they graduated from First Rider, Murphy said.
“Most of them are quite excited. Some are very apprehensive to get on that bus, but we certainly don't make them. The vast majority of the kids are excited to get on the big yellow bus and ride around.”
Murphy said volunteers do their best to provide all the support they can to make sure that it's a successful and happy event for children.
“We do a lot of work in transportation for planning routes, putting students on buses and answering parent concerns – it's a lot of work throughout the year.
“This really is the kick off of every school year. Certainly, we've been working for the last couple of weeks, gearing up for the new school year, but it doesn't really feel like a new school year until First Rider,” he said.
Children riding the bus for the first time are not the only ones who worry. For some parents the First Rider program gives them comfort as well.
One parent said, “I know it was very nerve wracking for the kids, it's traumatic. It puts me at ease knowing that they're at ease when that first day is going to come.
“They're going to be able to get on the bus and feel comfortable going off to school away from me when they've been by my side for the past four years.”
Another parent said it felt a little bittersweet. “I actually got kind of teary eyed, if I'm being honest. He is our youngest and I'm really excited to see him go on the first day of school.
“I think this helped him get used to the bus because it is his first time being on a bus,” she said.
Unfortunately, this year there was something missing from the day.
“We were honouring Const. Gary Cooper. He was a big proponent of our program. He was there from the beginning for the last 30 events prior to this one, he only missed one. And that's because he had a transplant.
“As people who know Const. Cooper, he was a big advocate for organ and tissue transplants and donors.
As a symbol of Const. Gary Cooper, volunteers at the ride were wearing a green ribbon in support.
“We just want to honour his memory in that way. He's going to be greatly missed. It's kind of a sad part this year, but his legacy will live on,” Murphy said.
