A REQUEST to the city by Murray Hamer, a lieutenant with the 747 Unicorn air cadet squadron, that a special bus route be out in Thursday nights so that cadets can more easily attend meetings at the squadron's airport hall location, has been turned down.
The city cited costs as the reason – it recently approved new routes for BC Transit service in the city with no increase in overall city expense.
Hamer told council at its Aug. 26 meeting that 40 cadets would use the service if offered.
Councillor Bruce Bidgood, a cadet leader in the 1970s, did call the cadet program important for young people.
Councillor Brian Downie suggested that Hamer speak with local organizations who may have buses that sit idle at certain times, making a cost and time-sharing arrangement possible.
The Unicorn squadron does have it own bus but it is considered old and organizers had been looking at ways to replace it.
That bus was also used to tour senior citizens around town to view Christmas lights, a Unicorn squadron tradition that included refreshments served at the cadet hall.