The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium continues to deal with a shortage of school bus drivers in the area.
This has resulted in ongoing delays and cancellations, especially in Kenora.
Officials says this has been an issue for several years now in Ontario and throughout Canada but the local effect has been minimized by active recruitment by operators, and a focus on driver retention.
They say it’s a problem this year due to unforeseeable personal circumstances affecting drivers, as well as challenges with recruitment, training and licensing related to the COVID pandemic.
The Consortium stresses staff, bus operators, and drivers are doing everything possible to get students to school safely and on time and cancellations are a last resort as they understand the impact they have on families.
Officials note other options continue to be looked at to keep buses running, including doubling routes and altering bus schedules.
Drivers are currently needed in Dryden, Ear Falls, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Sioux Narrows and Kenora.
The Consortium says operators offer paid training and licensing for qualified applicants, competitive wages, and signing bonuses.
