The decision by Greyhound Canada to stop operations in western Canada will result in 42 jobs cut at its Coquitlam bus depot.
And its property at 100 Woolridge St., next to Ikea, will also be put up for sale after the business closes Oct. 31, a company spokesperson told The Tri-City News today (Tuesday).
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce these service impacts for the end of October,” said senior vice president Stuart Kendrick in an emailed statement. “We understand that these route changes are difficult for our customers.”
Yesterday (Monday), Greyhound Canada said it would cancel all B.C. routes except for one: the U.S.-run route between Vancouver and Seattle; however, all routes in Ontario and Quebec will remain except for the Trans-Canada service west of Sudbury, Ont.
The move comes as the company downsizes its Canadian business due to a 41% decline in ridership since 2010.
This week’s announcement caught many government officials off-guard.
Claire Trevena, B.C.’s minister of transportation and infrastructure, said it was “unfortunate that Greyhound did not communicate their plans sooner” as many communities will be stranded with the service elimination — especially residents and travellers in the interior, along the Sea-to-Sky highway and to get to and from Alberta.
“This move will leave people with limited options to get around, and this will likely impact the most vulnerable,” she said in a statement.
Coquitlam’s tourism manager, Eric Kalnins, said the city is disappointed “when any employer leaves our community. The Coquitlam Greyhound depot provided valued local jobs and freight services and it’s unfortunate to see these end.”
• Customers can contact Greyhound Canada by calling 1-800-661-8747 or visiting news.greyhound.ca.
