On Saturday, the new vehicle of the Sierra Leone Association of Alberta was unveiled in the parking lot of Clairview Rec Centre. It was a day filled with songs, smiles, and joy.
“It’s a big deal because we’ve never had a vehicle that would be used for the community,” resident Juliette Jackson said.
‘We are pleased and proud to have this new vehicle,” community member Pamela George added.
Abu Conteh, president and CEO of the Association, said that there was a need to assist seniors, people with mobility issues, and struggling families with transportation.
He turned to the federal and provincial governments for help to fill the void.
“I presented the case to them that our community has a burning desire to own our own community vehicle because having this will help us to improve our participation in social and cultural activities,” Conteh said.
The request to buy the 15-seater, commercial van, valued at $30,000 was approved during the height of the pandemic. However due to gathering restrictions, it was left parked.
“Now that we are unveiling the vehicle, we believe that it should alleviate the pain, it should help the people with transportation problems,” Conteh said.
The van will be used by the community to transport people to various events, youth trips, and to assist seniors with grocery shopping and doctor appointments.
“We have a lot of seniors who cannot drive, some who cannot walk to events but they would like to be there,” community member Augustine Marah said.
“It’s been hard because we have to take the cab or we depend on someone else to bring us,” George added.
The van will be operated and gas money donated by its members by volunteers.
“I think it will bring the community together,” Jackson said of the vehicle. “I think it will also inspire other communities to see what they can do for their people as well.”
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