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- calendar_today October 26, 2026
School Bus Service Halted in Tatla Lake
Families in Tatla Lake, a community in B.C.’s west Chilcotin region, are coping with the suspension of school bus service as School District 27 actively searches for new drivers. The suspension comes after the district’s only bus driver became unavailable, leaving parents responsible for their children’s daily student transportation needs.
Parents Take On Daily 90-Kilometre Commutes
The lack of school bus service means some parents, like Jade Dumas, must take on a significant burden to ensure their children attend school. Dumas, a single parent with two children in Grades 7 and 8 at Tatla Lake School, now faces up to three to four hours of driving each day. She shared, "I’m facing up to three to four hours just to drive my kids back and forth twice a day." The challenge forces some parents to weigh the importance of school attendance against their personal and professional responsibilities.
Uncertainty About Bus Service Resumption
According to communications received by parents, school bus transportation in Tatla Lake was suspended starting Monday, Oct. 26, without a specified return date. Superintendent Cheryl Lenardon stated that District 27 is working to recruit new drivers and collaborating directly with families to explore solutions, such as carpooling and parent-supported transportation. "Whether we are able to provide bus service or not, we are confident we will be able to support all students in attending school during this period," said Lenardon. She expressed appreciation for the adaptability and cooperation demonstrated by families and the school transportation team during this disruption.
Persistent Bus Driver Shortage and Route Challenges
School transportation challenges in Tatla Lake are not new. Over the past two years, a single driver has handled two separate 40 km routes in opposite directions. This arrangement has posed difficulties for students, with some arriving 40 to 50 minutes early at school, while others do not leave until after 4 p.m. The current bus driver shortage and suspension have intensified the struggle for many families. According to Dumas, the demanding schedule has led one family to switch to homeschooling because it was too challenging to accommodate the altered routine.
Community Efforts and Calls for Backup Plans
In response to the bus service suspension, Tatla Lake parents are organizing carpooling arrangements and doing their best to adapt. Dumas hopes the school district will develop a list of backup drivers in the future to avoid complete service suspensions. She admits the situation is difficult to manage: "I think there will be days where I will not be able to get them to school, because I just have too much on my plate here at home."
Looking Ahead
As School District 27 continues its driver recruitment efforts, families in Tatla Lake rely on community cooperation and district support to maintain student attendance. The district maintains that it will support all students’ access to education while the bus service is on hold.
Source: cbc.ca.
