Westwinds Communities provides safe, high-quality affordable homes and services that strengthen our communities and enhance the well-being of the seniors, families and individuals who call them home.  Annually we support over 850 households in our programs throughout the Foothills Region in Southern Alberta.

A new Westwinds bus will enhance the social, physical and mental wellbeing of the senior’s population we serve. Our population is low and modest income seniors who spend the majority of their limited income on accommodation, food and personal items. For some of our seniors we are the only opportunities they have to participate in the community, maintain community connection, and keep active.  Since Westwinds is the only seniors affordable housing provider in the region we are serving modest seniors who need supportive living (to maintain independence) and low income seniors who require social housing to live in a dignified manner but also provide opportunities to engage in active wellness.  Our bus program keeps seniors active in our local communities which they have lived for many years.  We are ensuring this vital population remains active and vibrant in the community.

Westwinds has operated a bus program for over 17 years and has the infrastructure established to maintain the bus operations and operating costs just limited capital capacity.

In a new bus, Westwinds will collaborate with local community groups to be more inclusive of  bus use (thereby allowing residents to participate in more activities) operating shared use  on a cost recovery basis.  Examples include partnering events with our local seniors’ centers, participating in community events as a shuttle service for our seniors and other isolated populations and in the future (2026-27) integrating Westwinds new housing development for developmental disables into bus activities.