Town of Hanna decides surplus handi van will go to Donalda

May 9, 2025

Stu Salkeld

Multimedia journalist

The Rural Alberta Report

The Town of Hanna council decided it will “pay it forward” when it comes to a surplus handi van. The handi van’s fate was decided at the May 13 regular meeting of council.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Matthew Norburn presented an update on the fate of a 19 year old handi van equipped with specialized accessibility equipment.

At a previous council meeting town staff reported that with the recent purchase of a new handi van, the Town of Hanna was looking for the best course of action for the 2006 Pontiac Uplander wheelchair-accessible van that was no longer needed. Staff noted the van, originally acquired in 2006 for approximately $52,000, was funded through a $40,000 bequest from Ruby Catherine Schmitz and additional support from the Clifford Wall Foundation and even though it was no longer needed the vehicle appeared to still have life left in it.

Councillors decided, since the van was originally gifted to the Town of Hanna, the town wanted to see if it could be passed along gratis to another organization.

Norburn stated town staff had investigated the request and found three organizations that were interested: the Village of Donalda, located about 150 kms away from Hanna, Border City Connects, a transportation agency in Lloydminster located about 313 kms from Hanna and the

Village of Ryley, located about 215 kms from Hanna.

Donalda stated the van would allow the village to start a new community transportation program, Border City Connects stated the surplus van would be added to an existing program while Ryley noted the van would also help start a new transportation program.

Norburn observed local interest in the van was low. “As per council’s direction, administration explored opportunities to donate the Town of Hanna’s surplus handi van to a suitable organization,” noted Norburn’s report to council. “Initial outreach was conducted with local partners through the Hanna Interagency group; however, no organizations expressed interest.”

The CAO stated the search was widened, resulting in three responses. “Criteria used to evaluate applications including proximity to Hanna (favouring more local impact), program readiness and sustainability, and alignment with accessibility and health-related transportation

needs,” stated the staff memo.

Councillors quickly passed a unanimous resolution to offer the surplus handi van to the Village of Donalda.