Alicia Wallace
Rossland News
Beginning on Feb. 20, Rossland will have a taxi service based within the city for people needing transport or deliveries. Creston Cab Company (CCC) will have a seven-seater taxi with winter tires based in Rossland every Friday afternoon and Saturday.
In July 2014, Ken Parker and his business partner purchased CCC based out of Creston. In September when Champion Cabs closed, CCC expanded into Castlegar and Trail. The Trail license extends to the Rossland area, and up until Friday, were only an on-call service for Rossland. Now the cabs will be stationed here over the weekend making it quicker and more convenient for people to catch a cab from Rossland.
The Rossland cab has its own dedicated number — 250-921-7788. A cab can be called (and will come up to Rossland from Trail) anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and not just for getting from A to B. CCC will come out and give you a boost if you have a flat battery or they can make deliveries on your behalf. The company also has all-wheel drive vehicles so if Rossland is fortunate enough to receive more snow, the winter tire two-wheel drive vehicle can be switched for a four-wheel drive as needed.
Parker hopes to employ people in Rossland and have a car stationed there full time. The weekend service will act as a trial to determine demand.
“We would love to give Rossland a cab service…we are trying to rebuild the service and we are malleable,” said Parker.
Parker sought the advice of Mayor Kathy Moore and Deanne Steven of Tourism Rossland before announcing the new dedicated service for Rossland. “It’s time for Rossland — they need it,” said Parker of the new service.
CCC will be operating the Rossland based vehicle at a loss initially in order to build up visibility and awareness for the service. To begin with, a driver will be paid an hourly wage to be stationed in Rossland.
It can take several months for a license to be issued and when Parker was made aware of the Champion Cabs closure last fall, he placed an urgent request so the people of Castlegar and Trail would not be without a taxi service.
“When we realized there wasn’t going to be a cab company in Trail and Castlegar, we put in an urgent request to be licensed,” he said.
Parker wants to see Rossland’s elderly citizens benefit from CCC’s service but asserts the company is here for everyone and even offers group trips and pre-booked event transfers.