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After owner has epiphany, local taxi company ensures 'nobody gets left out in the cold'

Rick Lafleur envisions a brighter future for those in need in Timmins and across the province
Out in the Cold
Rick Lafleur, owner/operator of Vet's Taxi, poses next to one of his company's cabs while driver Mo Girard sits behind the steering wheel. Girard says he's driven people home from the food bank

Sometimes performing a simple act of kindness can change your perspective on life.

That’s how Rick Lafleur, owner/operator of Vet’s Taxi, says he found inspiration to start Nobody Gets Left Out In The Cold, a program that gives free rides to and from homeless shelters, food banks and other places that provide services to people in need.

It started on a cold night in 2016, while Lafleur was driving down Airport Road in Timmins.

“I saw a young couple walking along the highway heading up the hill,” says Lafleur. “They both were wearing nothing but spring jackets. I pulled over and offered them a ride.”

That ride, Lafleur says, opened his eyes to the struggles of people living on low incomes.

“They told me they walk everywhere because they could not afford any means of transportation.”

That knowledge didn't sit well with Lafleur, knowing that Vet's Taxi had a fleet of 49 vehicles at its disposal.

Lafleur turned to a family member with experience working with people in need, his second cousin Monseigneur Pat Lafleur of St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral.

“He explained to me that there are many people in Timmins that suffer financially,” Lafleur says. “He explained to me his work with the food bank and how many people depend on using the food bank to make ends meet.”

Lafleur was also surprised to discover that Vet’s Taxi maintained a charge account through which they charged St. Anthony’s for giving rides to senior parishioners of the church, who struggled to get to church on Sundays.

Lafleur says he took immediate action.

“I instructed Father Pat that we would no longer be charging his church to pick up and drop of his parishioners, that we would do it free of charge,” says Lafleur. "I then decided that Vet’s Taxi would also pick up people who needed a ride home with their groceries from the food bank.”

Lafleur’s responsiveness to the needs of the community has made a positive impact for a lot of people, says Monseigneur Pat.

“It’s been very beneficial. Some people would not be able to avail themselves of those services without Rick’s help.”

But Lafleur didn’t stop with St. Anthony's food bank. He also approached Rick Young, manager of the Timmins Food Bank to offer his patrons the same service.

"I told him, 'You have to come in and see what you're getting yourself into,' and there were people lined up as far as you could see," says Young. "I told him, '80 per cent of these people need a ride home,' and he said, 'Okay."

Young says that ever since, four or five Vet's taxi vehicles will be parked outside the Timmins Food Bank for hours on the mornings that it is open, driving people home with their groceries.

"I thought he'd do it for a couple months and then quit," Young says. "Nope. He's been doing it ever since. It's incredible."

Lafleur still wasn't done. He proactively sought out more opportunities to help people in need.

“I then expanded my thinking on who else could benefit from our program,” Lafleur says. “I came up with The Good Samaritan Inn. I approached that organization and offered to give free rides to anybody who was in need to get from Timmins to the Good Samaritan Inn in emergency situations.”

Ed Ligocki, Executive Director of the Good Samaritan Inn in South Porcupine, says the program is pivotal for the homeless population in Timmins, where the average low temperature in January is minus 24 degrees celsius.

“A lot of times a homeless person will be stuck in Timmins,” Ligocki says. “With no money for the bus, a lot will walk even in the middle of the winter. Most homeless aren’t dressed very well, so we’ve seen frozen fingers and toes. It’s a really big help when Rick offers his taxi service.”

In 2017, Vet’s Taxi gave approximately 1,100 free rides, Lafleur says. Nobody Gets Left Out In The Cold started as a winter program, but it is now offered year round.

“Many people who use our service are so appreciative,” Lafleur says. “No money can replace the sincere thanks we get when we help out our fellow man.”

Lafleur envisions a brighter future for those in need in Timmins and across the province.

“My goal is to see other cab companies in Ontario adopt our program,” Lafleur says. “It truly is something needed in every community.”

For more information about the Nobody Gets Left Out In The Cold program, or to get a ride, community members can call Vet’s Taxi at 705-264-2333, or stop by the taxi stand at 86 Cedar St. S. in Timmins.