A virtual theatre in the shape of a bus is giving seniors the chance to take a trip around the world.
The Life Journeys Bus, sponsored by Life Seasons Care and Support, is designed to take senior citizens who are not able to travel anymore on a virtual bus trip.
Seasons Executive Director Jim Miner said the current bus tour, set up at Degroots Nurseries on London Line, take riders from Moscow to Beijing at no cost.
Miner said since they started the tours roughly two years ago, the response has been overwhelming.
"When we first set it up it was pretty interesting because there were people down there waiting wondering when the next tour was, and they were a little bit disappointed when they realized it was running and they couldn't get on it right away," he said. "The intent when we started building it was that we could maybe get some travellers to take some videos of their travels to let seniors that can't get out to look at the world around them and see what's changed."
Life Journeys bus at Degroots Nuseries.
Miner said it's pretty similar to the real thing.
"It starts off with a video showing that they're actually sitting in a bus with the noise, the bus rumbling and going down the road, which gives them a feeling of actually being in a bus with different scenery along the way," he said. "
Miner said volunteer Mike Doupe thought of the idea when he was visiting a friend at a local seniors centre.
"One day he went into visit a fellow that he knew quite well, and he was sitting out in the hallway in his wheelchair, so Mike asked him 'What are you doing?' And he just said 'I'm just waiting for the bus.' So this spurred the idea and vision behind it of 'boy, this would be a great thing to do to allow seniors to go on a little virtual bus trip."
Miner said they're now looking for volunteers and monetary donations to keep the tours going.
The tours from 1840 London Line go Friday and Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
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