Espanola was the first official stop for Ontario Northland’s new service to Manitoulin Island.
The first bus to provide service to Manitoulin Island arrived at 5:00am this morning in Espanola on its way to Manitoulin, where it will take a circular route around the Island to pick up and drop off passengers.
It is all part of a new route to provide week-day return service to Sudbury.
This is the first time bus service has been offered to the Island in decades.
BUS ROUTES AND TIMES:
The expansion is part of the provincial government’s commitment to improved inter-community bus transportation in the North as announced in December 2017.
The route, beginning from Sudbury, is as follows: depart Ontario Northland terminal in Sudbury, 5 am; Espanola (Greyhound pickup on Barber Street), 6 am; Birch Island (Highway 6 and Bay of Islands Road), 6:25 am; arriving at Little Current (Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre), 6:40 am. The bus departs Little Current at 6:55 am arriving at: Aundeck Omni Kaning (Four Directions Complex parking lot), 7 am; M’Chigeeng (Paul’s Corner Store), 7:15 am; Kagawong (Bridal Veil Variety), 7:25 am; Gore Bay (H&M Mini Mart), 7:35 am; Evansville (GGs Diner), 7:45 am; Spring Bay (Buie’s General Store), 8:10 am; Mindemoya (Community Centre parking lot), 8:25 am; Sandfield (the former Watson’s Store parking lot), 8:40 am; South Baymouth (Carl’s Trading Post), 8:55 am; Wiikwemkoong (Zipp-Thru Gas), 9:25 am; Manitowaning (in front of White’s Shell), 9:35 am; Sheguiandah First Nation (Manitoulin Trading Post), 9:50 am; and arriving back in Little Current at 10 am.
The bus then leaves for Sudbury at 10:15 am arriving at Birch Island at 10:30 am; Espanola at 10:55 am; Nairn Centre at 11:15 am; Health Sciences North at 12 noon, Laurentian at 12:05 pm and the Ontario Northland bus terminal at 12:20 pm. (The Ontario Northland terminal is located at the intersection of The Kingsway and Second Avenue and is directly across the street (Second Avenue) from the Cambrian Ford dealership.)
In the evening, the bus departs Laurentian University at 5:45 pm with a stop at Health Sciences North at 5:50 pm before arriving at Nairn Centre at 6:35 pm. It’s then on to: Espanola, 6:55 pm; Birch Island, 7:20 pm; and Little Current, 7:35 pm.
The bus then departs Little Current at 7:50 pm bound for: Sheguiandah, 8 pm; Manitowaning, 8:15 pm; Wiikwemkoong, 8:25 pm; South Baymouth, 8:55 pm; Sandfield, 9:10 pm; Mindemoya, 9:25 pm; Spring Bay, 9:40 pm; Evansville, 10:05 pm; Gore Bay, 10:15 pm; Kagawong, 10:25 pm; M’Chigeeng, 10:35 pm; Aundeck Omni Kaning, 10:50 pm; and Little Current, 10:55 pm. The bus then goes on to Espanola for 11:50 pm and arrives back in Sudbury at 12:50 am.
Bus fares vary on the length of travel, but as a sampling: Little Current to Gore Bay: adults, $13.60; seniors and students, $11.56; children, $6.80; Gore Bay to Sudbury, adults, $43; seniors and students, $36.55; children, $21.50; Wiikwemkoong to Little Current: adults, $10.60; seniors and students, $9.01; children, $5.30; Mindemoya to Little Current: adults, $12.25; seniors and students, $10.42; and children, $6.13; M’Chigeeng to Sudbury: adults, $38.70; seniors and students, $32.90; and $19.35.
