Ben Thorne says he and his service dog Koda were left on the curb on the University of Calgary campus Friday afternoon after a Calgary Transit Access driver refused the pair.
“The driver showed up in the bus in my allotted window,” recalled Thorne. “I went up to the door to check if he was for me and I didn’t understand why but he wasn’t opening the door.”
Thorne says he watched the driver entering notes into his digital terminal before the driver opened the door stating another bus was on its way. “All he said was he wasn’t for me and another vehicle would be coming to pick me up.”
Confused by the incident, Thorne sent his sister Meagan a text and she investigated further.
“Meagan called access to see what the problem was,” said Thorne. “After speaking to a supervisor and looking at the notes that (the driver) had left on the file, it stated that he wasn’t willing to take me on a trip due to my service animal Koda.”
"We decided that we wanted to take action because this has happened in the past and this is not okay," added Meagan. 'It's his right to have access just like anyone else."
On Friday evening, Thorne filed a complaint with the Calgary Police Service citing the Service Dog Act.
“The police were extremely helpful in the process of trying to get all of this enacted in the proper way,” said Thorne. “One of the things that was noted to me was I’m actually the first person who has made an effort to enact this, the Service Dog Act.”
Thorne has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is unable to walk. “Koda primarily helps me with item retrieval,” explained Thorne. “When I drop something on the floor, he’s able to pick it up for me.”
This is not the first time Thorne and Koda have been declined service. In 2015, a taxi driver lost his job and licence after refusing to drive the pair.
“It’s illegal for anyone to refuse a service dog as long as (the dog’s) got the vest on and the proper documentation,” said Thorne.
The 23-year-old embraces the opportunity to provide a voice for people with disabilities.
“It’s really frustrating. People with disabilities, in a lot of cases, are unable to advocate for themselves for a variety of reasons,” explained Thorne.
“I look at instances like this as an opportunity to make people realize that things like this aren’t okay.”
Officials with Calgary Transit Calgary say the matter is under investigation and a response from the transit department is expected Monday.
Calgary Transit Access transports roughly 15,000 Calgarians who are unable to use Calgary Transit due to a disability.
