Powell River Taxi 2001
June Jolie, Rob Maithus, and Rick Maithus, Owner/Operators
| It could be said that cabs have driven into the blood of June Jolie and her brothers Rob and Rick Maithus. "For me initially [driving taxi] was a job," says June Jolie. "I had to support my children and I had no other means. But once I got started, I loved it." "Everyday is a new adventure," Rick says. "You don't know who you're going to meet." To get them started in the ownership end of the taxi business, June, Rob and Rick all received loans from Community Futures. |
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"[Owning a cab is] a unique small business," he says. "It has given me financial freedom, and freedom in general." For June, the loan from Community Futures wasn't just a helping hand. It was the catalyst for a series of events that led to the life she has long dreamed of. June started driving a taxi almost 15 years ago, when she was a single mother of three children. Her neighbours at the time owned Aero Cabs, and they agreed to hire her. After taking 1994 and 1995 off to train as a nurse, and not being able to secure work after graduation, June returned to taxi driving. In 1996 she obtained a loan from Community Futures for over $30,000 with which she bought her own cab and began work as an owner-operator in the Powell River Cab Company Limited (formerly Davic Cabs, and Aero Cabs before that).
"Community Futures took a big leap of faith in me," she says. "I went from being on assistance to [being] owner-operator [of my own business], and eventually meeting the man I was going to marry. That was directly the result of being an owner-operator of a taxi." June grins as she catches her husband Gord's eye, and explains.
"My taxi had been in for an inspection, and due to an error made by a mechanic I had to file a complaint with the CEO of Aero [Powell River] Services, who [was Gord at that time, and that's how we met]." This year June also bought a house and a brand new truck. "These are long-time dreams, and I never before felt I would be able to [fulfill them]."
After seeing that his brother and sister were making a go of the taxi business, last year Rick also decided to get involved. "It has given me a better understanding of how a business is run," he says. "It has made me a lot more of a sociable person - you're basically a bartender on wheels."
June, Rob, and Rick agree that they may not have been able to get started if it hadn't been for the help of Community Futures. "The banks wouldn't touch us because we were buying into a small business, and that's high risk," Rob says. Even though he and June have now paid off their loans, they remember appreciatively the flexibility they received during repayment. When Rob's cab was stolen, Community Futures refinanced him. When June's transmission failed, Community Futures gave her a loan extension. "You just need to let them know what's going on, and they're good about it," says Rob.
On March 1, 2001, June, Rob, Rick, and Gord (as president-manager), along with fifth partner Dave Formosa, opened Powell River Taxi 2001. As Powell River Cab Company Ltd. was simultaneously closed, they now own the only taxi company in Powell River, and it's an important community service, Rob says.
"A lot of people rely on us daily - a lot of seniors." There is, June points out, no bus service in Powell River in the evenings or on Sundays. She boasts about their new wheelchair taxi, and says that since they acquired it they have received support from various community groups, like the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Club. Powell River Taxi 2001 is also involved (along with the municipality or regional district and BC Transit) with the Handi-Dart and ParaTransit programs.
"I think we reflect a different breed of taxi drivers," June says. "We want to promote high standards, maintain [the cleanliness and comfort of our] cars, [and foster a good] rapport with members of the public."