According to a memo to city councillors, a business licence was granted to Facedrive Inc. to operate in Orillia.
The memo notes the licence was issued Feb. 25. At that time, an official from Facedrive said the company would be operational in Orillia within 30 days. No other ride-sharing service - including Uber - has applied for a licence to operate in Orillia.
The issue has been a controversial one in the city. Council modified its bylaw, essentially, to entice Uber to come to town. During those discussions, city staff said Uber had pledged to come to Orillia if it modified its bylaw.
But, at least for now, Facedrive has raced into the driver's seat when it comes to ride-sharing service in the community.
“We are excited to be expanding into the City of Orillia, as we continue to offer fair pricing and ethical business practices to offer an eco-friendly choice of travel to the residents and visitors of the city,” said Suman Pushparajah, Chief Operations Officer of Facedrive, in a press release.
“Ensuring the safety of our drivers and riders is our utmost priority as we prepare to launch in the City of Orillia and we employ an extensive driver screening process to ensure that all of our drivers are adequately trained before they are approved to drive with our platform," said Pushparajah
The press release notes Facedrive is a first of its kind, 100% Canadian, ridesharing platform that is designed to incentivize and empower the green and socially responsible consumer that is looking to make a meaningful and measurable impact.
Facedrive’s environmentally sustainable method of ridesharing allows passengers to request rides in electric, hybrid or gas-powered vehicles through the Facedrive App.
Trips completed using the Facedrive rideshare platform offset C02 emissions by contributing a portion of the rider’s fare to carbon offset initiatives, such as tree planting.
Facedrive’s existing partnership with Forests Ontario allows passengers to meaningfully contribute to tree planting initiatives through rides taken using the Facedrive App.
Riders can track the number of trees that have been planted as a result of trips taken by them, illustrating the impact that each rider is having on their decision to “ride green”.
Last year alone, Facedrive, through its partnership with Forests Ontario, has planted over 3,500 trees in the Province of Ontario.
About Facedrive
Facedrive is a unique people and planet first ridesharing platform committed to doing business fairly and equitably. As a community platform, drivers are real partners in the company, benefitting from uniquely customized incentives and rewards that reflect a dedication to shared success.
For more about Facedrive, visit www.facedrive.com.
