June 3, 2025

NEW DRIVER SEAT RIDE SERVICE MORE THAN TAXI, MORE LIKE LIMO TO STARS LIKE OWNER’S AUTHOR DAUGHTER PAIGE TAYLOR

GRAVENHURST — Scott Taylor was in the Driver Seat this afternoon opening his new office at the Muskoka Airport.

His livery service opened a month ago shuttling riders throughout Muskoka and into Toronto and anywhere they want to go.

Town Crier Bruce said in his welcoming hail that when he was a lad hitching a ride meant sticking your thumb out.

Now it’s thumbs up for Taylor, who hopes to be a chauffer not only to anyone needing to book a lift locally, but groups looking for a ticket to ride in his van.

At the airport it could be celebs jumping off their Lear jet asking him to take them to their exciting cottage on Muskoka Lake.

Scott Taylor cuts the ribbon with his daughter Paige, left, franchisor Luke Bazely, Town Crier Bruce Kruger, his wife Caroline, Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz and Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont

So far his biggest star has been his daughter, Paige, a fantasy author who’s made it big on Amazon with her first novel Hearts Woven in War, part two in her Blood Blade Trilogy.

Just not today when she, he and his wife Caroline arrived in separate vehicles for the celebration along with 60 or so supporters on the tarmac for a ribbon cutting facing a parked jet as a forestry water bomber leapt into the sky to fight a forest fire whose smoke could be smelt.

Paige, who graduates in 10 days from BML, drove herself in dad’s 1998 BMW as her own BMW was in the shop.

But if she or anyone else needs to be ferried near or far, dad’s distinctive orange call-for service mini van is a new way to get around this or any other town.

Taylor, a former British Bobby, was an IT specialist with Community Living Muskoka and in Owen Sound after moving to Canada from England 17 years ago.

Now’s he’s a franchisee with Driver Seat, whose founder Luke Bazely was on hand.

Bazely — who was sporting matching orange sneakers — started the Canada-wide company 13 years ago and now has two dozen operations, including his own fleets in Barrie and Kitchener.

Members of his team joined the Taylors this past weekend taking advantage of the opening with a Muskoka training and planning session and staycation.

He said this kick-off was the biggest his franchise has seen.

“We like to say Driver Seat riders are clients, not cargo.”

And he hopes Muskoka clients will help the Taylors grow their fleet and attract more cottage celebs and star authors like Paige.