Tag Archives: BC Ferries

Health, Transportation

Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Editor’s note: the last ferry from Cortes Island, a 45 minute ferry trip away from Quadra, leaves at 5:50 PM

Residents of Quadra Island are worried about being stranded ashore when medical emergencies occur at night because BC Ferries can’t guarantee a crew for sailings to get ambulances across to the hospital in Campbell River.

A petition with close to 1,000 signatures is circulating in the community of 2,700 full-time residents calling on B.C.’s Transportation Minister Rob Fleming to work with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and BC Ferries to reinstate off-hour ferry service so ambulances can get patients to hospital in a timely manner.

Continue reading Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night →
Transportation

BC Ferries offers large discounts on late evening Quadra sailings, but skips Cortes route

By Louis Belcourt, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

BC Ferries is launching a promotion for locals and tourists to enjoy the savings on some inter-island routes this summer but the Cortes Island route is not among them.

The goal of the promotion—a 75 per cent discount off vehicle fares—is to motivate customers to travel on later or earlier sailings by providing a discount, freeing up space on more popular sailings.

Continue reading BC Ferries offers large discounts on late evening Quadra sailings, but skips Cortes route →
Transportation

BC Ferry commissioner calls for greater engagement with local advisory committees in decision making

By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

An independent report of the nine coastal BC Ferry Advisory Committees is calling for significant improvements by the ferry authority when it comes to public engagement and decision making. It points to weaknesses in the current format and understanding of the mandate of the committees, as well as how the ferry authority communicates and reports on issues, their resolution and how public engagement is measured.

Continue reading BC Ferry commissioner calls for greater engagement with local advisory committees in decision making →
Housing, Poverty

Rural Housing Survey 2: Directors first responses

The Strathcona Regional District’s rural directors responded to the Housing Needs Report at the Electoral Areas Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 15. 

Sandy Mackay, of M’akola Development Services, gave the Directors a presentation.

“We began earlier this year and continued throughout winter and spring of 2022. The study was extensive. It included a selection of key informant interviews, which I believe almost all of you participated in, as well as a community survey that garnered responses from 437 households. Which is, to be frank, quite remarkable given the size and geographic spread of your regional district,” he began.  

See: Rural Housing Survey: unaffordable rents, vacant houses, Airbnbs

Continue reading Rural Housing Survey 2: Directors first responses →
Justice

Quadra RCMP update from May 17-22

Cst. Rebekah Draht of the Quadra RCMP released a report of 10 incidents that occurred between May 17 and 22nd, 2022. 

Seven of these accounts mention either a boat, or a ferry terminal.

Continue reading Quadra RCMP update from May 17-22 →