BC Ferries and the BC Ferry Authority have launched a joint visioning initiative called ‘Charting the Course,’ which may help shape the future of this service for years to come. In today’s story, Deborah Marshall, Executive Director for Public Affairs and Marketing for BC Ferries, describes the survey and also answered some specific questions about the Cortes and Quadra Island routes.
Continue reading Envisioning The Future of BC Ferries on the Cortes and Quadra Ferry RoutesEditor’s note: The following article is of interest because of BC Ferries involvement and the fact Union Bay is close to our broadcast area.
By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
BC Ferries was at one point actively negotiating with Deep Water Recovery, a controversial ship-breaking operation in Union Bay, regarding the dismantling of an end-of-life vessel. That’s according to an email from BC Ferries, obtained through an access to information request.
“Everybody thought it was just here because they didn’t have a place to store it,” said Marilynn Manning, a Union Bay resident and member of Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound, during a rally against the operation in October. “But we found out through freedom of information that [Deep Water Recovery] was in negotiation to take it apart here.”
Continue reading BC Ferries was in negotiations with controversial ship-breaking operation, email shows
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
B.C. Ferries abruptly cancelled all public community meetings and shifted local ferry committee meetings online Wednesday to protect employees citing a spike in aggression that includes gun threats and acts of vandalism.
Public notice about moving the Cortes Island and Quadra Island ferry advisory committee (FAC) meeting online, and the outright cancellation of a subsequent community town hall session happened within hours of the two events scheduled for mid-day and at 3:30 p.m. respectively.
It’s not entirely clear if it was a single incident or a compilation of incidents at different events that caused the cancellations, said Diana Mumford, chair of the Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee.
Continue reading Abuse, weapons threats to BC Ferries staff put public meetings on hold
By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
BC Ferries has announced that January 18th marks the beginning of two vessel service between Campbell River on Vancouver Island and Quadra Island. The ships are part of the new hybrid diesel/electric Island Class series. They are replacing the 57 year old MV Powell River Queen currently operating on the route.
Continue reading BC Ferries to start tandem ferry service between Campbell River and Quadra Island in January
By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
BC Ferries is building four more “Island Class” ferries, due to increased demand and current vessels aging, and a call for proposals has gone out to shipyards in British Columbia, as well as nationally and internationally.
Continue reading BC Ferries calls on shipyards to bid on construction of four new vessels
