5406 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

President Mark Collins said Wednesday that B.C. Ferries carried 108,000 vehicles from Thursday to Monday, beating the previous record set for the same days in 2018, when ferries transported 105,000 vehicles.

The total for passengers was 296,000, Collins said, with 110 sailings added to the regular schedule. “That’s just a hair away from 300,000 people when you think about it. That’s a lot of people on the move.”

While ferries carry more vehicles in August — peak tourist season — the vehicle count is a new record for the May long weekend, Collins said.

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Since Jan. 4, B.C. Ferries has hired 850 new people, Collins said, many in entry-level positions.

Transport Canada requires a certain number of trained crew on board for a ferry to operate.

These days, the number of qualified licensed mariners in senior categories being hired is similar to the number of ­retirements, Collins said, although about 160 vacancies remain.


https://www.timescol...workers-5407916

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 May 2022 - 03:18 AM.

[Sparky]

Hoards of mainlanders are flocking to this island in a steady stream. They are coming here just to have fun or are scoping out possible residency.

What do you think of increasing the fares of vehicles with out of province plates and decreasing the fares of locals who need to get on and off the island?

[Victoria Watcher]

What do you think of increasing the fares of vehicles with out of province plates and decreasing the fares of locals who need to get on and off the island?

 

I don't like it.   Maybe a frequent-trip program for locals.  But locals can also and often do time their travel to get the discounts already there at off-peak.  

[Sparky]

You can go to Thrifty’s in Central Saanich or the gas station in Mill Bay and buy discounted tickets for the Mill Bay ferry that are good at any time.

Secret discount for locals that know the skinny. What’s the difference?

[Matt R.]

I don't like it.   Maybe a frequent-trip program for locals.  But locals can also and often do time their travel to get the discounts already there at off-peak.

Simple to expand the current Experience Card program across the system.

[Mike K.]

Hoards of mainlanders are flocking to this island in a steady stream. They are coming here just to have fun or are scoping out possible residency.

Certainly a significant shift since 2019. This island is now full of mainlanders travelling the logging roads and getting lost. We come across them on the regular. Most have no concept of how vast the island actually is, and by the time they get to Nitinaht they realize they’re still within in the lower 5th of the land mass. Then they vow to return to see even more.

10 years ago the lower mainland looked down on the island as podunk. Now they value the isolation and nature that comes with being separated from the mainland. We’re talking about younger people, too. The more urban their communities become, the more they long for the wilderness and smaller towns.

Last year during a week long camping trip across the furthet reaches of the north Island we did not encounter any locals of the Island except for conservation officers.

[Sparky]

Raise the drawbridge!! …..or at least raise the ferry prices.