Campbell River Community Page

As an essential public service, it is our job to keep people moving safely and reliably. We review our capital plan regularly to ensure it’s helping us achieve those goals. Inevitably, that means some tough decisions as we must work within our budget.

During this year’s annual review, we prioritized two main aspects of our capital investment plan:

1. The work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure
2. The delivery of vessels to replace our aging fleet and meet the growing capacity demands of the communities we serve, and the replacement of berths required to support new vessel introductions.

As a result, we have had to defer or adjust the scope of some of our previously planned projects to work within available funds. For more on project impacts for Campbell River, Quadra Island and Cortes Island, please read on.

Although some adjustments have been made, our plans continue to include $356 million in capital investments this year, and approximately $2.2 billion over the next four years (Performance Term Six). We also plan to pursue additional funding opportunities that would allow us to re-evaluate capital expenditures before the end of the next performance term (March 31, 2028). We will keep you updated as we continue to re-evaluate.

What does this mean for Campbell River terminal?

As we note above, we have prioritized the work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure for Campbell River, Quadra Island and Cortes Island residents. As a result, some of the terminal upgrades planned for Campbell River have been deferred for the foreseeable future.

Work to update the pump ashore facilities that began in November will be completed this spring, as planned. We also continue to make significant investments in the community as we prepare for the introduction of two new all-electric Island Class vessels and the installation of supporting terminal infrastructure for both Campbell River and Quadra Island terminals.

The deferral of the terminal upgrades planned for the Campbell River terminal does not impact the work planned for the Heriot Bay and Whaletown terminals where we continue to look forward to welcoming a new Island Class vessel.

We will continue to stay connected with our partners including Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, local transit and other stakeholders, to work on operational improvements for vehicle staging, traffic control, and enhance customer communication at these terminals, and we commit to reconnecting with the community should plans change in the future.

We thank you for your understanding as we make the challenging decisions required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure. We will reconnect as plans for these terminals evolve should funding become available.

Now is the time to shape the vision of the coastal ferry service in BC.

Transportation, transit and ferry systems around the world are under pressure resulting from the pandemic, population growth, climate change, inflation and other factors. BC’s coastal ferry system is no exception, and BC Ferries is responding with actions to address current operational issues. We are also embarking on a long-term transformative journey to reshape our coastal ferry services in response to the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

We invite you to participate in Charting the Course, an initiative that aims to define what is needed to keep people, goods, and services in coastal communities connected and moving through to 2050 and beyond.

Hearing from you is an important part of this initiative to help us build a more sustainable and resilient ferry system. The first phase of engagement is open until November 28. Learn more and participate here: https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/bc-ferries-charting-the-course

Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) – Campbell River

September 9, 16, 22 and 23, 2023

Annual operational readiness drills are scheduled to take place on select dates in September on both the Island Nagalis and Island K’ulut’a. These drills will result in the following sailing cancellations:

Service will resume at 10:20 pm departing Campbell River with the vessel operating in shuttle mode until the scheduled 11:30 pm departure from Campbell River on September 9, 22, 23. Additionally, service will resume as scheduled beginning with the 5:25 pm departure from Campbell River and the 5:50 pm sailing from Quathiaski Cove on September 16.

Customers can find information about when BC Ferries uses shuttle sailings here.

BC Ferries would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during these important safety and emergency training events.

For more information or traffic updates, follow us on Twitter @BCFerries or visit bcferries.com.

Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) – Campbell River (Vancouver Island)
August 26 – 31, 2023

Due to tidal conditions between Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) and Campbell River (Vancouver Island), some buses, RVs, low bed vehicles and other vehicles with very low ground clearance, or extended overhangs on the rear axle may be asked to wait for a later sailing on the Island Nagalis or Island K'ulut'a for the safety of the vehicle, the vessel, and the environment during the following sailing times:

To ensure the safe loading of the vessels, we recommend arriving at the terminal outside of the specified time frames for the designated vehicle types. This will help mitigate the risk of potential loading issues.

To check if the tidal conditions are low on the day of your travel, please see the latest updates available here: https://tides.gc.ca/en/stations/08074.

We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this loading delay. The crew will work to get you to your destination as quickly as possible, when it is safe to do so.

For more information or traffic updates, please follow @BCFerries on Twitter or visit bcferries.com.

Today marks National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day we celebrate and recognize the diverse cultures, traditions and immeasurable contributions of First Nations, Inuit, & Métis across Canada. Indigenous Peoples are the traditional stewards of the rivers, lakes, land & sea where we are privileged to live and work.

#NIPD2023 serves as an opportunity to learn and deepen our understanding of the Indigenous cultures throughout Canada.

• Learn more about Indigenous Peoples land, languages, history and culture: https://maps.fpcc.ca/
• The First Peoples’ map highlights BC's Indigenous language regions, artists & artworks, place names & landmarks: https://native-land.ca/
• Native Land is an app that allows users to map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages: https://ow.ly/1pUt50OPX10
• Use the @BCGovNews map to find events happening in your community celebrating National Indigenous History Month: https://ow.ly/fif850OPX4l
• Learn more about the history, cultures, and experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada: https://ow.ly/mJ4250OPX91

Learn about National Indigenous People’s Day and how you can participate in celebrating their culture and heritage.

#BCFerries remains committed to fostering meaningful relationships with the Indigenous communities we serve. We recognize the importance of collaboration and partnership as we work toward a future of mutual respect, reconciliation and inclusivity.

The new BC Ferries app is now available for download to your mobile device in the App Store and Google Play Store. Designed with convenience and personalization in mind, the app makes it easier than ever to check schedules and current conditions, book sailings and manage your trips.

New features and enhancements include:

• Travel Preferences: Allows customers to save travel details for quick access to schedules and current conditions and make faster bookings on frequently travelled routes.
• Current Conditions: Route sailing status and estimated deck space will be easier to view with the updated app layout.
• Making and Managing Bookings: New designs and personalized travel preferences will enable easier bookings. Customers can quickly jump to the next available sailing with the new Express book feature, and manage existing bookings on-the-go.
• Schedules: Enhanced features on daily and seasonal schedules and the introduction of travel preferences will make it easier to trip plan.
• Alerts: Gives customers the option to receive timely push- notifications for service notices and upcoming sailing reminders on their device.
• Seamless check-in: Customers can find their upcoming trips on their app dashboard to access the booking barcode for seamless check-in at the terminal.

This is BC Ferries first release and the company already has plans for new features and functionality. The app will also continue to evolve based on feedback from customers and evolving digital trends.

More information about the mobile app, including how to and helpful tips, is available online at https://www.bcferries.com/app

Since filing in September 2022, an elevated risk of recession, coupled with higher inflation and cost pressures across BC Ferries operations, has forced a recalculation of estimates and plans contained in the company’s Performance Term Six Submission to the independent BC Ferries Commissioner.

Revisions to the plan are in three key areas:

• Traffic Outlook – BC Ferries’ traffic outlook has been updated to reflect the growing certainty of a mild recession occurring during Fiscal 2024;
• Capital Program and Maintenance – continued inflation and higher maintenance costs associated with maintaining an ageing fleet have been factored into an updated schedule and 12-year capital plan.
• Labour and Talent Development – a more comprehensive view of actions necessary to secure required crew levels in response to the growing gap of both exempt and bargaining unit wages relative to the marketplace.

The revised plan also acknowledges the recent commitment of $500 million in new funding from the Province to support the lowering of fare increases for people who rely upon the coastal ferry service. While funding terms are not finalized, the Commissioner will determine the impact on BCF’s revised four-year plan, and will make a final determination on the Performance Term Six price caps by September 30, 2023. The plan is now posted on the Commissioner’s website bcferrycommission.ca for public feedback.

Click here to view the full media release.

Summary of Engagement Results

On February 4, 2023 we held a community drop-in on both Cortes and Quadra Island. We had close to 60 people attend the events in person, in addition to over 1000 visits to the online community page. Comments and feedback about important topics to the community were also collected on the pages and in person. A quick synopsis of engagement results can be found below. The full report is available and can be found by clicking the links below or in the Documents section on the right-hand side of this page.

• Engagement Summary Report

Cortes Island - Synopsis of Engagement Results

25 participants attended in person and over 90 comments were received

Engagement activities included:

• A three-week online engagement
• One in person community drop in

Key themes that emerged from the engagement included:

• Assured loading
• Electrification
• Schedule adjustments

Quadra Island - Synopsis of Engagement Results

34 participants attended in person and over 60 comments were received

Engagement activities included:

• A three-week online engagement
• One in person community drop in

Key themes that emerged from the engagement included:

• Schedule adjustments
• Crewing
• Communication

Update: Two Island Class Vessels for Campbell River-Quadra Island Route: New loading procedures

New load and go process

Sailings approximately every 35 minutes means less time waiting. It also means the vessel will load and go. Some sailings may depart with free deck space to help keep turn around times short to prepare for the arrival of the next ferry. In addition, there will be no priority loading lanes, and vehicles will be separated as needed during loading rather than in the terminal holding lot.

New Commute time options

Two ships means more frequent service and new options for your commute to and from home. Service will increase to up to 29 round trips per day, delivering more service at peak times and more capacity overall.

We recognize it will take time to get used to a new ship and new schedules. Please be patient and kind to our crew and your fellow passengers as this new services begins.

Two Island Class Vessels to begin service on Campbell River-Quadra Island Route

Round trip service between Campbell River – Quadra Island will grow from up to 18 trips to up to 29 per day with the introduction of the Island Nagalis and Island K’ulut’a on January 18, 2023 to deliver more service at peak times and more capacity overall.

Read the full media release here.