Moving Ahead Together on the Sunshine Coast
We know this has been a challenging time for Sunshine Coast residents as we have adjusted service and operational procedures to meet fluctuating traffic levels and new regulations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know our customers have been affected by:
- Sailing waits at popular times
- Lack of available reservations
- Reservation trading / selling / sharing
- Concerns around travel certainty for residents
- Concerns around medical travel needs
- Concerns around capacity
In addition to service and operational adjustments, our current financial reality has meant we've prioritized core ferry service to communities, and that we have paused our capital projects until we have a better idea of how the recently announced Safe Restart funding will be allocated. As we move ahead, these are the kinds of constraints and uncertainties that we will need to confront together.
Our goal through this engagement is to develop a practical list of solutions we can implement ourselves in the near term with the assets we currently have. We operate under contract with the Government of BC, which means not all decisions are ours to make alone. Because our goal is the creation of a near-term action plan, we will be focusing conversations on topics and solutions that are within BC Ferries' control. This includes things like operational changes, changes to our reservation policies and processes, improving the way we communicate with our customers, etc.
These are some of the most challenging times we've faced in our communities, our homes, and our organizations. We know it hasn't been easy, and we firmly believe that the best way ahead is together. We look forward to working with you.
We know this has been a challenging time for Sunshine Coast residents as we have adjusted service and operational procedures to meet fluctuating traffic levels and new regulations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know our customers have been affected by:
- Sailing waits at popular times
- Lack of available reservations
- Reservation trading / selling / sharing
- Concerns around travel certainty for residents
- Concerns around medical travel needs
- Concerns around capacity
In addition to service and operational adjustments, our current financial reality has meant we've prioritized core ferry service to communities, and that we have paused our capital projects until we have a better idea of how the recently announced Safe Restart funding will be allocated. As we move ahead, these are the kinds of constraints and uncertainties that we will need to confront together.
Our goal through this engagement is to develop a practical list of solutions we can implement ourselves in the near term with the assets we currently have. We operate under contract with the Government of BC, which means not all decisions are ours to make alone. Because our goal is the creation of a near-term action plan, we will be focusing conversations on topics and solutions that are within BC Ferries' control. This includes things like operational changes, changes to our reservation policies and processes, improving the way we communicate with our customers, etc.
These are some of the most challenging times we've faced in our communities, our homes, and our organizations. We know it hasn't been easy, and we firmly believe that the best way ahead is together. We look forward to working with you.
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CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
This online engagement is broken down into six sections. We have provided information to help frame each section and each potential solution we're seeking input on, making this engagement a little longer than some of our others. Each section is optional and you can skip ahead at any point.
- Travel certainty - potential solutions to reduce stress and anxiety for those who depend on ferry service
- Medical Travel - potential solutions to reduce stress and anxiety for those travelling with medical needs
- Communications - potential solutions to enhance information that can make planning and travelling easier
- Demand Management - potential solutions to enhance the use of available capacity through the day
- Ideas the Project Working Group considered that will not be moving ahead at this time
- Additional thoughts you want to share
Survey closes Wednesday, December 9th.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please do not provide personal information about yourself (such as your address) or other individuals. If you have any questions or require further information about this survey, please contact us directly at engagement@bcferries.com.
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RSVPs for the meeting are now closed. Thank you to all who have participated!76 responses
We've added a second date! The first community meeting is now full and we are inviting RSVPs for Monday, November 30 from 6:00 - 8:00pm.
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CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
Our goal through this engagement is to develop a practical list of solutions we can implement ourselves in the near term with the assets we currently have. For this reason, you'll notice we're focusing our conversations on topics and solutions that we can implement within our current constraints and reality. Your feedback will help us identify priority challenges and potential solutions to be explored in the next phase of engagement. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Survey closes Monday, September 14.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please do not provide personal information about yourself (such as your address) or other individuals. If you have any questions or require further information about this survey, please contact us directly at engagement@bcferries.com.
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CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
The Project Working Group will be engaged throughout the Moving Ahead Together project and will work alongside BC Ferries to identify and evaluate collaborative solutions to improve ferry travel on the Sunshine Coast.
This temporary group will be made up of 20 invited and appointed members representing a cross-section of the community, ferry users and employees. 10 positions will be invited members, e.g. Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs, employee representatives, key community representatives etc. and 10 positions are available for those interested in participating. The call for participation is open until September 14th. Participants who are chosen to join the Working Group will be notified by September 23rd.
Please note this short-term group is not meant to replace the important work of our Ferry Advisory Committees. The group’s work will conclude at the end of the project in late November.
Representation
We are looking for participants to represent the following groups:
- Commuters
- Trucking/hauling industry
- Sunshine Coast service providers
- Tourism
- Local businesses
- Vacation home owners
- Schools & sports teams
- Transit users
- First Nations
Expectations
Those who are interested in participating should be prepared to:
- Engage in respectful dialogue with BC Ferries staff and executive
- Contribute to solutions-focused discussions that generate collaboration and new ideas
- Bring their voice and perspectives to discussions alongside other community representatives
- Communicate to their networks about the engagement process and its outcomes
- Be prepared to attend meetings and workshops as outlined below
Meeting Dates
The Project Working Group will be asked to attend engagement activities on the following dates. The exact format and flow of these meetings will be determined closer to the date based on group preference and comfort levels, as well as evolving Provincial Health guidelines.
- September 30 & October 1 (2 days): Workshop to identify and evaluate potential solutions to improve ferry travel on the Sunshine Coast
- October 14 (1 hour): Virtual community meeting
- November 18 (1 day): Workshop to develop recommended solutions for implementation
Selection Process
Applications to participate will be reviewed by BC Ferries and the Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) Chairs for the South Sunshine Coast, North Sunshine Coast, and Gambier-Keats. Together BC Ferries and the FAC Chairs will select participants to fill the 10 available spots. We wish to make the Project Working Group as diverse as possible and to ensure a high degree of transparency in the Working Group process. Members will be selected to ensure a broad diversity of customer and community perspectives are represented at the table. Potential participants with strong community connections and who are able to act as a conduit with their networks to facilitate feedback and learning are encouraged to note this in their application. We thank all those who express interest in participating. Those who are chosen to join the Working Group will be notified by September 23rd.
Privacy
Your personal information is being collected under section 26 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used to review your application to participate in the Project Working Group.
This site is hosted on behalf of BC Ferries by Bang the Table Pty Ltd., which uses Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Canadian servers to provide its services. While reasonable efforts are undertaken to ensure that privately provided personal information is accessed only within Canada, AWS will disclose customer content if required to do so to comply with the law or with a valid and binding order of a governmental or regulatory body, which may be outside Canada. For more information, see https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/data-privacy-faq/.
If you have any questions about the collection of your personal information, please contact engagement@bcferries.com or write to us at British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., Strategy and Community Engagement, Suite 500 - 1321 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 0B7.
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Sunshine Coast Data & Information
Check out this infographic for information on the topics you wanted to know more about, including:
- How reservation space is determined for the Sunshine Coast
- The Travel Assistance Program (TAP) and Medical Assured Loading
- Traffic data for the Sunshine Coast
Key Project Dates
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August 25 → September 14 2020
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September 23 2020
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September 30 → October 01 2020
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October 15 2020
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October 22 2020
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November 09 2020
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November 18 → December 09 2020
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November 25 2020
Engagement Lifecycle
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Define the Challenges
Moving Ahead Together on the Sunshine Coast has finished this stageLate August - Mid-September. Online engagement helps clearly define the current concerns of the Sunshine Coast community. The Project Working Group is established.
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Develop Solutions
Moving Ahead Together on the Sunshine Coast has finished this stageLate September - Early November: The Project Working Group works with BC Ferries staff to identify and evaluate potential solutions. The Project Sounding Board is set up to review the short-list of solutions as a first step in wider community review.
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Evaluate Solutions
Moving Ahead Together on the Sunshine Coast has finished this stageThroughout November. The short-list of solutions developed by the Working Group is presented to the community for feedback. A virtual meeting provides the community with a chance to learn about the short list of solutions being proposed.
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Recommend Solutions
Moving Ahead Together on the Sunshine Coast has finished this stageEarly December. The Working Group uses community feedback to develop a list of recommended solutions for implementation.
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Refine & Implement Solutions
Moving Ahead Together on the Sunshine Coast is currently at this stageMid-December, onward. Recommended solutions are selected for refinement and implementation. Additional engagement commences as required and implementation begins. Communications with the community continue through implementation process.