BC Ferries will provide the following alternate service between Cortes and Quadra during the Heriot Bay and Whaletown terminal closures from February 9^th to March 1^st, 2026.

A helpful document containing a comprehensive overview of the alternate service information, including schedules and maps, is available for download here. It is also saved under the Documents section in the right-hand column of this page titled HBWH Alternate Service Guide.

Foot-passenger water-taxi service (complimentary)

• Between Mansons Landing (Cortes) and Heriot Bay Government Dock (Quadra)
• Seven days a week, six round trips per day starting from Mansons Landing
• 40-person capacity, first-come, first served
• BC Ferries staff on site to assist customers
• Additional space available for items such as bicycles, strollers, and mobility aids
• Shelter, lighting and signage at water-taxi locations
• Bins and carts available to transport goods from the water-taxi to customer vehicles
• Designated spots for the safe drop off or pick up of customers (maps can be found in document)

The water-taxi schedule can be found here.

***The gangway to the water taxi at Mansons Landing will be steep at low tides, which may pose challenges for individuals with mobility issues.

If you have any questions about water-taxi accessibility, please contact Customer Care at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779) or email the Customer Relations team at customer.relations@bcferries.com for assistance.

Travelling with pets

Pets are welcome on the water-taxi under the following conditions:

• Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 1 metre (3 feet) at all times.
• Cats and other small animals must be in a carrier.
• A maximum of one pet is allowed per handler.
• Passengers are responsible for their pet’s behaviour. Any incident may result in denial of service.
• If your dog is reactive to other dogs or people, we recommend using a muzzle for everyone’s comfort and safety.
• If your pet has an accident or relieves itself on the vessel, kennel, or on the rear deck, you must clean up immediately.

Passenger safety is top priority. The water-taxi operator reserves the right to refuse service if safety requirements are not met.

Cortes Island shuttle service (complimentary)

The Klahoose First Nation (KFN) has kindly offered their community bus to support passenger travel during the closure, with several trips running between stops.

To ensure smooth travel planning, please keep the following in mind:

• The shuttle has a 10-person capacity and runs on a limited schedule from Monday to Friday with no weekend service.
• It is not available for every sailing, so we recommend checking the shuttle times in advance.
• This is not a park-and-go service. If you plan to drive to one of the shuttle stops, please note that parking is not provided and you will need to make your own arrangements.
• Small pets are allowed if in a carrier or held on the owner’s lap.
• The shuttle schedule can be found on the KFN website here.

For questions regarding this service and schedule, please contact the KFN driver on 250-203-8360.

Parking on Quadra Island

BC Ferries aims to mitigate travel disruption by providing the complimentary shuttle bus service for our customers between Heriot Bay Government Dock and Quathiaski Cove during the berth closure.

There are limited parking spaces available, on a first come, first-served basis in the staging lineup (see map in document with red box around staging area on West Road) at the Heriot Bay Terminal. Vehicles must not impede driveways or road traffic.

BC Ferries cannot guarantee space availability and is not responsible for vehicles or items of value left in them.

Hello Quadra and Cortes Island community members,

I would like to start by sharing a sincere thank you for the patience, flexibility, and resilience you have shown during the berth closures and temporary suspension of regular ferry service. I know this disruption has not been easy.

I’m happy to share the following updates on the work being completed during the berth closure period.

Whaletown

The remaining structures from the old berth are being removed, the new rip-rap (shoreline rock) will be installed, and prefabricated steel elements will be lifted into place. We will then connect power and hydraulics to make the berth operational. It is expected that ferry service to Cortes will be returned to the community from March 2^nd, 2026.

Heriot Bay

Work is nearing completion on the electrical/hydraulic systems as well as on the new buildings – the waiting room and ticket booth. The final marine structure will be installed along with the final piles and the floating dolphin. The demolition of the old berth is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Alternate service

A reminder that information about alternate services, including a comprehensive, downloadable Alternate Service Guide can be found in the post directly below this one on the project page.

Customer support

For any questions regarding the alternate service information, please contact Customer Care at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779) or email the Customer Relations team at customer.relations@bcferries.com.

We recognize the impact the berth closures have on the community and want to thank you once again for your understanding and patience as we work to provide safe and reliable ferry service to Quadra and Cortes Islands for years to come.

Thank you,

Jeffrey Li
Project Manager
BC Ferries

Hello Quadra and Cortes Island community members,

I’m happy to share the following updates for the terminal rebuild projects underway at Heriot Bay and Whaletown, and a reminder about the alternate service BC Ferries will be providing.

Construction

Significant progress was made on marine pile installation at Whaletown in December. This momentum carried into January, with further pile installation and the demolition of the existing berth on schedule for completion before the scheduled berth closure period of February 9th to March 1st, 2026.

At Heriot Bay, work is progressing on the electrical and hydraulic systems, as well as the new waiting room. Finishing touches are also being completed on the concrete barriers, railings, and other areas around the new berth.

Alternate service

A reminder that BC Ferries will provide the following alternate service between Cortes and Quadra during the Heriot Bay and Whaletown terminal closures. Schedules for services have been published and links are shared below. Brochures are available at both terminals, ticket booths and waiting rooms, on vessels, and in community at several businesses.

Foot-passenger water taxi service (complimentary)

• Seven days a week, six round trips per day starting from Mansons Landing
• 40-person capacity, first-come, first served
• Between Mansons Landing and Heriot Bay Government Dock
• The water-taxi schedule can be found here.

Shuttle bus service (complimentary)

• Heriot Bay Government Dock to Quathiaski Cove (with a stop near the Heriot Bay Ferry Terminal)
• Timed as closely as possible to water taxi arrivals/departures, first-come, first-serve.

Barge service (essential goods and services only)

• Service between Heriot Bay Government Dock (Quadra) and Gorge Harbour (Cortes)
• Monday to Saturday, three round trips daily (starting from Heriot Bay)
• Dangerous goods sailings on Tuesdays (10:15 departing Heriot Bay / 14:30 departing Gorge Harbour
• The barge reservation request system is now live - the online booking form and barge schedule can be found here.

Passenger vehicles may be accepted in special cases, depending on space and approval. A barge reservation request must be submitted in advance.

Next steps and communication

You’ll continue to hear from us through service notices, mail-outs, social media, sign boards, and this monthly update where you can learn more about these services and how we will continue to keep Cortes connected during berth closures.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Relations team at customer.relations@bcferries.com.

Thanks for reading,

Jeffrey Li
Project Manager
BC Ferries

Hello Quadra and Cortes Island community members,

I’m happy to share some exciting updates on the terminal rebuilt projects underway at Heriot Bay – Whaletown.

Construction

Significant work has advanced at Whaletown with much of the marine pile installation on schedule for completion by the end of this year. In January, the focus of the project will shift to preparing for the berth closure period, working offsite on prefabricated steel elements like the ramp and aprons. At Heriot Bay, we have been advancing electrical and hydraulic work, building the new waiting room, as well as installing concrete barriers and railings on the new trestle.

Work will pause between December 20th and January 5^th for the holidays, so we can all take a break, recharge, and spend time with family and friends before returning in the new year.

Alternate service

A reminder that BC Ferries will provide alternate service between Cortes and Quadra during the Heriot Bay and Whaletown terminal closures from February 9^th to March 1^st, 2026. Learn more about this service and view updated barge / landing craft booking details in the previous project update directly below this one titled, October Engagement Summary and Project Update.

You’ll continue to hear from us through service notices, mail-outs, social media, sign boards, and this regular monthly update where you can learn more about these services and how we will continue to keep Cortes connected during berth closures.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Relations team at customer.relations@bcferries.com.

Thanks for reading and wishing you a happy holiday season!

Jeffrey Li
Project Manager
BC Ferries

As summer winds down, I’m pleased to share the following updates for the terminal rebuild projects. As always, I’d like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience and support while we work to upgrade the terminals to support the deployment of the Island Class Vessel between Cortes and Quadra.

At Heriot Bay, construction crews have made significant progress installing portions of the new trestle, including large steel piles and concrete beams that will eventually support the vehicle loading ramp for the new ferry. In the coming weeks, you will notice the terminal becoming quite busy as we ramp up production from both the marine and land side. The contractor is mobilizing additional marine equipment to assist the land-based crane with placing large pre-cast concrete beams and installing marine pilings. At the same time, crews will work from land to place new shoreline protection rock called rip-rap. The rock has been sourced from a local quarry on Quadra Island and will be trucked to the terminal.

The work at Whaletown has faced challenges over the last month due to unforeseen ground conditions and equipment issues. The crew has shown perseverance and advanced the work as much as possible. We are expecting phase one marine work will conclude by the end of September and the crew will join their colleagues at Heriot Bay as production accelerates into October. You may see crews on site at Whaletown installing a concrete pad near the terminal electrical room to support new BC Hydro infrastructure.

Offsite, fabrication work for both new terminals is progressing. On September 3rd, we reached a major milestone with the launch of new floating dolphins for both terminals in Campbell River. The dolphins will be stored in Campbell River until they can be installed on-site.

We look forward to being back in your communities later this fall to discuss the details of the planned alternate service next winter (February 2026). We will share the date and time of our in-person event as soon as it is confirmed. In the meantime, you’ll continue to hear from us through service notices, mail-outs, social media, sign boards, and this page!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Relations team at customer.relations@bcferries.com.

Thanks for reading,

Jeffrey Li

Project Manager, BC Ferries

Hello Quadra and Cortes Island community members,

It’s been a busy time on both islands as terminal work progresses and summer visitors arrive! I’d like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience and support while we work to rebuild the terminals. It’s been a productive month for the construction crews at both terminals and I’m pleased to share an update.

At Heriot Bay, you may have noticed that the existing trestle was quickly removed following the commissioning of the temporary operations trestle last month. In addition, we’ve built a temporary bridge structure to support the crane during construction of the new trestle.

Earlier this month, the crane - working from this new structure - installed the first permanent pilings. As we move through August and September, you’ll begin to see the new trestle take shape with the installation of steel piles and concrete beams. In late August, additional marine construction equipment will be mobilized to Heriot Bay to further support the construction of the new berth.

As I mentioned in last month’s update, work continues at Whaletown through August. Some unforeseen ground conditions have challenged the construction crews on site, but the pile installation work is progressing and is expected to wrap up around the end of the month. Once complete, the crews will join their colleagues at Heriot Bay.

Significant progress has also been made installing new rip-rap and armour rock (material used to protect shoreline structures) at Whaletown. The contractor has been busy unloading marine barges and carefully placing rocks to stabilize the shoreline banks on both sides of the terminal.

Behind the scenes, we’ve also been planning the alternate service period that will take place during berth closures scheduled for next winter (February 2026). We are looking forward to visiting your communities again later this fall to share additional details of what the alternate service will entail and what your journey to and from Campbell River may look like when the berths are closed.

You’ll continue to hear from us through service notices, mail-outs, social media, sign boards, and this regular column, and when we visit your communities in the fall.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Relations team at customer.relations@bcferries.com.

Thanks for reading,

Jeffrey Li

Project Manager, BC Ferries

Hello Quadra and Cortes Island community members,

It's been a productive month and I want to first and foremost share our appreciation of your ongoing patience and support. The crews on site have loved getting to know the community as you drop by for visits and check-ins. Thank you for welcoming us to your communities!

I’m pleased to share that construction has been going well, and we have reached the first official milestone at Heriot Bay with the opening of the temporary trestle on July 15. As I mentioned last month, this structure will allow us to keep the ferry running while we remove the old trestle and construct a new one. This structure will be in use until the new berth is completed later this year.

Want to see the trestle in action?

Visit the project page for videos and more bcferriesprojects.ca/heriot-bay-whaletown-tp

At Whaletown, the crews have been working hard to install the new structural piles that will eventually support the new ramp early next year and later in July, you will notice additional marine equipment on-site that will be used to install new rock and rip-rap to armor and reinforce the shoreline.

As exciting as the on-site construction is, this month, I’d also like to highlight some of the work that is happening off-site and behind the scenes. BC Ferries is pleased to be working with local contractors to complete not only the construction of the new berths, but also the fabrication of several new components.

• Duncan, BC: Many new structural steel components are being built, by Pacific Industrial and Marine, our general contractor.
• Campbell River, BC: Two new concrete floats are being fabricated by Pacific Marine Construction.
• Delta, BC: New concrete pontoons that will support the ramp are under construction at International Marine Flotation Systems.

Staying in touch

Keeping you informed throughout the project is top of mind, and you’ll continue to hear from us through service notices, mail-outs, social media, sign boards, and this regular column. We also plan to be back to visit your communities in the fall.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Relations team at customer.relations@bcferries.com.

Thanks for reading,

Jeffrey Li

Project Manager, BC Ferries