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As part of our summer readiness planning, BC Ferries reviewed the sailing schedule for the Buckley Bay–Denman Island West route to identify opportunities to enhance the customer travel experience.
A key focus of this review was to explore potential schedule adjustments that could better serve the community. Based on traffic analysis, we identified an opportunity to potentially improve afternoon service by shifting the second vessel’s schedule one hour later. While this change would not increase the number of sailings, it could help alleviate overloads during peak afternoon periods.
The purpose of engagement was to gather community input to help assess the impact and suitability of this potential schedule adjustment.
The IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation was designed to assist with the selection of the level of participation that defines the public’s role in any engagement process. For these engagement sessions, we approached the online and in-person engagement sessions at the consult level.
As described by the IAP2 Spectrum, this level includes the following:
Public participation goal: To obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives and/or decisions
Promise to the public: We will keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.
Public feedback helped shape the decision, along with other considerations including regulatory, financial and operational considerations.
The engagement process sought to gather early feedback from those that represent ferry users who travel through, live near, or visit Denman and Hornby Islands. These groups include, but are not limited to:
- Commuters and students
- Residents travelling for business and personal (i.e., work, family, shopping, etc.)
- Commercial users including goods and services for Denman and Hornby Islands.
- Residents travelling for medical appointments
To help promote this engagement, we share the information through:
- Advertisements in the Island Grapevine and the Barnacle with a form to cut out and fill in and return to terminals.
- Targeted social media posts for Denman Island and surrounding communities.
- Information and an online discussion forum posted on the former Denman and Hornby Islands Community Pages.
- Posters onboard vessel and at terminals, including printed paper forms.
Based on the feedback gathered from the community and the analysis of traffic, beginning June 19, 2025, the schedule for the Denman Island – Buckley Bay route will be adjusted to the following:
Adjust the schedule of the number two vessel (Kahloke) by 1 hour with new revised schedule for Monday–Thursday:
- Leave Buckley Bay at 9:40am
- Leave Denman West at 5:00pm
Friday schedule will remain unchanged. Full schedules will be available online to view at bcferries.com
We expect this revised schedule, based on input received and traffic data, to better serve the community and help manage overloads during peak afternoon times.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this engagement opportunity.
We encourage you to subscribe to your coastal community page to stay up to date with future engagement opportunities in your area.
A copy of this engagement report can also be found here: What we heard: Let's Connect - Summer Schedule Shift
