Project Update - June 1, 2021

Phase I Engagement Results Now Available

The reports on Phase I engagement efforts are now available. Please click the links below or browse the Documents section on the right-hand side of the page to view the reports:


Central reports covering the combined results from all engagement efforts across all islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna, and Salt Spring):


Sub reports covering the online engagement results from each island:


Executive Summary of Results

2,523 people participated in this first phase of engagement, 58% of participants are full-time residents of the Southern Gulf Islands, while 39% are part-time residents or visitors. Engagement activities were all virtual in nature in keeping with current Provincial Health Orders and included:

  • Four virtual meetings with the Southern Gulf Islands and Salt Spring Island Ferry Advisory Committees
  • A month-long online engagement
  • 22 stakeholder conversations with individuals across the Southern Gulf Islands and Salt Spring Island.


This first phase of engagement focused on the development of criteria that can be used to evaluate schedule concepts in the next phase of engagement. Six draft evaluation criteria were proposed and validated through the engagement process:

  • Frequency of access to/from major ports
  • Sailing durations to/from major ports
  • Preferred departure times to/from major ports
  • Capacity available to/from major ports
  • On-time performance
  • Transfers required


Through engagement, participants indicated that the three most important evaluation criteria were:

  1. Frequency of sailings to/from major ports
  2. Preferred departure times to/from major ports
  3. Capacity available to/from major ports


Participants noted a variety of considerations for each evaluation criteria that are detailed in the engagement reports. Desired departure times, reducing the duration of travel, improving travel certainty, and ensuring sailing times that support resident, business, and visitor needs were all common themes arising in the feedback.

In addition to the six draft evaluation criteria noted above, we asked about the importance of inter-island connectivity. Generally, participants felt inter-island connectivity was important, but indicated that access to and from Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen were of greater priority. Full-time residents prioritized access to Swartz Bay for all Islands except Salt Spring Island, where access to the Mainland remained a priority. For all Islands part-time residents and visitors prioritized access to the Mainland over access to Vancouver Island.

We will now take the results of the engagement and use the findings to begin developing schedule concepts. We will be working closely with the Southern Gulf Islands and Salt Spring Island Ferry Advisory Committees to review schedule concepts prior to bringing them to the community for feedback in phase two this summer.

Categories: SGI
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link