B.C. Ferries

The ferry system in British Columbia is an excellent model of mutual respect in the public sector. BC Ferries are awesome! I love travelling between Vancouver to Nanaimo on the ferry. I find the whole system to be very respectful and pleasant. Travelling for 1 hour and 45 minutes doesn’t have to be enjoyable. I think the ferry system makes it work.

“Attention passengers on the upstairs deck. Please be aware that the horn will be sounding very soon. It is a very loud horn. We want you to be prepared!” Being respectful doesn’t have to be a challenge!

The food in the cafeteria-style restaurant is good. I like their clam chowder. The coffee is excellent, and they serve beautiful full meals and it’s possible to substitute yam fries for the French fries if you like. “Would you like to warm up your cinnamon bun? The oven is just around that counter”, instructs the cashier as she rings up our coffee and dessert.

When I travel in the morning, there is hot, natural oatmeal. Who could ask for more? The seating in the cafeteria is open and sunny. The view out on the water is always spectacular! Seeing whales is a possibility and makes the occasional glance necessary. Today’s trip included an announcement. “Attention passengers! For those of you who are interested there is a pod of porpoises following our ferry. Look out the starboard side of the ferry to see a spectacular sight!” Sure enough, as I glance out, I see at least 50 porpoises swimming together! Diving in and out of the water, dancing through the ocean waves…  playfully struggling (without a hope) to keep up with us.

Other announcements can be heard during a trip: “Attention passengers! A wallet has been found on the counter in the women’s washroom. Please come to the lost and found to retrieve it.” Or “Attention passengers! Will the owner of a blue Subaru, license plates 574 WKN please return to your car. You left your lights on.”

There are televisions on the walls of certain decks. There is a gorgeous safe and comfortable sundeck that is inviting and welcoming. Young lovers sit on the floor with their backs supported by the wall. The sun shines down upon them and they shine upon each other as they kiss, as if no one else can see. A separate place for smokers is provided.

Children’s play area and video game machines occupy one area of the ferry. Another room has jungle gym and equipment for the more active soul. Everyone has what he or she needs. An hour into the ride, a young woman invites young people (and older too) to a short seminar on some topic unique to British Columbia waters. Wildlife, fisheries, canoe making are some topics I have heard about.

I particularly notice how respectful our BC Ferries are, when I had the chance to travel on the Washington ferry line from Anacortes to Victoria. There’s nothing really wrong with their line. There’s just not much ‘right’ about it. People seem a little gruffer. The accommodations are older and more used, dirtier. There’s good popcorn, but nothing else in the menu interested me. There are no public announcements other than to tell passengers what is prohibited and what are the consequences of poor behaviour.

As I join other passengers on the BC Ferry line at the end of our trip, we are all waiting to disembark. People smile. It has been a fun trip. The ferry workers are already out with their cloths and brooms, cleaning the areas and preparing for the next passengers. “Thank you so much.” I say as I leave. “You are so very welcome…come again!” And I definitely will.