The opening ceremonies of the All native Basketball tournament may not be featuring participants from Haida Gwaii, as BC Ferries scheduling changes will see the resumption of ferry service to and from the Islands come on line two days too late for the basketball players and their fans.
The Ferry Corporation has added an additional two days to the February cancellation of its regular service between the Charlotte's and Prince Rupert. Two critical days for those planning on participating in the up coming tournament, who will now have to try and find alternative and most likely expensive arrangements should they want to make it to Rupert for the opening ceremonies when the games open up on February 6.
Originally the service between the two points was to be suspended from January 5 until February 5, as the Ferry Corporation took care of dock repairs and modifications required for the arrival of the new Northern Adventure this spring, but now BC Ferries has suggested that the February 5 date was for docking, with the first sailing of the resumed service to be February 7th all along.
It’s an announcement that has once again given Ferries critic and North Coast MLA Gary Coons cause to express his frustrations with the Ferry Corporation, which Coons suggests isn’t particularly inclined to consultation with the residents of Haida Gwaii.
The Daily News featured details of the latest twist in the Ferry Corporation’s plans as the front page headline story in Thursday’s paper.
EXTENDED LOSS OF FERRY HAD ‘COMMUNITY IN DISARRAY’
Charlottes ferry now out of water for the start of the All Native Basketball tournament
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Page one
BC Ferries has tacked on two days to its cancellation of its ferry service to the Queen Charlotte Islands.
That means that those on Haida Gwaii wishing to make the opening ceremonies at the All Native Basketball Tournament will be unable to attend unless they fly over to Prince Rupert with a seaplane company.
According to BC Ferries communications officer Deborah Marshall, the ferry will be back running on Feb. 7 from Prince Rupert to Skidegate in the morning and then it will return from Skidegate back to prince Rupert in the late evening.
Originally, the ferry was to be cancelled from Jan 5. until Feb. 5 but that has changed.
Marshall said that the scheduled Feb. 5 date was only for docking and that the Feb. 7 date was always intended to be the first sailing date.
BC Ferries has promised a round-trip air service twice a week between the North Coast destinations, but that air service will only hold a maximum of 160 people each week and priority will be given to the sick and those with emergency needs.
She did say that BC Ferries has done everything it can to make sure the basketball players get to the tournament for their games but that does not include a special flight or access to the barge, which she said could not handle human passengers.
“It will be on the regular ferry passenger service on February 7,” said Marshall
North Coast MLA and ferries critic Gary Coons said that he is not surprised about the announcement.
“Once again, it seems that the ferry advisory committee wasn’t informed. We brought this up at the ferry advisory committee some weeks ago that we need some consultation so the people are prepared and once again it appears that BC Ferries have dropped the ball,” said Coons.
Coons added that he believes there has been no communication with the ferry advisory committee, no communication with stakeholders like the hockey parents, the running club or the cycling club about the change.
“It just puts the whole community in disarray,” said Coons.
The Ferry Corporation has added an additional two days to the February cancellation of its regular service between the Charlotte's and Prince Rupert. Two critical days for those planning on participating in the up coming tournament, who will now have to try and find alternative and most likely expensive arrangements should they want to make it to Rupert for the opening ceremonies when the games open up on February 6.
Originally the service between the two points was to be suspended from January 5 until February 5, as the Ferry Corporation took care of dock repairs and modifications required for the arrival of the new Northern Adventure this spring, but now BC Ferries has suggested that the February 5 date was for docking, with the first sailing of the resumed service to be February 7th all along.
It’s an announcement that has once again given Ferries critic and North Coast MLA Gary Coons cause to express his frustrations with the Ferry Corporation, which Coons suggests isn’t particularly inclined to consultation with the residents of Haida Gwaii.
The Daily News featured details of the latest twist in the Ferry Corporation’s plans as the front page headline story in Thursday’s paper.
EXTENDED LOSS OF FERRY HAD ‘COMMUNITY IN DISARRAY’
Charlottes ferry now out of water for the start of the All Native Basketball tournament
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Page one
BC Ferries has tacked on two days to its cancellation of its ferry service to the Queen Charlotte Islands.
That means that those on Haida Gwaii wishing to make the opening ceremonies at the All Native Basketball Tournament will be unable to attend unless they fly over to Prince Rupert with a seaplane company.
According to BC Ferries communications officer Deborah Marshall, the ferry will be back running on Feb. 7 from Prince Rupert to Skidegate in the morning and then it will return from Skidegate back to prince Rupert in the late evening.
Originally, the ferry was to be cancelled from Jan 5. until Feb. 5 but that has changed.
Marshall said that the scheduled Feb. 5 date was only for docking and that the Feb. 7 date was always intended to be the first sailing date.
BC Ferries has promised a round-trip air service twice a week between the North Coast destinations, but that air service will only hold a maximum of 160 people each week and priority will be given to the sick and those with emergency needs.
She did say that BC Ferries has done everything it can to make sure the basketball players get to the tournament for their games but that does not include a special flight or access to the barge, which she said could not handle human passengers.
“It will be on the regular ferry passenger service on February 7,” said Marshall
North Coast MLA and ferries critic Gary Coons said that he is not surprised about the announcement.
“Once again, it seems that the ferry advisory committee wasn’t informed. We brought this up at the ferry advisory committee some weeks ago that we need some consultation so the people are prepared and once again it appears that BC Ferries have dropped the ball,” said Coons.
Coons added that he believes there has been no communication with the ferry advisory committee, no communication with stakeholders like the hockey parents, the running club or the cycling club about the change.
“It just puts the whole community in disarray,” said Coons.
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