BC Ferries expects heavy traffic over Thanksgiving long weekend, says foot passengers may see waits
BC Ferries is warning travellers that the upcoming Thanksgiving long weekend will be a busy one along its major routes.
Between Thursday, Oct. 6, and Tuesday, Oct. 11, BC Ferries estimates that over 420,000 passengers and 160,000 vehicles will make a ferry trip.
During that time, BC Ferries will be adding 85 extra sailings across its network, most of which will be added to the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route.
BC Ferries is adding sailings to these three routes between Thursday and Tuesday:
- Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay: 66 extra sailings, including 6 a.m. departures from both Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen each day
- Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay: 12 extra sailings
- Horseshoe Bay – Langdale: Seven extra sailings
Service changes are also expected for southern Gulf Island customers between Salt Spring, Pender, Galiano and Saturna islands on Oct. 10 to meet estimated traffic demands, though BC Ferries did not specify what those changes entailed in its release Monday.
POSSIBLE WAITS
BC Ferries is warning walk-on passengers that they may see possible waits during the upcoming long weekend.
"The Thanksgiving long weekend is typically the most popular weekend of the year for walk-on passengers," said BC Ferries in a release Monday.
"At peak times, some sailings may reach passenger capacity and some walk-on customers may experience a sailing wait."
BC Ferries says walk-on passengers can reserve spot for free on any of the three routes that connect Vancouver Island to Metro Vancouver, and along the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route.
To avoid waits, BC Ferries also encourages walk-on and vehicle passengers to book off-peak sailing times, which are offered at discounted prices through its "saver" fares.
Off-peak times generally include early morning or late evening sailings, as well as mid-week days.
"BC Ferries appreciates the professionalism of staff and the patience of customers as the company navigates one of the busiest long weekends of the year," said the company Monday.
"Abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and everyone is encouraged to be respectful, kind, calm, and safe."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.