Hours-long waits greet BC Ferries passengers ahead of long weekend
Anyone looking to catch a ferry from the B.C. mainland to Vancouver Island ahead of the long weekend is looking at lengthy delays.
As of 3:45 p.m. Thursday, sailings departing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay and Duke Point are full for the remainder of the day, according to BC Ferries.
"We are extremely busy at the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals this afternoon," said BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall.
"Customers without a reservation are having to face multiple sailing waits," she said.
Sailings going from Vancouver Island to Tsawwassen remain available in the evening as of Thursday afternoon.
BC Ferries is advising travellers who want to travel from the mainland to Vancouver Island to take the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route Thursday, though spots are limited.
Marshall told CTV News on Thursday afternoon that the ferry service was trying to add another sailing from the mainland to the island Thursday night.
"I know there are some customers who are not happy with the situation right now, but it is the busiest weekend of the year and we are advising customers, if they are travelling without a reservation, they may want to consider travelling at off-peak times," said Marshall.
BC Ferries adds that it thinks that wildfires in the Interior may be impacting this weekend's traffic volumes.
"We are assuming there were some people who were planning on heading to the Interior this weekend, but because of the smoke and the restrictions they are maybe choosing to come to Vancouver Island instead, and it's maybe a last minute decision," Marshall said.
On Monday, BC Ferries warned of likely sailing delays during the B.C. Day long weekend, from Thursday, July 29 to Tuesday, Aug. 3.
The company says that the August long weekend is usually its busiest long weekend of the year, with peak travel times occurring on Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning for sailings departing from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay.
BC Ferries adds that B.C. Day Monday, Aug. 2, is usually the busiest day for people returning to the mainland from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
The company recommends avoiding these peak travel times to minimize the risk of waiting for a sailing delay, and to arrive well in advance of your desired sailing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
Ontario urges mpox testing amid spike in cases
Ontario health officials are urging public health units to test for mpox, the viral disease formerly known as monkeypox, amid a spike of confirmed cases in the province.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
'Don't expect any deals:' Expert says stores may not offer steep discounts on post-Easter chocolate
Those looking to snap up cheap treats at their local grocery store next week following the Easter long weekend could be in for a bit of a surprise as the rising cost of cocoa continues to drive up the price of chocolate, one expert says.