BC Ferries the Wave Fall 07

IN THIS ISSUE Launching the Renaissance Page 2 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Page 5President’s Awards Nominations Page 6 SailSafe Page 7 Engineering Achievement Award Page 8Tsawwassen Terminal Maintenance Safety Page 9 New Coastal Experiences Page 11 Alert Bay Terminal Opening Page 14 Crofton Customer Appreciation Day Page 15 Otter Bay to the Rescue Page 16Long Service and Retirement Awards Page 17

THE WAVEFALL 2007BC Ferries’ Employee Newsletter

COASTAL RENAISSANCE SETS SAIL

11807 BCF.Wave.Fall07.indd 1 11/20/07 7:49:49 AM

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IN MEMORIAM

Sharron (Stubbs) Booth

passed away on August 20,

2007. Sharron joined BC Ferries

on July 15, 1978 and was a

terminal services attendant in

Campbell River before going

on LTD. She loved children

and was affectionately called

Mrs. B by many kids at local

elementary schools. We send

our condolences to Sharron’s

family and friends.

Ron Budda passed away on

August 22, 2007. Ron joined

BC Ferries on April 1, 1966 and

was working as Warehouse Shift

Supervisor in Nanaimo before

retiring on April 1, 2001. We

send our condolences to Ron’s

family and friends.

Richard (Crusty) Crawford

passed away on July 28, 2007.

Richard began his career with

BC Ferries in 1990 and retired

in 2001 after working as a

deckhand for many years on the

Queen of Nanaimo. We send our

condolences to Richard’s family

and friends.

Frank Dresser passed away

on September 10, 2007. Frank

had an extensive career with

BC Ferries, having started as a

seaman on the Queen of Prince

Rupert in 1965 and working

as a second officer from 1975

until his retirement in 1998. We

send our condolences to Frank’s

family and friends.

FSG closed its shipyard to allow thousands of shipyard workers and their families to attend the celebratory event.

LAUNCHING THE RENAISSANCEIN STYLEIt’s been an exciting few months as we’ve watched the Coastal Renaissance get ready to set sail for her new home in British Columbia. The countdown officially began with a celebration on September 21 in Flensburg, Germany, where an unveiling ceremony was held to mark the completion of the ship and a Canadian-style barbeque was put on for shipbuilders and dignitaries. In addition to Betty Harrison, Chair, Board of Directors, David L. Hahn, President & CEO, David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, Honourable Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and First Nations representatives, several thousand shipyard workers and their family members attended the event, which provided an opportunity to showcase B.C. products and delicious food creations.

The vessel, complete with sensational graphic images of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and of beautiful British Columbia, will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people as it travels from Europe, through the Panama Canal and up the Pacific Coast of Mexico and the United States. Our Coastal-class ships are floating invitations to the world to visit B.C. and enjoy the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Captain Robert Harman; Blair Landry, Chief Officer; Michael Atto, Chief Engineer; Darryl Dunbar, Third Engineer; and Jeff Landa, First Engineer, attended the unveiling ceremony at FSG Shipyard in late September.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police took part in the event at Flensburg Shipyard.


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IN MEMORIAM

James (Jim) Gillespie passed

away on August 7, 2007. Jim

had an extensive career with

the company having started with

Black Ball Ferries in 1966 and

continuing with BC Ferries until

his retirement in 1997, working

for many years at Deas. We send

our condolences to Jim’s family

and friends.

Murray Henderson passed

away on October 29, 2007.

Murray joined BC Ferries on

November 15, 1974 and worked

throughout his years in Long

Harbour in many catering

classifications. Murray was 52

years of age and leaves behind

his wife, Alice, and his children,

Bradley and Melissa. Murray

was a great co-worker and had

a wonderful sense of humour.

We send our condolences to

Murray’s family and friends.

Roy Hinder passed away on

August 22, 2007. Roy spent

his entire career at BC Ferries,

including many years as a Chief

Officer out of Tsawwassen,

before retiring in 1995. We

send our condolences to Roy’s

family and friends.

Dan Scarbro passed away

on September 12, 2007. Dan

started work with BC Ferries

in 1990 and retired from his

position as a customer service

representative in 2004. Dan was

well regarded by his co-workers

and will be remembered for his

big heart and positive attitude.

We send our condolences to

Dan’s family and friends.

Hans Zimmermann, Manager, Food & Beverage (right), along with John Bishop of Bishop’s restaurant in Vancouver did a fantastic job of showcasingmany of British Columbia’s finest foods for several thousand attendees on September 21 at FSG Shipyard.

David L. Hahn, President & CEO, presents gifts from Canada to Peter Sierk, President & CEO, FSG Shipyard.

The event included a traditional welcome and blessing by First Nations from British Columbia.


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COASTAL RENAISSANCESETS SAILIt was a landmark day for BC Ferries when the Coastal Renaissance set sail from Flensburg on October 27 destined for her new home in B.C. The trans-Atlantic voyage will take approximately 45 days, depending on weather, and will include stops for refueling in Brunsbuettel, Germany; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; and Cristobal, Panama, before transiting the Panama Canal and sailing up the west coast of North America to British Columbia.

Under the terms of our contract with FSG, the shipyard is responsible for delivering the ship to B.C. and has engaged an international ship delivery company from the Netherlands to conduct the voyage. Captain Harald Stokke, Senior Master; Jaideep Johar, Chief Officer; Andrew Martin, Engineering Superintendent; Gary Johnson, First Engineer (onboard until Panama); and Fernando Costa, Chief Engineer (joining the ship in Panama) are also accompanying the ship on its journey from Europe to Canada.

The Coastal Renaissance is scheduled to arrive in Nanaimo in mid-December, at which time crew training and familiarization will begin. After a series of open houses for employees and retirees in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, as well as separate events for the public, the ship will enter service on the Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay route in the spring of 2008. The second and third ships in the series, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration, which will also feature photographs of winter games events and British Columbia scenes, will set sail next year and will join the BC Ferries fleet during the summer of 2008. Watch for additional details about the open houses in the coming weeks!

Peter Sierk, CEO, FSG Shipyard, presents Captain Harald Stokke, Senior Master, Coastal Renaissance (centre) and Andrew Martin, Engineering Manager, Major Vessel Construction, with a lucky gold coin from the ship's keel laying.

“As I travelled from Victoria

to Vancouver, I discovered that

my wallet was missing. After

the initial shock, I remembered

placing it on a counter at a

7-11 store in Victoria. It was

then that I saw one of your

employees, Bonnie Elliott,

Second Steward, and told her

about my problem. She could

not have been nicer. She produced

a map of Victoria and asked

if I could identify the location

of the store. She then brought

me to the Chief Steward’s

office and introduced me to

Peter Woo, Chief Steward.

Within 30 minutes they had

located my wallet, with contents

intact! Peter then telephoned

Michael Denton, Customer

Services Officer, who arranged

to have my wallet forwarded to

my home address in Connecticut.

My wallet arrived yesterday,

approximately one week after

I left it at the 7-11 in Victoria,

with beautiful postcards and

children’s crayons included in

the mailing. The postcards will

be part of my vacation souvenir

scrapbook along with this

story. The crayons have been

distributed to children in my

neighbourhood and have caused

quite a stir since they came all

the way from British Columbia.

Words can not possibly express

my gratitude. Please let Bonnie,

Peter and Michael know how

grateful I am for their help.”

–Connecticut


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Way to go, BC Ferries! We were the number one company in B.C. at the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. The program, which was started 14 years ago as a small beach cleanup by four Vancouver Aquarium employees, is now the second largest cleanup of its kind in the world. It’s a great way to make a difference to the environment, with more than 40,000 Canadians cleaning up 966 shorelines and removing 84,708 kg of litter last year.

This year, BC Ferries’ 15 site coordinators registered 200 employees and collected more than 2,700 kg of debris from shorelines in and around our communities. What a terrific effort by employees to give back to the communities we serve. Congratulations to the following prize winners:

Eric Kalnins, Manager, Travel & Tourism, and his team of 38 at Woodwards Landing.

Bill Dickie, Master, Route 20, and his team in Preedy and Telegraph Harbour with 1,400 kg of garbage.

Liz Haskell, Accounts Payable, found a hand carved knights pawn for a chess board.

Thanks to Cheri Maisonneuve, Manager, Sales & Community Relations, for organizing BC Ferries’ participation in the event, Captain Ian Tresidder, Master, Swartz Bay, for recruiting three-quarters of his crew for the Sidney cleanup, and to all those who headed out into the rain, wind, sun or fog to help keep our beaches clean. For more information about the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, including 10 easy steps for keeping your local shoreline clean and healthy all year long, visit www.vanaqua.org/cleanup/home.php. Let’s see what we can accomplish next year!

NUMBER ONE AT THE GREAT CANADIANSHORELINE CLEANUP!

Saxe Point Team Tsawwassen Team

Langdale TeamDeas Pacific Marine Inc. Team

Thanks to all the team members who made this year’s cleanup a tremendous success!

Little River Team


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“To the staff of BC Ferries

and the Captain and crew of

the Queen of Alberni: A special

thanks to all of you for your

assistance that allowed me to

make my meeting in Blaine,

Washington in plenty of time.

Years ago, I had an unpleasant

experience with BC Ferries and

have gone out of my way to

use the Coho Ferry service to

Port Angeles instead—a service

I use up to 8 times a month. The

unexpected excellent customer

service I received onboard has

certainly won me back as a

regular customer. Also, the ship

looks good and breakfast was

excellent. Thank you again.”

–Nanaimo

“Many thanks to the staff at the

Nanaimo Terminal who helped

us with our campers going over

to Camp Sunrise in Gibsons. It

made the trip more enjoyable

for the children and the adults

who accompanied them. Special

thanks to the lady in the toll booth

who went out of her way to help

us when a miscommunication

within our group caused us to

believe that we were unable to

reserve baggage carts and left

us searching for a way to get the

children’s luggage safely to the

Gibsons Terminal.”

–Nanaimo

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS NOMINATIONSIf you know of an employee who has demonstrated excellence in seamanship & safety, customer service or operational excellence this year, we want to hear from you. We’re looking for nominations for the 2007 President’s Awards, which acknowledge employees who have gone above and beyond in one of the following three categories:

SEAMANSHIP & SAFETY

the call of duty at sea or on shore.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

a substantial contribution in support of safety, fleet or terminal operations; or significantly contributes to the value and performance of the company.

Please submit nominations for the above awards to [email protected] or by fax to (250) 381-7238 by January 31, 2008. The 2007 award recipients will be announced in March. Check out the Spring 2006 edition of The Wave on the intranet for a list and photos of last year’s winners.

BC FERRIES HOSTS CFOACONFERENCEThis year, more than 90 delegates attended the 20th Annual Canadian Ferry Operators Association conference that was hosted by BC Ferries in Victoria from September 11-14. The objective of the CFOA, which is comprised of 14 major ferry operators in Canada, is to establish and maintain a standard of professional and technical excellence in the operation of ferries in Canada in a safe, effective and efficient way. In addition to technical presentations and briefings at the conference, delegates discussed the implementation of new marine personnel regulations under the Canada Shipping Act and the high cost of fuel facing ferry operators. As one of the founding members of CFOA, BC Ferries was pleased to welcome delegates to Victoria and host them onboard the Spirit of British Columbia.

Captain George A. Capacci, Vice President, Fleet Operations (left), with Captain Peter Turner, National Master, the Company of Master Mariners of Canada, onboardthe Spirit of British Columbia.


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“I have to tell you about your

staff member Derek Irwin,

Customer Service Attendant,

who went above and beyond

the call. He was fantastic. As

we approached Horseshoe Bay,

we learned there would be a

35-minute delay in docking due

to heavy traffic. Normally that

would not have been a problem,

but I planned on catching the

express bus to West Van as I

had a very important doctor

appointment. When I heard we

would be delayed and realized

I would miss my bus and my

appointment, I went to the Chief

Steward’s office to ask for help.

They made numerous phone

calls and double-checked our

arrival time again, but there was

nothing they could do short of

offering to call me a cab. I was

not sure what to do, but thanked

them for their help. Derek was

in the office at the time and

said he would be off shift when

the ship docked and offered me

a ride home so I could pick up

my vehicle. It was so thoughtful

and considerate. With his help, I

was able to get to my doctor on

time. Please give Derek special

thanks and recognize him for his

great customer service.”

–Vancouver

There’s a new website in town with everything you need to know about SailSafe—a joint initiative of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union and BC Ferries. SailSafe builds on our current safety practices and reflects our common commitment to safety as an essential part of our business and our daily work.

The new website contains lots of great information about SailSafe, including who’s on the steering committee, what the SafeWatch team is, frequently asked questions, ways for you to get involved and a video introduction to SailSafe that was put together by the steering committee—a great way to hear directly from the team why we are 100% committed to this joint initiative.

WHO’S INVOLVED IN SAILSAFEWe’re all involved in SailSafe, but employees are the key to success as nobody knows the job better than you do. In addition to the five company and

five Union members on the steering committee, a group of 41 employees has been selected to comprise the SafeWatch Team and lead the SailSafe initiative. A further 300 employees have been nominated to identify areas for improvement and potential fixes. Check out the website for more information.

SEND US YOUR SAFETYSUGGESTIONSWe’re looking for all your suggestions to improve safety at BC Ferries. You can email us at [email protected] or contact one of the SafeWatch members listed at www.SailSafe.com. This is your opportunity not just to tell us about the issues, but to offer your suggested solutions. In the coming days, weeks and years, all of us will have the opportunity to participate in SailSafe by identifying areas and methods for enhancing current safety practices, and ensuring that we all put safety first each and every day.


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Jeff Smith, Director, Fleet Planning and Projects; Amarjit Dhariwal, Engineering Superintendent; Dave Carroll, Director, Terminal Construction; Geoff Vickery, Director, Terminal Asset Maintenance; Olous Boag, Director, Fleet Engineering; John Constable, Director, Fleet Support Unit; Paul Radford, Engineering Superintendent; and Mark Collins, Vice President, Engineering.

2007 ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDIn early October, our Senior Chief Engineers met to discuss engineering achievements over the past year and explore ways to improve the service the engineering team delivers to other areas of the company. The meeting was also an opportunity to present the 2007 Engineering Achievement Award to the Queen of Vancouver crew in recognition of the impressive improvement they made this past year to the steering-gear compartment on the vessel. The Engineering Achievement Award is presented each year to the ship that shows the greatest improvement in the target area set for that year. Congratulations to the Queen of Vancouver engineering team!

COMPANY OF MASTER MARINERS OF CANADACongratulations to Erika Bourgault, Chief Officer, who recently received her Certificate of Membership in the Company of Master Mariners of Canada (CMMC). BC Ferries participates in many of the CMMC’s events and is a corporate member of the organization, which was established in 1967 to encourage and maintain the high and honourable standards of the nautical profession, further the efficiency of the sea service and uphold the prestige of Master Mariners. The CMMC has 500 members nationally, including men and women actively engaged in deep-sea shipping, both ashore and afloat, coastwise shipping, tug and barge operations, stevedoring, pilotage, marine surveying, salvage and marine law.

From left to right: Mark Collins, Vice President, Engineering, and David L. Hahn, President & CEO, present Metro Dutka, Senior Chief Engineer, and Azmal Karim, Engineering Superintendent, with the 2007 Engineering Achievement Award.

ENGINEERS SHOW SOME TEAM SPIRIT!During the Engineering Department’s annual strategic planning session, the group took a break from flipcharts and presentations to engage in a team building exercise that consisted of pile driving each other in a highly competitive game of football!

Erika Bourgault, Chief Officer, receives her Certificate of Membership in the Company of Master Mariners of Canada (CMMC) from Divisional Master Captain David Bremner of the CMMC.

Greg Peterson, Director, Fleet Performance; Wayne Ralph, Engineering Superintendent; Frank Camaraire, Engineering Business Manager; Mark Nemeth, Engineering Superintendent; Greg Stewart, Engineering Superintendent; and Garry Hague, Engineering Superintendent. In front: Azmal Karim, Engineering Superintendent.


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“Kudos to cashier Josh Wong,


Tsawwassen, and Raj Chumber,

Hospitality Services, for their

excellent customer service. My

daughter left a music book in

my car that she needed for

the next morning at music

camp in Victoria. I didn’t find

the book in my car until just

before the ferry sailing. The

two of them solved my problem

very effectively. Thank you!”

–Burnaby

“I would like to express my

sincere thanks Mike Pilon,

Cashier, Hospitality Services,

for looking after me when I

spilled hot coffee on my hand on

board the Spirit of Vancouver

Island. He was extremely

professional, helpful, caring and

pleasant.”

–Vancouver

“Special thanks to deckhand

Andrew Kanivets on the

Queen of Vancouver who was

extremely helpful in making sure

we made the last possible spot

onboard the ferry. I am partially

handicapped and he was very

courteous and helpful in parking

us and providing us with some

good natured conversation for a

few moments when we returned

to our vehicle for off-loading.

He should be commended for his

help. A very pleasant individual!

We enjoy using your service and

we will see you in the future.”

–Abbotsford

TSAWWASSEN TERMINALMAINTENANCE CELEBRATES500 DAYS WITHOUT ATIME-LOSS INJURYCongratulations to the employees of Tsawwassen Terminal Maintenance for their safety achievements and ongoing commitment to improving safety. On June 18, 2007, the team celebrated 500 safe working days, with the last recorded time-loss incident occurring on January 26, 2006. (At press time, the team was at 650 safe working days!) In recognition of their outstanding workplace safety milestone, the Safety, Security & Environment Division presented the Tsawwassen Terminal Maintenance Site Safety Committee with a Safety Recognition Plaque.

Tsawwassen Terminal Maintenance provides a wide range of services to maintain marine ramp structures, terminal building facilities and ground structures in compliance with required codes, safety standards and Worksafe BC regulations. Their 23-member team consists of one maintenance planner, two administrative assistants, and two trade supervisors who oversee a number of welders, dock repairers, carpenters, plumbers and electricians.

Please contact your regional Safety, Security & Environment manager or safety officer regarding your safety achievements or any safety matters, or visit the Safety, Security & Environment site on the intranet.

On June 18, 2007, Tsawwassen Terminal Maintenance celebrated 500 safe working days, with the last recorded time-loss incident occurring on January 26, 2006. Congratulations! Back row, left to right: Mark Hobden, Don Hass, Harry Penner, Mark Chaisson, Doug Tomkins, Allan Aalder, Yvon Cote. Front row, left to right: Tom Gillam, Pete Labounty, Sergio Cavalleri, Wayne Colwell, Jason Higham, Phil Brown, Lorne Sadler, Dave Fitzpatrick, Michael Bennett, Roger Dauteuil, David Gillam, Tim Ouellette, Gordon Wiebe, Joan Simpson, Dean Geiger, Darcey Hebert, Heather Smith and Gary Gerein.


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“I would like to comment on

the helpfulness of one your

employees, Lynne Gosvig,


Little River, who was working

in the café and gift shop area

as we travelled from Powell

River to Comox. She went

above and beyond and should

be commended, not just for her

service to us, but with many

others passengers as well. She

definitely enhanced the trip.

Thank you, Lynne!”

–Victoria

“I am writing to congratulate

the many staff members who

helped me onboard the Queen

of Saanich. We left Tsawwassen

via car bound for Swartz Bay,

but just as we were docking, my

husband quickly left the car to

try and find his glasses. I tried

to stop him, in part because he

has Alzheimer’s. All the other

cars had unloaded and there

was still no sign of my husband.

The employees were great. They

got in touch with other members

on the ship and kept assuring

me not to worry. I was then

directed off the ship to where

my husband was waiting. We

are regular travellers on your

ferries and now I know that any

emergency will be dealt with

promptly and efficiently. Please

convey my sincere thanks to all

your staff that helped me and, if

you give out gold stars, they all

deserve them!”

–Vancouver

MARINE DRAUGHTERS AREHERE FOR YOU Did you know that the Marine Draughting office, which is part of the Fleet Technical Department in the Engineering Division led by Director Bruce Paterson, is the custodian of more than 15,000 ships’ drawings?

In an effort to be more efficient and improve accessibility, the Marine Draughting office, comprised of Gary Brookall, Marine Draughtsperson; Martin Mayuga, Marine Draughtsperson; and supervisor Francois Cambron, Marine Systems Engineer, recently scanned the paper ship drawings, some dating back to the company’s inception, into electronic files. What used to occupy 20' x 8' of wall space is now on the company’s network and will soon be moving online.

Aside from looking after our ships’ drawings, the Marine Draughting office’s primary role is to ensure our International Safety Management (ISM) safety drawings are updated and accurate for each ship in the fleet. Seven essential drawings are maintained, including the Fire Control Plan and Life Saving Equipment Plan, and each time a ship undergoes a refit or modification involving a change in configuration, those drawings must be updated. It can be a long process, but good communication between the ship and the Draughting office goes a long way to ensuring the drawings are accurate.

FROM DRAUGHTING TO DESIGN UPGRADESIn September 2006, the Marine Draughting office accepted a challenge to support the upgrade and refurbishment of the Queen of Burnaby. With assistance from an interior designer, and after much input from the ship’s crews, the Draughting office produced detailed plans for the upgrades, resulting in significant onboard enhancements for our customers and crews. In addition, significant cost savings were realized by doing the project in-house. Due to the success of the project, the team has been asked to work on the Howe Sound Queen’s interior upgrades that will take place during its refit at the end of this year.

The Draughting Office and the entire Fleet Technical Department are always ready for interesting new challenges, so if you’re looking for a marine engineering solution, the answer may be closer than you think!

From left to right: Gary Brookall, Marine Draughtsperson; François Cambron, Marine Systems Designer/Draughting Manager; and Martin Mayuga, Marine Draughtsperson.

Queen of Burnaby seating area, before and after.


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“I was bringing my handicapped

wife from Horseshoe Bay to

Departure Bay from a hospital

trip and we were the last car

onboard the Queen of Oak Bay.

The only problem was that we

were at the stern of the boat

and there was no way we could

get to the elevator. It was our

great fortune, however, to meet

one of your attendants on the

car deck who spent quite a while

contacting the other car owners

to have them move their cars so

that we could reach the elevator.

Eventually this was achieved and

we were able to enjoy the ferry’s

facilities. He would not accept a

gratuity for the work he put in

and we did not get his name, but

would like to express our thanks

for his efforts in making our

crossing more enjoyable.”

–Nanaimo

“I would like to thank your

staff in assisting me with an

error I performed with your

online reservation process. I

called the toll-free number and

spoke with a very professional

customer care representative

who assisted me in canceling

a reservation that I charged

it to my credit card in error.

With the work of his supervisor,

they were able to delete this

transaction and put the credit

back onto my credit card. I really

appreciated their understanding

with this matter and thank them

for being professional and more

efficient than I was! Thanks,

BC Ferries.”

–Campbell River

INTRODUCING NEW COASTAL EXPERIENCESIf you’ve been to the Swartz Bay or Tsawwassen foot-passenger lounges lately, you’ve probably noticed our new Coastal Awareness presented by Chevron interactive exhibits. The exhibits are a great addition to our Coastal Experiences program and complement the successful Coastal Naturalists program that was offered onboard our ships this past summer in partnership with Parks Canada. By joining forces with other organizations that are equally committed to British Columbia’s coast, wildlife, marine life and healthy living, we’re able to provide additional services for our customers in a cost-effective manner.

At our Route 1 terminals, you’ll find the Coastal Awareness presented by Chevrongame playing on a 42-inch touch-screen

exhibit. With dynamic natural imagery, animation and graphics, the interactive game is designed to entertain, educate and engage our employees and customers. Although the program is in its first year, we’re planning to expand the exhibits to additional terminals and vessels and use feedback from customers, employees and our program partners to further develop the program.

Check out www.bcferries.com for a preview of the interactive game!


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“My family and I would like to

express our sincere thanks and

appreciation for the assistance

we received while on the Queen

of Vancouver. I had arranged

to meet my sister and mother

on the ferry, but just after

boarding, I received a frantic

call from my sister saying that

my mother had a terrible fall on

the lower main deck. My mother

had tripped and fallen head

first on the cement. Christy

Mooney, Customer Service

Attendant, was on the scene

within a minute and she was

excellent! She provided my mom

with great care and provided her

with necessary first aid. She also

let us stay in the First Aid room

so that my mom could settle her

nerves and rest, and provided us

with packs of ice to ensure the

bruising would settle. Christy’s

actions certainly calmed us and

helped my mom. I am happy to

report that my mom is doing

better. Please commend Christy

for her efforts. She truly made

a difference in ensuring my mom

was safe and taken care of.”

–Richmond

“After I boarded the ferry, I

noticed that I had a flat tire

and asked at the chief steward’s

office for some assistance. Jesse

Phinney, Deckhand, Nanaimo,

accompanied me to my car,

checked the tire and insisted on

putting on the spare for me. He

was extremely courteous and

made me feel like he was happy

to help out. Thanks, Jesse!”

–Burnaby

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVALCaptain Allan Bell, Senior Master, Queen of Cumberland, was a great sport at the 13th Annual Victoria Dragon Boat Festival held in Victoria’s Inner Harbour this year. BC Ferries was a proud supporter of the event, which saw 90 teams compete in a variety of races, including the Breast Cancer Survivors’ Cup.

SATURNA ISLAND BARBECUEThis year, BC Ferries sponsored the annual Saturna Island barbecue, which raises funds to support the Island’s community services and community hall. More than 1,200 plates of food were served and approximately $21,000 raised, with 75 per cent of the money going to support health care services on the Island. The organizing committee sends its thanks to BC Ferries for providing additional sailings to accommodate the event and to Captain Chris Frappell, Marine Superintendent, Southern Islands, who was a great sport and a favourite draw at the dunk tank.


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GO CANUCKS!In addition to sponsoring the Vancouver Canucks' training camp, which was held at Bear Mountain Resort just outside of Victoria, BC Ferries recently entered into a five-year sponsorship deal with the team. Next time you’re at GM Place or checking out the game on t.v., watch for our BC Ferries logo on the rink boards, on the undercarriage of the clock and throughout the rink when the home team scores. Go Canucks!

After heavy flooding forced organizers of Raid the North Extreme—a six-day, expedition-length adventure race in northwestern British Columbia—to alter the race course from the Skeena and Bulkley River basins to the Queen Charlotte Islands, BC Ferries jumped at the opportunity to be part of the event. The Queen of Prince Rupert transported twenty-four teams of extreme athletes, travelling with their bikes and kayaks, from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlottes to compete in a grueling test of endurance through the wilderness of the Haida Gwaii. After a three-day race adventure, the athletes re-joined the vessel and were transported back to Prince Rupert to complete the Raid the North Extreme. Thanks to everyone involved for their efforts to support the race on such short notice. The race organizers were extremely grateful and the participants had a fantastic time meeting our employees and travelling onboard the ship.

GOING TO THE EXTREME

Members of team Race the Rockies with Captain Orval Bouchard, Senior Master, Queen of Prince Rupert (centre) and Parv Bal, Regional Manager, Terminal Operations.

Members of the Vancouver Canucks visit the bridge on the Spirit of British Columbia en route to training camp in Victoria. From left to right: Captain Neil Wellis, Markus Naslund, Captain Andrew Poole, Captain Andy Patterson, Chief Officer Erika Bourgault, Byron Ritchie, Aaron Miller, Ryan Kesler, Taylor Pyatt.


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“As we arrived at Swartz Bay

terminal, I made the unfortunate

choice of trying to change

lanes to a ticket booth that

had just opened. I didn’t notice

the traffic island and ended up

bursting a tire. I drove the car

into the line up and started to

call BCAA when I saw terminal

attendant Camrin Hillis walking

by. I told him about the situation

and without hesitation he came

to look at the problem, found a

jack in the trunk and took the

wheel off and replaced it with

a spare in a matter of a few

minutes! I was able to continue

on the trip and the day turned

out very well thanks to Camrin.

We are very grateful to him.”

–Victoria

“The captain and entire crew

on the sailing from Horseshoe

Bay – Departure Bay deserve

5 stars or more for their

friendly, courteous service that

was truly above and beyond.

Their cheerful assistance was

offered without any request

from us, and made a tremendous

difference to our trip. Please

convey our gratitude not only

for their many helping hands,

but also for the memory they

created of outstanding customer

care that was a highlight of our

adventures. With thanks from

two ladies and their kayaks.”

–Campbell River

From left to right: Mayor John Rowell, Village of Alert Bay; Manuel Achadinha, Vice President, Terminal Operations; and Chief Bill Cranmer, 'Namgis First Nation, perform the official cedar ribbon cutting at the new terminal building.

ALERT BAY TERMINAL OPENINGOn August 24, BC Ferries employees and members of the community joined together to celebrate the opening of a new and improved terminal at Alert Bay. The terminal upgrade, which cost approximately $2 million, included expanding the holding compound by one lane, designating pickup and drop off areas and building a new foot passenger waiting room.

The ceremony began with a welcome by Manuel Achadinha, Vice President, Terminal Operations, followed by a traditional blessing ceremony by 'Namgis Chief Bill Cranmer and speeches from Alert Bay Mayor John Rowell and Regional District Chair Brenda Swanson. The terminal was officially opened with a special cedar ribbon cutting ceremony.

THE KWUNAGETS ITS BELL RUNGAll it took was a casual mention by Senior Master William Frowd (left) that the Kwuna was missing a ship’s bell and Terry Giles, Senior Chief Engineer, was on the job. Terry purchased a new 12-inch bell, had it engraved and presented it to Captain Frowd, who had it mounted a few days later. After 32 years, the Kwuna finally has a bell. Thanks, Terry!


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“As we attempted to disembark

at Nanaimo, our Volvo was

inexplicably and totally disabled.

All the employees, from deck

personnel to the chief steward’s

office, were extremely helpful,

patient and kind to two very

bewildered and embarrassed

passengers. The car couldn’t be

moved at all, so we returned to

Horseshoe Bay where a tow truck

had been called to drive onboard

and take us away. The employees

couldn’t have been more kind and

really helped to make a dreadful

incident less embarrassing. We

so appreciated their attitude.

The car in question is at the

dealer at this very moment as

they try to figure out just what

went wrong!”

–West Vancouver

“We would like to thank

Kathy Nesdoly, Foot Passenger

Ticket Agent, Horseshoe Bay,

for her professionalism and

effort in assisting us. Kathy went

far beyond and above any other

service we have experienced

in our 20 years of sailing with

BC Ferries. Our most sincere

thanks for all your help, Kathy.”

–Courtenay

CROFTON CUSTOMERAPPRECIATION DAYOn September 24, Crofton employees surprised the 582 customers travelling through the terminal with a Customer Appreciation Day complete with cupcakes, balloons, cookies, water and prize draws. The crew also handed out goody bags to 40 school kids and awards to several long-time commuters. Thanks to Hardeep Grewal, Senior Master, Howe Sound Queen; Phil Benbow, Terminal Manager, Long Harbour; Shelley Berg, Finance; and Cheri Maisonneuve, Sales & Community Relations, for helping to hand out cookies and water, and to Ursula Deno, Terminal Services Agent; Rachel Martin, Terminal Services Agent; and Lorraine LaMontagne, Terminal Attendant, for making cupcakes and blowing up lots of balloons. Last, but certainly not least, kudos to Patty Conrad, Terminal Operation Supervisor, for organizing the event and making a lot of customers very happy!

Lorraine LaMontagne, Terminal Attendant, Crofton, decorates the terminal after serving up her homemade cupcakes to happy customers.

Phil Benbow, Terminal Manager, Long Harbour; Patty Conrad, Terminal Operations Supervisor, Crofton; and Cheri Maisonneuve, Manager, Sales & Community Relations, serving up smiles at Crofton terminal.

Ursula Deno, Terminal Services Agent, gets into the spirit greeting customers at the Crofton terminal ticket booth.


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OTTER BAY TO THE RESCUEOn September 16, Otter Bay Terminal Services Agents Brian Horsfall and Dan Charmanleapt into action when a van caught on fire as it was leaving the terminal. Brian and Dan ensured the occupants, a couple and a seven-year-old child, were safely removed from the vehicle and then evacuated other passengers from the area. The Pender Island Fire Department responded to the 911 call and, upon arrival, found the van fully engulfed. Due to the professional efforts of the two terminal staff members, there were no injuries and the terminal was back in full operation within an hour. Good work!

MISSY THEMISPLACED MUTT

At the beginning of a busy long weekend, employees at Departure Bay found themselves in a bit of a dilemma. A passenger, who had been on the previous sailing to Horseshoe Bay, had gotten out of his campervan while in the terminal and,

without him noticing, his wife’s dog had also jumped out. Once Missy was spotted in the compound, the employees took over to

ensure the missing property was returned to its rightful owner.

Missy arrived (or pranced, as the crew states) onboard the ship with the van driver and immediately took over, providing a bit of relief to the crew in what was an otherwise very hectic day. Because Missy was an unaccompanied minor, she was taken care of in the back of the Chief Steward's office. Missy was reunited with her very grateful owners who send their thanks to all the employees involved in looking after their precious pooch. The gentleman was especially grateful as he explained that they day he lost Missy, his wife had been medivaced to Vancouver and he had quickly packed up everything, including the dog, and was travelling through Departure Bay en route to the hospital. He would have had a lot of explaining to do if he arrived at the hospital without Missy in tow.

Terminal Services Agents Brian Horsfall and Dan Charman at Otter Bay after rescuing three occupants from a burning van.

“Cindi Sutherland, Second

Steward, Nanaimo, went above

and beyond her job description

when she reached into her own

wallet and gave me five dollars

so I’d have enough cash to

buy bus tickets for myself and

my daughter. I’d forgotten to

stop at a bank machine before

arriving at the terminal and had

almost no cash on hand, not

knowing that the onboard bus

driver wouldn’t accept a credit

card. With a tired five-year-

old in tow, I was desperate to

make the rest of the trip home.

Cindi saw my frustration and,

without being asked, handed

me the five dollar bill saying,

“would this help?”. When I

took her mailing address and

promised to reimburse her, she

just shrugged and said, “if you

think of it, but not to worry.”

I would certainly never expect

the onboard officers or crew to

give money to total strangers,

and certainly don’t feel it’s their

responsibility to look after every

stressed-out mother who comes

onboard, but her generosity

and calm reassurances really

turned the day around for me. I

hope that you will take notice of

her exceptionally kind attitude

towards passengers. She is a

great example to the rest of

your staff, and has raised my

opinion of BC Ferries’ service.”

–Nanaimo


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“I recently visited the Seawest

lounge as I travelled from

Victoria to Vancouver. The

seating, service and amenities

were excellent, making this one

of the most pleasant ferry trips I

have experienced in years. It was

made especially first class by the

exceptional service, attitude &

friendliness of Lisa Woodward,

Customer Service Attendant.

What a fantastic lady she was to

me and countless other travellers

on that trip. As a footnote, I

returned to the island on my

normal route via Duke Point on

the newly renovated Queen of

Alberni—WOW! The new eating

area was great, the food was

fantastic and the whole interior

is so much nicer and warmer.

Well done, BC Ferries.”

–Nanaimo

“I want to compliment your staff

at Swartz Bay. I had a family

emergency and had to catch the

next ferry to Vancouver. I have

lived on Vancouver Island for

46 years and have never taken

the ferry by myself. I arrived

at the terminal in tears and

the lady at the booth was so

kind to me and sent me to the

priority lane. Then one of the

other employees approached me

in the line to make sure that I

was okay and ask if I needed

assistance. I want to thank you

and your staff for the wonderful

service they provided for me in

my time of need.”

–Victoria

LONG SERVICE ANDRETIREMENT AWARDSIn early October, celebration receptions were held at the Marriott hotel in Victoria to honour employees who recently retired and to recognize those who reached service milestones of 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years with the company this past year. Thanks for all your valuable years of service—we wouldn’t be where we are today without your hard work and dedication. Congratulations!

30 YEARS OF SERVICEBack row, left to right: Linda McLeod, Graeme Johnston, Jim Woodward, Deb Hames, Mike Corrigan (EVP & COO), David L. Hahn (President & CEO), Carol Wilson and Peter Simpson. Front row, left to right: Linda Savage, Gillian Bangay, Cheryl Johnson, Jim Laite, Steve Lukinuk, Michele Roberts, Lynda Laity, David Bartle and Lesley Woods. Missing from photo: Douglas Abrams, David Bartle, Peter Dart, Mark Flach, Linda Handyside, Fred Hoare, Mark Jordon, Carl Larson, Lisa Lynn, Randall Mar, Michael Nemrava, Brian Pannell, Lee Passenger, Charlotte Probizanski, Leslie Setchfield, Eileen Smith, Wendy Wegner, Lesley Woods.

25 YEARS OF SERVICEBack row, left to right: David Kinsey, Don Dubois, Jack Steele, Captain Lance Lomax, Captain Mike Clark, Craig Henderson, George Sutherland, Nancy Arkell, David L. Hahn (President & CEO), Kim Brice, Mike Corrigan (EVP & COO) and Rob Byron. Front Row, left to right: David Scott, Gail McDonald, Sue Lowe, Elaine Kerr, Christina Copland, Lynn Hines, Val Meers, Marek Mirski and Nick Cookson. Missing from photo: Judy Aitken, Burce Billie, Don Boyce, Kim Carswell, Deb Clark, Judy Cryer, James Drebert, Kelly Duke-Wilson, John Gallagher, Margaret Hansen, David Lind, Stephen Marsden, Mark O’Donnell, Randy Pratt, Henry Robitaille, Joanne Rushton, Ernest Varga, John Wegner and James Wilkinson.


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35 YEARS OF SERVICEBack row, left to right: Dan Carlos, Steve Neish, Ron McSween, Captain Pete Duffey, Mike Dawes, Tom Warren, Mike Corrigan (EVP & COO), Adrian Perkins, David L. Hahn (President & CEO) and Ernie Varga. Front row, left to right: Dilys Robbins, Pat Case, Wayne Croaker, John Pinto, Rennie Yu, Elaine Moore, Wai K. Chau, Milt Wilson, John Chin, Captain Greg Hogue and Richard Finnegan. Missing from photo:Richard Bell, Bin Chiang, Robert High, Kai Chung Lam, Ian McLeod and Janet Muir.

40 YEARS OF SERVICELeft to right: Mike Corrigan (EVP & COO), Captain Finn Andersen, David L. Hahn (President & CEO) and John Van-Tol. Missing from photo: Seiji Mukuyama.

45 YEARS OF SERVICESpecial congratulations to Robert Douglas, First Engineer, on his 45 years of service. Robert was unable to join in the celebrations, but his dedication to BC Ferries was wholeheartedly applauded by all those in attendance.

“Just prior to my arrival at

Swartz Bay I started to feel

very ill, so after purchasing my

ticket, I spent some time in

the terminal washroom. I was

feeling worse by the time I

boarded the ferry, running a

fever, shivering with severe chills,

aching all over and suffering

from a pounding headache, so I

approached the Chief Steward's

office to request assistance. I

was escorted to a state room

by two ladies who were very

compassionate and helpful,

ensuring that I had a quiet place

to lie down, tucking me in with

a clean blanket, turning off the

lights and closing the drapes to

ensure my privacy. By the time

we arrived in Tsawwassen, I was

feeling better, but upon arriving

home, I did end up spending

the next three days in bed with

a high fever. I would like to

commend your staff for showing

great concern for my well-being

and for taking such great care of

me. I wish I had asked for their

names, so please relay my heart-

felt appreciation and thanks to

these wonderful ladies!”

–Victoria


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2005/2006 RETIREESBack row, left to right: Captain Robert Carnegie, John Bawden, David L. Hahn (President & CEO), Thomas Gregorchuk, Captain Alan Donohue, Mel Olson, Blair May, Captain Ed McDonald, David Hetherington, Dale Thompson. Middle row: Tim Hanna, Captain Tak Hayashi, Captain Jock Palmer, Captain Jan Andreassen, Captain Donald Crighton, Earl Agar, Danny McJannet, Captain Glen Campsall, Ed Bowser, Dave O’Hara and Man Chau Chiu. Front row: Margaret Stevens, Elaine Moore, Ellen Coppinger, Captain Mike Ragan, Jenafor Camren, Greg Ozeroff, Ann Carpenter, Dawne Cressman, Linda Crotty, David Carlsen, Rusty Deshmukh, Anita Mahoney and Robert Brady. Missing from photo: Patrick Abbott, Captain Robert Andrews, Gordon Arthur, Arnie Bell, John Booton, Ray Brown, Clifford Carey, George Carlson, Captain Michael Carter, Chun Tim Choy, Michael Cox, William Craig, Daniel Cross, Harvey Dendy, Margaret Franke, Shirley Fricker, Yuen Gee, Sandra Gibb, Elizabeth Grant, Captain James Grimmer, Edward Harker, Cecil Hobday, Captain James Huffman, Michael Inness, Brenda Kuss, Kelly Kwan, Vivian Laning, Gerald Lavalee, Archie Lee, Kathleen Lucas, Kenneth Mikus, Barry Miles, James Miller, Grant Mitchell, Ev Miyasaki, Captain Tony Monaghan, Roderick Morrison, Finlay Munro, Trevor Oram, David Oxland, Reine Pineault, Andrea Plank, George Redl, Robert Ryan, Harold Savoy, Allan Scott, Richard Scruton, Alexander Smith, Raymond Smith, Maureen Surkan, Barbara Vince, Mervin Walde, Peter Wilson and Ann Yorke.

2007 RETIREESBack row, left to right: Pat Slingsby, David L. Hahn (President & CEO), Larry Berg, Robert Swanson, Alan Ponting, Russell Chan, John Gilmore, K.W. Jackman and Captain George A. Capacci (VP, Fleet Operations). Middle row: Randall Sloan, Arland Robson, Murray Ziprick, Gary Shook, Vern Shore, Alex Nicholl, Ray Ledoux, Jennifer Maxwell, Jan Butterfield, Bernie Hetrick, Jerry Osis, Captain Tom Butler-Cole, Hardy Sandhu, Darryl Mossop, Kathy Cipriani and Lillian Denovan. Front row: Leon Garson, Rob Coomber, Rod Laity, Lucie Seykora, Kwong Ming Wong, Ray Jupe, Corinne Simmons, Judy Slingsby, Maria Leahy, Bruce Beattie, Henry Schwagly, Darlene Newfield, Dean Charbonneau, Judy Harris, Val Perkins, David Worsley, Dave Hungar and Captain Don Pearson. Missing from photo: David Andronyk, James Behan, Brenda Boisvert, Connie Clairmont, Captain Bryan Coe, Michael Dean, Irene Dolan, Stanley Douglas, Heather Droux, Lorne Elmhurst, Andrew Finnie, Michael Flynn, David Foster, Doris Funk, Matthew Greening, Doris Guest, John Gumbert, Douglas Jordan, Charles Lawlor, Man Fai Ma, Gordon MacGregor, Captain John Markham, David Marrs, Captain John McKinoon, Roy Melchior, Karen Mennitti, Rance Myers, Frances Patterson, Kenneth Pattison, Borje Persson, Jon Pettersen, Stephen Pierce, Michael Poustie, Carol Priebe, Robert Reeves, Philip Raoch, Peter Ross, Thaoms Russell, Prithviraj Sen, Ida Seregely, Daniel Skelcher, David Slingsby, Ronald Speed, Robin Stead, David Towell, Slex Tsui, Lana Underwood, Gerald Van Achte, Wilma Walters, Bruce Williams and Brian Wright.


THE WAVE is looking for stories, events and photos from throughout the fleet.

The next deadline for submissions is January 31, 2008.

Contact THE WAVEErinn Grant, Editor 1112 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8V 4V2 Tel: 1-877-280-1419 Fax: (250) 978-1119 [email protected]

THE WAVE

NOW WE’RE COOKING!

Greetings from the K Watch crew onboard the Queen of New Westminster. Pictured on the galley flats are Claude Beaudry, Second Cook; Charles Wilson, Third Cook; William Foo, Galley Helper; and Patrick Ho, Chief Cook.


BC Ferries the Wave Fall 07

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