BC Ferries cuts plans to redevelop Gabriola terminals

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Among the changes made to redevelopment plans for the Gabriola route, is cancellation of plans to install a second berth at Nanaimo Harbour Terminal.

Derek Kilbourn

Sounder News

BC Ferries has cut back its  redevelopment plans for both terminals on the Gabriola ferry route, eliminating the need for a prolonged service shutdown in spring 2026.

Rather than a six- to eight-week shutdown of  the route in spring 2026, the provincially owned company will shut the route down for a total of 10 days between fall 2025 and spring 2026.

The original plans for the project were to replace both terminals, including changing on-shore facilities, and adding chargers for the incoming all-electric ferries.

Instead, BC Ferries has scaled back the project, and will instead focus on extending the life of the existing berths and preparing them for hybrid-electric vessels.  BC Ferries says the change in plans will ensure the terminals are ready for the future while minimizing community and environmental impacts.

BC Ferries held an information meeting for stakeholders to discuss terminal plans for the Gabriola route on Jan. 14.

Steve Earle, who is chair of the Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee until March 31, was at that meeting.

Earle said he was “disappointed that the scope of the work at our terminals has been reduced so dramatically. It means that a number of upgrades that we had hoped for will not be done, such as widening the ramp at Descanso, fixing the problem for long loads at high and low tides, building a straight-on berth at Nanaimo, and creating a safe tie-up place for the Gwawis.”

Consultations later this spring are expected to include an update on the full project details, timelines and preliminary plans for a replacement service while the work is carried out. At those consultations, people who rely on the service can provide input on how to mitigate service interruptions and keep the island connected.

“We remain committed to ensuring the terminals can support safe and reliable service today and into the future,” said Sheila Reynolds, senior communications adviser for BC Ferries, in an email.

“As an essential public service, we carefully manage our capital projects to balance safety, reliability, and fiscal responsibility,” Reynolds said. “This often involves tough decisions to adjust or defer plans to align with available funding. While some aspects of this project have been scaled back to reflect these realities, we are investing in the long-term viability of the Nanaimo Harbour and Descanso Bay terminals, while remaining attentive to the concerns of the communities we serve.

“We’re ensuring that this essential connection continues to meet the needs of the community without interruption,” she said.

The scaled-down project, focusing on extending the life of the existing terminals, means the service won’t need to be shut down for six to eight weeks in spring 2026, as originally proposed.

Shorter berth closures, night work or schedule changes may still be necessary during the project, but BC Ferries says it is still working out when and how long those will be..

Earle said in the information meeting, he was told there would be up to 10 days’ cumulative closure on each side, “but mostly only one day at a time. That was a little vague.”

Invitees to the information meeting included Earle, as well representatives of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District, Regional District of Nanaimo, Gabriola Chamber of Commerce, Islands Trust, Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department, and People for A Healthy Community, Reynolds said. No other members of the advisory committee were invited.

Only Earle, Islands Trust trustee Susan Yates and Erin Udal, the executive director of the Gabriola Chamber, attended.

Vanessa Craig, RDN board chair and director for Electoral Area B (Gabriola, Mudge, Decourcy) said she could not attend because she had an RDN Board meeting at the same time.

After March 31, BC Ferries is shutting down all ferry advisory committees. It has not said what will replace the committees or how the service will engage with the community about ferry services..

Gabriola FAC members who were not invited to the meeting say they have several concerns.

“We have gone from a full new terminal program (both water side and land side) in 2019, to just the water side in 2023, to now, just the bare minimum to support the electric boats, with no effort to address ongoing operational and safety issues that have been identified by the FAC,” said Henry Reeve.

“All along, BCF have been promising to look at these issues (particularly safety) and to address them as part of the scopes of work, but never actually accomplishing anything. Their lack of responsiveness to our concerns, and the repeated changes to scope without consultation are disappointing, but also par for the course with BCF.”

“They have constantly shifted the goal posts while telling us to wait with our concerns as they will be addressed in the redesign,” said Carly McMahon.

“We now have a sad excuse for a project that does nothing to address the obvious concerns that we as FAC and the community have been bringing attention to for years. It is beyond frustrating.”

Ivan Bulic questioned “how effectively BC Ferries are managing their public engagement process after scrapping the FACs.”

He said he had been told he, and others, would be included in the ongoing consultations about the route.

“Has BC Ferries scrapped  FAC meetings because they were public, and open to all, including media?” Bulic wondered. “Or, is it that it is simply a case …where no one is at the helm when it comes to informing and including the public — who after all  own BC Ferries — in the decision-making process? I don’t have any answers. And so far BC Ferries has offered no explanation or reasons for their decisions.”

BC Ferries invited only the FAC chair to the information meeting, in line with its policy to invite only a representative from relevant organizations, Reynolds said.

Attendees, including the Gabriola FAC chair, were given the list of invitees, Reynolds said.

Ferry advisory committees will remain in place until the end of April, she said. “The Gabriola FAC chair will continue to be invited to future consultation meetings as planning progresses to minimize service disruptions related to the Gabriola-Nanaimo project.”

As the committee’s representative, the FAC chair is encouraged to gather feedback from committee members in advance of meetings, bring that input to any BCF discussions, and provide updates to the full committee afterward, she said.

“This approach ensures that the committee’s voice is represented and heard while maintaining manageable and productive meeting formats. We value the input of the Gabriola FAC and remain committed to open communication and collaboration as this important project advances.”