From gas to groceries, BC Ferries staffing challenges felt by Galiano Islanders

Staffing shortages on some BC Ferries sailings are causing issues ranging from getting gas in, to ensuring fresh groceries get into local markets on Galiano Island.

And when it comes to fuel, there’s even a chance gas could run out at some point this weekend, after BC Ferries cancelled last Sunday’s dangerous cargo sailing due to a crew shortage. These ferry cancellations are also affecting island residents, businesses and visitors in other ways.

Conny Nordin, president of the Galiano Chamber of Commerce says she can’t remember the last time gas completely ran out on the island.

“Galiano seem to get the hardest hit at times,” Nordin told CityNews on Friday. “I’m sure many islands think that. But, we always seem to have the short end of the stick when it comes to ferry service.”

“When the major ferry from Vancouver to the Southern Gulf Islands is cancelled, that means people like the DayStar market can’t get their vegetables and supplies as they get those from Vancouver. It also means people who are going to spend their money here, in terms of supporting the local economy, visitors, weekenders and islanders coming home aren’t able to get here. Accommodations are cancelled, restaurants, everything is impacted,” Nordin said.

Tahirih Rockafella, general manager of DayStar Market, one of three grocery stores on the Island, said her business normally sends a truck to the mainland to pick up supplies for the week, but was unable to do it on Thursday due to the B.C. ferry staffing issues.

This forced Rockafella to make a “special” supply run on Friday after connecting with head office at BC Ferries, which then made an exception for her company, so one of her trucks could access a ferry. Rockafella called it an “eight-hour scramble.”

“I was warned I wouldn’t likely be able to use it again in the future, they said cancellations are going to become the norm and I should accommodate that with my business. So, I’m looking at reorganizing my entire run.”

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• All BC Ferries employees now must be vaccinated against COVID

• Busy BC Ferries sailings cancelled due to staffing issues

Rockafella says she can’t think of an immediate answer to the staffing shortages that are affecting businesses province-wide, in addition to BC Ferries.

“It seems like there is going to have be a shift if we’re going to continue offering the services we do, which is daily sailings and lots of groceries. I don’t know the answer, I would like assured loading maybe, as an essential service. I’d be happy to pay $1,000 a year to make sure I get on a ferry with that huge truckload of goods, but that doesn’t solve the staffing issue.”

Deborah Marshall, executive director of public affairs with BC Ferries, says dangerous cargo runs are rarely cancelled. Due to last weekend’s cancellation of the dangerous goods sailing, BC Ferries has added an unscheduled sailing to Galiano this Sunday to ensure those on Galiano get the gas they need.