Which Schedule Option would be best for our Students?

Hi all,

I am writing in response to the proposed options of the ferry schedule.

My son John is a grade 10 student at Chemainus Secondary School. Currently he and the other Thetis students take the 8:05 ferry to school, (a direct ferry); they return home on the 3:30 ferry out of Chemainus, which goes to Penelakut first and then continues on to Thetis. This is an entirely fair situation where both islands’ students have one 30-minute trip and one 45-minute trip each school day. 

When reading the two options set out for us to choose from, it would as a parent be an easy choice to pick Option 1, as it would best suit our students. However, when reviewing the two options, it seems that Option 2 would be a better schedule for the general ridership for both islands. My problem with the Option 2 schedule is that our students would be riding the ferry for 15 more minutes each school day and the Penelakut students would be riding for 15 minutes less, than they are now.  Which means that our Thetis students will be travelling for 30 minutes longer each day than those from Penelakut. 

This situation does not seem fair to our students. If Option 2 was chosen as our new ferry schedule, our students will be riding the ferry for an equivalent of approximately 39 hours extra per school year (I looked at the school year and made adjustments taking into consideration ProD Days, early dismissals, Stat holidays, and Vacation time) than the students from Penelakut. 

This concern has been forwarded to the FAC, and there is an easy solution to this problem. If the direction of the AM school trip is changed, then the direction of the PM school trip should also be changed.  This would keep the travel time fair for both islands’ students.  But it won’t happen without your input.

When you are completing the online survey, please take into consideration our students when filling out the comment section. 

Thank you,

Kathleen Thompson (Brown)

FAC ~ Option 2 Graphic

The changes proposed in both the Government Option and BC Ferries Option 1 are reasonably easy to understand, however BC Ferries Option 2 is difficult to understand in the way it is presented on the BC Ferries website. 

In an attempt to grasp the changes it has been converted to a table similar to the back of the phone book that can be accessed by clicking here.

BC Ferries Seeking Public Input on Service Level Adjustments

Greetings…

I would like to pass on a few items before Ellen, Monica with her boyfriend Milosh and I head out on a road trip to Playa Bonita, Santo Domingo and Barahona.  Unfortunately for the next week or so I will be less available via email.  However, I will try my best to answer your questions.

First, please click here to view a note from Jef Keighley of the BC Ferry Coalition.  I believe it is worthwhile keeping up with their activities, and encourage you to get their communications directly.

Second, a reminder that the BC Ferries survey deadline is February 21^st.  In the choices of the options, you have three; the provinces, ferries one and ferries two.

Third and last…A huge thanks to Veronica Shelford and Ann Dickie for posting information that I have sent around lately on thetisisland.net and thetisblog.net.  If you think you are missing anything you can try those two sites.

Best Regards…

Keith Rush FAC Chemainus-Thetis-Penelakut

keithrush17@gmail.com Ph: 250-416-0013 Cell: 250-732-2766 

Jon Eaton passed away February 7, 2014

Many of you will remember Jon & Darryle who used to live on Thetis.  

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Jon died peacefully in Abbotsford, BC, after a lengthy illness with his family by his side.  He is survived by his wife Darryle Ann (Baxter); 3 children Lenore (Stacy Nephin), Jon (Sue) and David; 4 grandchildren Kate, Alex, Sarah and Maxwell and other family members and friends.  His funeral service will be held Thursday, February 20 at 2:00 p.m. at The Anglican Parish of St. Matthew, 2010 Guilford Drive, Abbotsford. BC with burial to take place at Union Cemetery in Calgary at a later date.  Donations in his honor may be made to your local food bank. 

Available for Work ~

Hi, I'm new to Thetis Island and am looking for work.

If you are in need of any yard work, gardening help, or even wood chopped, etc, I can be reached at 250-210-2857 or nathanstation@gnail.com

Thanks,

Nathan

Rental Wanted

I am looking for a 1bedroom place, I have 2 dogs and I am a smoker.  I would like to stay on Thetis, but will move to Crofton or Chemainus. Please message me on face book, or call me at 250-246-1808. Need it for end of March. Thank you.

Geraldean Poirier

Ferry Update

Greetings folks; 

I feel I need to follow up on the latest BC Ferries request for on-line feedback to the proposed schedule refinements.  I have had a number of questions from concerned residents about the process.

1. Our local FAC was not consulted on any of the proposed schedule options.  The early last sailing from Chemainus was a surprise to us as well. 

2. Some of you may have heard that one of our local BC Ferries crew member had been working on a possible schedule that would improve service and reduce costs. (Thanks Dave)  That was rejected by BCF, as it went over and above the provinces proposals.  From this, I sense that BCF is being restricted by the directives given to them by the province.

3. I have had many questions regarding reversing the direction to the morning school run. Please see the following rationale provided by Bill Dickie.  Thanks Bill.

There tends to be a lot of commercial traffic to Thetis on the first sailing from Chemainus. The present routing means that these take longer to get to Thetis, so they have less chance to return on the Thetis only sailing, (0910) and then have to take the frequently overloaded 1035 sailing.

The loading delays and overloads at Penelakut at 0745 due to commercial vehicles onboard for Thetis often make the school run late. This is especially bad on the days when the Penelakut school bus is going on a field trip.

This also gets contractors and other commuters to Thetis a bit earlier, but the downside is that it does mean that the Penelakut commuters arrive a bit later.

Unloading and loading at Thetis would be faster and safer because the large number of Penelakut students would not be onboard at that time. Not only are there more Penelakut students, but also many of them are much younger than the Thetis students, which makes them less conscious of safety concerns.

Some of the pain Thetis students would experience from catching the ferry a few minutes earlier should be offset by the space that will be available in the lounge.

This will give the large majority of students a (tiny bit) shorter day, while the small minority of students will have a (very slightly) longer day.

4. Please click here to go online to the BC Ferries website and complete the survey. There is a section for you to provide comment.  This is the spot where you can really let them know what you think.  The peak and off peak schedules are the same for our route.  You therefore have to choose between the provinces option or one of the two BC Ferries options.

5. Your local FAC will be meeting with BC Ferries staff on Monday March 3rd in Chemainus to review the survey results and settle on a schedule to be implemented for our route. This meeting will not be open to the public or the media so please fill out the survey. 

6. I will be sending around some information from the BC Ferry Coalition in a separate note.

If you have any questions, please send me a note…

Best Regards

Keith Rush FAC Chemainus-Thetis-Penelakut

keithrush17@gmail.com

Ph: 250-416-0013

Cell: 250-732-2766

Solid Waste Management Committee Articles

Two articles are available for your consideration.  Click on either to review.

Garbage & Recycling Depot Restructuring

Chemainus Multi-Bins

Thanks,

Ernie, Henry & Vicki

Solid Waste Mgmt Com.

Ride to Victoria needed ~

One of our Jollity Farm wwoofers, Steph is looking for a ride share to Victoria this Friday, Feb. 14.

Please email Steph at steph.wetherell@gmail.com or call the farm 250.416.6736 if you are heading this way.

Thanks Kindly! Jollity Farm

Turkeys for Sale

WE STILL HAVE a few turkeys for sale.

$4.50 per pound.

Call Don and Gwen at 250-246-4209

Parade, Sail Past & Ball Game

Once again, Don & Gwen Hunter are generously organizing these wonderful events. Click on each for more information.

May Parade ~ May 17th

Sail Past ~ July 1st

Ball Game ~ August 9th

La breithe sona duit, Will!

Best wishes to Will Lennox on the occasion of his 80^th birthday ~ February 13^th

Much love from your Thetis Island friends and neighbours.

“May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends.”