"Don't shoot the messenger." Working in the newspaper business, that phrase is a familiar one. If I had $1 for every time I’ve taken flack for reporting on a story that has absolutely nothing to do with me, but contains an unpopular opinion, I might be driving a slightly newer car.
It’s an important message and one we all need to keep in mind as the long weekend creeps closer and many members of our ferry-dependent community have plans to either attempt to get off the Sunshine Coast, or welcome loved ones to join us.
These are important life events so when a ferry gets delayed or cancelled, or traffic stalls and backs up the highway due to sheer volume and your irritation begins to rise, just remember, that BC Ferries employee issuing tickets, directing vehicles or helping to load cars and trucks 24-inches apart, is not to blame.
Your travel plans are in the hands of both an aging fleet and decisions made by BC Ferries management staff, making salaries way above these workers’ paygrades.
I sat through a press conference Wednesday morning, during which BC Ferries promised it’s doing all it can to get the expected nine million-plus passengers and almost four million vehicles where they need to go this summer – and as close to on time as possible.
There are a lot of moving parts to running such a massive transportation system and a vital link in that chain of operations is the people with boots on the ground. You really think that guy at the ticket booth wants to see you miss your granddaughter’s lacrosse game or prevent your best friends from visiting you here on the Coast? Can you even imagine sitting in that tiny booth all day taking abuse from frustrated ferry customers?
A little patience will go a long way this weekend, so if things start going sideways remember to take a deep breath and swear (like I do) that you’re never travelling by BC Ferries on a long weekend again. Just don’t swear at the workers.
