Fall storm
BC Ferries’ Queen of Chilliwack had a rough first day replacing the Queen of Burnaby. A fierce windstorm on Monday, September 26 caused BC Ferries to cancel several sailings up and down the coast, including on the Powell River-to-Comox route.
The Chilliwack held up in dock all day in Comox. As well, the North Island Princess, the ferry on the Powell River-to-Texada Island route, also held up in dock on Texada. Sailings resumed in the evening.
The storm, with winds that gusted up to over 80 kilometres an hour at Powell River airport, left thousands of BC Hydro customers in the Powell River area without power. A large section of Westview lost power, as did areas south of town and Texada Island.
The storm brought high winds and heavy rain to British Columbia’s southern coast. The weather station at the airport recorded 12.5 mm of rain.
Hahn retires
BC Ferries CEO David Hahn announced Tuesday morning he was retiring at the end of 2011. Hahn, who earns an estimated $1 million a year in salary and benefits, said in a release that he was leaving voluntarily. His departure is 15 months before the expiry of his contract and will save BC Ferries an estimated $1.5 million.
“This has not been an easy decision, but it will help facilitate a more constructive dialogue around future service levels and funding,” Hahn said.
Hahn also announced a plan to realize $11 million in cost savings, with wage and hiring freezes, service reductions and his own early retirement.
Hahn has served as leader of the corporation for the past eight years.
