Summary

• Klahoose First Nation held a welcome pole raising ceremony at the Whaletown ferry terminal, recognizing the Nation’s connection to Cortes Island and the lands and waters surrounding it.
• The pole raising coincided with the deployment of Island Nagalis, which will now serve the Quadra Island–Cortes Island route, nearly doubling vehicle capacity and increasing passenger and crew capacity by more than 165%.
• Together, the vessel deployment and recently completed terminal improvements are intended to help strengthen service reliability and improve the customer experience for these communities.

VICTORIA, BC — Today, Klahoose First Nation held a traditional ceremony at the BC Ferries Whaletown terminal that included the raising of a welcome pole, a cedar brushing, a prayer and songs recognizing the Nation's longstanding connection to the lands and waters surrounding Cortes Island. The event coincided with the arrival of Island Nagalis on the route, symbolizing the relationship between Klahoose First Nation, the community and BC Ferries.

“It’s nice to see reconciliation in action,” said Klahoose First Nation Chief Kevin Peacey. “This is a great step in the right direction.”

"The welcome pole creates a lasting recognition of Klahoose First Nation's connection to the region, and we are grateful they’ve chosen the Whaletown terminal for its location," said Lindsay Matthews, Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing for BC Ferries. “We also know that today’s arrival of Island Nagalis brings additional capacity to the route and is expected to support service for customers in the communities it now serves. Together, these events reflect the continued evolution of this route and the importance of the relationships that help shape it."

Island Nagalis replaces the 57-year-old MV Tachek, which has served the Quadra-Cortes route for a decade and is expected to be retired from service. In service since 2023, Island Nagalis provides greater passenger and vehicle capacity on this route and is compatible with other Island Class vessels operating within the BC Ferries fleet, designed to support operational flexibility.

For customers travelling between Quadra and Cortes Islands, the newly deployed vessel increases vehicle space on the route from approximately 26 to 47, and more than doubles passenger and crew capacity from 150 to 399 people. In addition to larger indoor passenger lounges and more outdoor seating, the Island Nagalis also has a heated solarium, pet area and a stair lift. Like other Island Class vessels, the Island Nagalis uses battery equipped hybrid-electric technology designed to reduce emissions and enable quieter operations.

The Island Nagalis deployment is part of BC Ferries’ broader fleet renewal work. Recently completed terminal improvements at Whaletown and Heriot Bay are intended to support Island Class operations and route service over time.

The welcome pole reflects collaboration between Klahoose First Nation and BC Ferries and a shared interest in recognizing the communities, cultures and histories connected to the region.

Gifted by the We Wai Kum and Wei Wei Kai Nations in Kwak̓wala and Lik̓wala, two of the Kwakwaka’wakw dialects, Nagalis (pronounced NAH-GAH-LEASE) means “dawn on the land.”