Travel Advisory: COVID-19 Update - Important information - Last updated January 11, 2021 View ×

BC Ferries remains committed to ensuring coastal communities have reliable access to essential goods and supplies. Our priority is the health and safety of our customers and employees, and the company will strictly adhere to provincial and federal guidelines.

We encourage our customers to continue to heed Dr. Bonnie Henry’s advice to be calm, be kind, and be safe. Our vessel and terminal staff are working hard to adjust to changing circumstances and to implement protocols and procedures that keep everyone safe and healthy. BC Ferries does not tolerate any abuse, including verbal abuse, towards its employees. A customer who abuses an employee will be denied service.

On January 7, 2021 Dr. Bonnie Henry announced an update to the COVID-19 restrictions (in effect November 7 - February 5, 2021), for more information click here. BC Ferries advises customers to avoid non-essential travel at this time – this includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province. If this new Provincial Health Officer restriction affects your travel plans please contact us to change or cancel your booking. Reservations fees for existing bookings will be refunded if travel must be cancelled as a result of Provincial Health Order (PHO) travel restrictions, please contact us in advance of travel. This applies to travel occurring during the PHO travel restriction period. 

 

Masks are mandatory

All passengers must wear non-medical masks or face coverings when at terminals and on board ferries except:

  • When inside a vehicle
  • When consuming food or drinks, provided physical distancing is maintained
  • Children under 2 years of age
  • Medical condition or disability that inhibits the ability to wear a mask
  • Persons unable to place or remove a mask without assistance
  • BC Ferries employees working behind a physical barrier or within employee only areas provided physical distancing is maintained

 

* In the event that a passenger cannot wear a mask or face covering due to medical reasons, BC Ferries may require passengers to present documentation from a healthcare professional. This is a new Transport Canada requirement for ferry operators across Canada.

Passengers are reminded to continue to maintain physical distance while wearing a mask.
 
As defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada, a mask should fit securely to the head with ties or ear loops, be made of at least two layers of tightly woven material fabric (such as cotton or linen) and be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping.

 

Transport Canada - Closed deck regulation - reinstatement on September 30th

The temporary flexibility Transport Canada granted ferry operators that allows passengers to remain in their vehicle on enclosed vehicle decks is being rescinded by the regulator on September 30th, 2020. Transport Canada allowed this temporary flexibility earlier this summer in response to COVID-19. BC Ferries must comply with Transport Canada regulations. Starting on September 30th, passengers loaded on enclosed lower decks will be required to leave their vehicles.

Learn more about the reinstatement of the Transport Canada regulation

View frequently asked questions

 

Transport Canada - COVID-19 screening

For any route longer than 30 minutes, BC Ferries will screen all customers for COVID-19 symptoms and restrict travel to any customer that does not meet the screening requirements, as per the federal guidelines.

Prior to entering a BC Ferries’ terminal, customers need to answer the following questions:

  1. Do you have a fever and a cough?
  2. Do you have a fever and breathing difficulty?
  3. Have you been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to COVID-19?
  4. Are you the subject of a provincial/territorial or local public health order? Note: A provincial/territorial or local public health order is typically a quarantine order issued to a person who has tested positive or is presumed positive to COVID-19
  5. Are you in possession of a face covering that covers your mouth and nose, and do you agree to wear this covering when outside your vehicle at terminals and while on board ferries?

If you answer yes to any of questions 1 to 4 and/or no to question 5 above, or refuse to answer any of the questions, BC Ferries will deny you boarding. Customers not displaying symptoms and under a directive to self-isolate at home may be permitted on board but will be required to maintain physical distance by remaining in their vehicle.

BC Ferries has implemented measures in order to ensure that customers with serious medical conditions and a need for time sensitive treatments are able to continue to travel. Customers can communicate their travel needs to the ticket agent when they arrive at the terminal. Reservations are recommended, but non-reserved travel will be prioritized based on the essential travel needs.

View more details on Transport Canada’s announcement

Book in advance to avoid lengthy waits as sailings are limited. Check-in processing takes longer due to screening protocols in place.
 

Malahat Nation

Malahat Nation is currently under a Shelter in Place order that took effect January 8, 2021.

We ask that all Mill Bay ferry customers please wear a mask when on, or transiting to BC Ferries Mill Bay terminal outside of a vehicle. Commuting customers please see the request below from Malahat Nation regarding parking on Mill Bay Road.

For further information, please see malahatnation.com.

 

Northern routes

For more information on our current Northern schedules, visit bcferries.com/schedules.

Many communities served by BC Ferries have issued advisories to travelers notifying them of limited supplies, healthcare equipment and resources. These communities include Haida Gwaii, Bella Bella, Klemtu, and Bella Coola. Customers should inform themselves of local situations and remain committed to essential travel only.
For more information about travel and restrictions in these northern communities, see:

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Foot passengers

When travelling, we require customers wear a face covering onboard or in our terminals. Reservations for foot passengers are available for travel between Tsawwassen - Southern Gulf Islands and our North Coast routes, and can now be made online.  On all other routes, foot passengers will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis until passenger capacity has been reached, and tickets may be purchased at the terminal.

 

BC Ferries Vacations

Customers with BC Ferries Vacation bookings affected by the COVID-19 restrictions (in effect November 7 - February 5, 2021) can contact us to change or cancel their booking. If you require immediate assistance, please contact BC Ferries Vacations at 1-888-223-3779 Ext. 3, or email vacations@bcferries.com. Vacations Call Centre business hours are:

  • Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5 pm
  • Weekends and statutory holidays: 9 am – 5 pm

 

Additional information

  • Customers requiring wheelchair assistance: We are unable to provide wheelchair assistance at terminals or on board ferries. If you require a wheelchair, request one at the terminal. We ask that you travel with your own wheelchair assistant if required.

  • For more information on travelling with BC Ferries during the COVID-19 Pandemic click here

  • Updates from our President and CEO Mark Collins

​

​Vehicles with U.S. license plates travelling on the Ferries

Canada Border Services Agency is screening people entering Canada at the borders. BC Ferries does not have a mandate to restrict travel.

 

​We’re in this together

We are proud of the work our dedicated employees continue to provide during this situation. Crews have been taking, and will continue to take, extra measures to ensure continued safe transport of critical goods and supplies to coastal B.C. communities. If you have a chance to relay a ‘thank-you’ to our teams online, please do.

BC Ferries provides a lifeline to remote and to coastal communities in British Columbia, and will continue to provide vital services, such as delivering medical supplies and groceries to support communities.

For more information on all the steps BC Ferries is taking during COVID-19, visit our COVID-19 response page. For more information on schedules visit bcferries.com/schedules. BC Ferries hopes to resume the levels of service customers have come to expect soon.

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Governance, Executive Team and BC Ferries Board of Directors

Governance

Corporate:

 

For more on our Governance, Corporate Policies, the Coastal Ferry Act, the Coastal Ferry Services Contract, and other policies, reports and plans, visit our resources page.

Regulatory:

British Columbia Ferry Commission

Executive team

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Mark Collins

President and Chief Executive Officer

Born in an island community, and with 35 years’ of marine experience, Mark understands the importance of a reliable ferry service to people’s lives and the local economy. Before becoming President & CEO, Mark held leadership positions with BC Ferries for 11 years and also served as President of both Rolls Royce Marine Brazil and Italy. He has an MBA in Transport and Logistics from UBC, a certificate in Strategic Leadership from Oxford, a BA in Marine Geography from Saint Marys, and a Diploma of Mechanical (Marine) Engineering from Memorial University. In addition to several past directorships, he presently serves on the boards of Interferry and Green Marine.
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Brian Anderson

Vice President, Strategy & Community Engagement

A seasoned transportation executive, Brian first joined BC Ferries in 1998 and held leadership positions in Finance, Operations and Customer Experience for 13 years. In 2010, he joined BC Transit serving as Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Rejoining BC Ferries in 2019, Brian leads BC Ferries’ strategic planning processes, strengthening relationships and ensuring broad alignment with goals and objectives. He is the key point of contact for the 13 Ferry Advisory Committees and government stakeholders critical to the company’s success. Brian holds a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Victoria and is a professional accountant.
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Jason Barabash

Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Jason leads the company’s legal function and is also responsible for corporate governance matters, information and privacy, property management, and economic regulatory affairs. Prior to joining BC Ferries in 2005, he was a lawyer in the Calgary office of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (now Dentons) where he practiced financial services, securities and general corporate law. He obtained his Law degree and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Alberta.
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Janet Carson

Vice President, Marketing and Customer Experience

Janet joined BC Ferries in 2009 bringing over 20 years of strategic leadership and executive management experience in travel and tourism. Janet is responsible for BC Ferries marketing, public affairs, customer care, travel and digital services, and the SeaForward corporate social responsibility program. She is leading all aspects of the customer experience both online and offline, shares responsibility with the CFO for revenue/pricing management, and holds an undergraduate degree from UBC.
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John D'Agnolo

Vice President, People

John joined BC Ferries in 2004 as the Director, Employee Relations in Nanaimo a position he held for three years prior to his most recent role of Director, Corporate Human Resources in Victoria. In this position John is responsible for the leadership of Human Resources, Employee Relations, Workforce Planning and Talent along with Organizational and Management Development. His background spans more than 25 years of Human Resource and Employee Relations experience across three major industries. John has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Simon Fraser University and is a member of the Chartered Professional of Human Resources (CPHR), BC and Yukon.
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Jill Sharland

Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Jill has extensive experience as a financial executive in fast-paced, capital intensive and customer driven industries. She provides strategic leadership to BC Ferries’ accounting and reporting, financial operations, payroll, treasury, risk and insurance, financial planning and analysis, tariff and revenue, internal audit and corporate services, and also shares responsibility for government and regulatory affairs. She is a CPA and holds an MBA from Queens University as well as BSc Hons in Pharmacology and Physiology from UWO.
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Captain Jamie Marshall

Vice President, Shipbuilding & Innovation

Jamie is responsible for identifying and developing strategic business opportunities for BC Ferries to grow and diversify revenue. Prior to joining in 1990, he served as an Officer with the Royal Canadian Navy, as Chief Officer and Master across the BC Ferries fleet, and then ashore in a number of senior leadership positions including VP Fleet Operations. Jamie serves as Chair on several Boards including the Canadian Ferry Association and holds a BS degree and a Masters Certificate of Competency.
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Erwin Martinez

Vice President & Chief Information Officer

Erwin served as CIO at several banks across North America for over 15 years before joining BC Ferries as Chief Information Officer in 2016. He has a broad range of skills and experiences including large scale program management, business re-engineering, BCP/RD/EPMO, vendor management, enterprise content management, along with IT risk assessment, governance, transformation and strategic planning. Erwin has served on the Central 1 Technology Board Committee and holds a BA in Administrative Sciences from Yale and an ICD.D Certificate from the SFU Beedie School of Business.
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Corrine Storey

Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Corinne held various senior leadership roles within BC Ferries for 12 years prior to her appointment as VP & COO in 2017. As COO, she is responsible for all terminal and fleet operations including health and safety, security, engineering, catering, maintenance and the fleet PMO. She holds an MBA in Executive Management from Royal Roads, a Diploma in Industrial Labour Relations from Queens, and is currently a Member of the Board of the Canadian Ferry Association.

Board of Directors

John A. Horning, Chair

John Horning offers an extensive business background as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Interfor Corporation, President and CEO of Seaboard International Shipping Ltd. and President  and CEO of Interfor Insurance Corporation. John previously held the position of President and CEO of Pacific Coach Lines Ltd. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration degree from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Accountant. He also serves on the Boards of the B.C. Pavilion Corporation and is Chair of the David Spencer Endowment Encouragement Foundation.

Jan K. Grude, Vice Chair
Jan Grude is President & CEO of Pacific Blue Cross, British Columbia’s largest regulated insurer, and British Columbia Life & Casualty Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Blue Cross. He has 30 years of experience in financial services, insurance, and advisory services to health care, utilities, manufacturing and telecommunications. A former Partner of Ernst & Young, he has advised on large scale infrastructure, restructuring and privatization initiatives in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Grude is former President & CEO of Mellon Financial Services Corporation (Canada), a subsidiary of Bank of New York Mellon, and former President & Chief Executive officer of The Buck Company based in New York City, one of the largest multi-national pension, investment and group insurance firms, now owned by Xerox Corporation. Grude holds the ICD.D designation and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.


Bruce A. Chan
Bruce Chan spent nearly 20 years in a variety of senior positions with Teekay Corporation, one of the world’s largest marine energy transportation, storage and production companies, with offices in 15 countries and approximately 6,700 seagoing and shore-based employees. Prior to that, Bruce was with Ernst & Young, LLC in Vancouver. Bruce holds a Master in Business Administration and is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst. Bruce has served on several Boards, including the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.

Eric A. Denhoff
Eric Denhoff has served in both the public and private sectors in Canada and internationally. He has served as a Deputy Minister in both the BC and Alberta Governments, as Chief Negotiator for Government of Canada and as an executive for private corporations. He has extensive experience in business in Asia, North America and Europe and has served on a wide variety of Boards, including the Energy Council of Canada, National Capital Commission, Fair Trade Canada, BC Women’s Hospital Foundation, Hospice Victoria, Greater Victoria Hospital Board, GNS School Board, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters BC Board and others. 

Brenda J. Eaton
Brenda Eaton is a corporate Director, who has served for more than a decade on various private, public and Crown corporation and not-for-profit Boards. She currently serves on the Boards of Transelec, Technical Safety BC, Westland Insurance, and Victoria's sewage treatment project board, in addition to the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Vancouver Foundation, and Max Bell Foundation. Brenda formerly held senior positions in the British Columbia provincial government, including Deputy Minister to the Premier, and Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, Social Services, and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. She was also Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Operations Support of the former Capital Health Region. Brenda has a Bachelor (Honours) and Master's degree in Economics.

Gordon M. Kukec
Gord Kukec is an independent consultant focussing primarily on the impact of emerging environmental and technology developments on business transformation.  Gord has previously held a number of senior officer roles in the international commercial aviation, business intelligence software, and commercial printing imaging technology industries.  He brings a diversity of knowledge and expertise to the Board in commercial transportation, IT, business innovation and energy sustainability. Gord holds a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University and has extensive experience on Boards of both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.

Shona A. Moore, Q.C.
Shona A. Moore Q.C., practices as a labour arbitrator. Prior to August 1, 2020, she was a founding partner of Moore Edgar Lyster LLP. Throughout her legal career, Ms. Moore restricted her law practice to labour relations and administrative law, including human rights and accommodation. Between 1983 and 1986, she served as a Vice-Chair of the B.C. Labour Relations Board. In addition to her law practice, Ms. Moore has been active in a number of professional and community organizations, including Westcoast Legal Education and Action Fund, the BC Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers and served as an elected bencher of the Law Society of BC. Ms. Moore was educated at the University of British Columbia where she graduated from Law School in 1979.

Sarah A. Morgan-Silvester
Sarah Morgan-Silvester is former Executive Vice President, Personal Financial Services and Wealth Management for HSBC Bank Canada and former President and CEO of HSBC Trust Company (Canada). She is currently a corporate Director serving on a number of Boards of organizations including: Canadian Western Bank, ENMAX Corporation, Grosvenor Americas, Grant Thornton LLP and Grant Thornton Consulting. She is past Chair of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and chaired the committee responsible for overseeing the merger of the three ports in the Lower Mainland to form Canada's largest port. An active volunteer, Sarah serves on the Board of the Vancouver Foundation, is Chancellor Emeritus of the University of British Columbia and past Chair of BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre Foundation. Sarah is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Finance from the University of British Columbia. She additionally holds the Human Resources and Compensation Committee designation from the Directors College.

Janine M. North ICD.D
Janine North is a Corporate Director who has served for more than 25 years on various public, Crown corporation and not-for-profit boards. She currently serves on the boards of Conifex Timber Inc. and Imperial Metals Corp., and previously served on a number of boards including BC Hydro, Maple Gold Mines, viaSport, Junior Achievement BC, Canadian Sport Institute, BC Business Council, and the Agricultural Institute of Canada. She was the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Initiative Trust from inception in 2005 until her retirement in 2016.  Janine lives on Haida Gwaii, where she is involved in the tourism industry, and is a sessional instructor for the University of BC at the Haida Gwaii Institute.

David R. Podmore
David Podmore is Chairman of Concert Real Estate Corporation, and Chairman and CEO of Concert Infrastructure Ltd. He is well versed in the development of residential real estate and public infrastructure projects in Canada. A tireless community champion, he played a key role in the development of facilities plans for Vancouver’s bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. David currently serves on the Board of LifeLabs, is an Advisory Committee Director of Balfour Pacific Capital, a member of the BC Hydro Site C Project Assurance Board, and Chair of the BCIT Inspire Capital Campaign. Previously, David served as Chair of FortisBC and Chair of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. He is the recipient of numerous community and professional awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and was invested to the Order of British Columbia in 2014. David holds an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and was inducted into the Urban Development Institute’s Hall of Fame in November 2018.

Michael W. Pucci
Michael Pucci is Superintendent of Compliance and Administration for Maher Terminals Holding Corp. which operates one of the fastest growing and most efficient container terminals in North America. Previously, Mr. Pucci was in business development for Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest, a non-profit fund, lending to entrepreneurs. Born and raised in Prince Rupert, Mr. Pucci has served two terms on the municipality’s Board of Variance and currently sits on the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Judith F. Sayers
Judith Sayers is a member of the Hupacasath First Nation and is currently President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. She has worked as a strategic adviser to First Nations and corporations and is currently an adjunct professor with the Peter Gustavson School of Business and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. Dr. Sayers holds a Business and Law degree and an honorary Doctor of Law from Queen’s University. Dr. Sayers was formerly on the political executive of the First Nations Summit and served on the Board of the New Relationship Trust. She currently serves on the Boards of Clean Energy BC, the Island Corridor Foundation and the New Relationship Trust Foundation, and Chairs the Joint Working Group on Heritage Conservation.