High winds are causing travel disruptions along the southern B.C. coast Saturday.
BC Ferries was forced to cancel multiple sailings that will affect travellers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Southern Gulf Islands.
Environment Canada also put out a wind warning for the areas with winds gusting to 90 km/hr Saturday.
Multiple flights have been cancelled or delayed at Victoria International Airport.
BC Transit in Victoria has put out an alert saying bus service for all routes is being affected “due to the wind storm and power outages across the Capital Regional District.”
Routes 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 59, 60, and 61 are being detoured according to the BC Transit website.
“We would like to remind passengers at this time to not wait at bus stops on steep hills as the bus may not be able to stop,” the alert reads.
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At one point in the early afternoon Saturday, BC Ferries determined Horseshoe Bay travel would be shut down for the day but that is no longer expected to be the case.
The Queen of Oak Bay running on the Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay) route was re-routed to Departure Bay due to significant dock damage in the marina neighboring Horseshoe Bay, as well as high winds. The vessel was held in dock until weather subsided and departed Departure Bay around 1:20 p.m.
The Queen of Capilano resumed sailing to Snug Cove on Bowen Island with a 2:20 p.m. departure from Horseshoe Bay.
Service also resumed on the Brentwood – Mill Bay route with a 1:15 p.m. sailing that departed Brentwood Bay.
B.C. Ferries said in a service notice that the safety of passengers and crew is of primary importance.
“We don’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly, as we know customers rely on us to get to their destinations. We will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so,” the notice reads.
Other ferry cancellations include:
Chemainus, Penelakut Island and Thetis Island cancelled due to mechanical difficulty
8:40 a.m. departing Chemainus
9:15 a.m. departing Penekalut Island
9:35 a.m. departing Thetis Island
Comox and Powell River due to safety drills
3:25 p.m. departing Comox
5:15 p.m. departing Powell River
BC Ferries says further sailings may be cancelled subject to weather conditions.
A list of flight cancellations can be found here.
A list of ferry cancellations can be found here.
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– With files from Ashley Wadhwani and Keri Coles
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
