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Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Omineca Express
Express
OPINION
Write The Editor c/o Omineca Express, Box 1007, Vanderhoof, B.C. V0J 3A0 ● Fax 250-567-2070 ● newsroom@ominecaexpress.com
Why don’t we sail our ferries when they are full? If you’ve taken a trip to the mainland via BC Ferries recently, the news that ridership levels hit a 21-year low was hardly news at all. It’s been difficult not to notice the cavernous car decks, empty as a passenger’s wallet, the line-ups at the cafeteria downgraded from never-ending to two-minute waits. Neither was it shocking that, despite frequent, fast and furious fare increases, the sea faring corporation’s books were listing hard, leaking some $16 million into the coastal waters. People on both sides of the water are staying home, the costs to cruise the waters too high to make it a feasible option. Now, when it comes to business, I’m no Richard Branson. If I was I’d probably suggest that kite-boarding entrepreneurs offer customers rides across the Strait on their backs. No, my business sense is far from the sharpest harpoon on the Pequod, but I’d like to take a stab nonetheless at offering a solution to the ferry faeries who keep the boats running on time. My quick fix is so simple, it dates back to when ships first started carrying paying passengers — fill the boats. In order to understand why we have empty ships sailing in the first place, we need to first go back to 1807 on an island on the other side of the continent. It was then in New York that Jeremiah Thompson and a group of his Quaker compatriots decided to take a risk and launch a business that many believe changed the face of goods and people transport forever. To be a merchant in New York waiting for goods to be shipped from England meant not knowing when your shipment would arrive. Crossing the Atlantic was an expensive proposition and the ships’ captains would wait until they had a full boat before they set sail. These unpredictable delays made it hard for businessmen to keep promises, or to find buyers for their wares. Thompson and his crew came up with the plan to create a line of packet ships that would set sail from New York and Liverpool, England twice a month on a fixed schedule, regardless of whether the ships were full. And so, the Black Ball Line was born, and the ships kept their promise, delivering goods and people in a timely, scheduled manner. This basic shift in thought from maximizing cargo space to a time-centric focus can be seen in all aspects of commerce and transportation today. And it is one of the reasons why BC Ferries Coastal leviathans sail on a timed schedule, regardless if their bellies are filled with paying passengers or not. Well, as fashionistas can attest, what is old can quickly become new again, and maybe it’s time for us to look back to a pre-Black Ball Line era in order to fill the boats. With energy prices rising and the costs of transporting goods increasing, in many facets of life people are looking to their ancestors’ ways to survive. Chemicals are being tossed aside for organic, grow-your-own food. Groups of reskillers are popping up, learning to use the slower paced, sustainable practices of yore. Could BC Ferries offer a handful of sail-when-full boats to compliment a reduced schedule of sailings? Sure, it may be inconvenient, but the fares on each full boat would cover the costs. Alternatively, BC Ferries could encourage more passengers to use their services by lowering their rates. But that’s just too obvious. Anyone have a used kite-board for sale? Cowichan News Leader The Omineca Express is published every Wednesday in Vanderhoof by Black Press Ltd. Publisher: Pam Berger advertising@ominecaexpress.com Editor: Christina Millington newsroom@ominecaexpress.com
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Consumed by a phobia Christina Millington Omineca Express As I was sitting at home this past week with the balcony door open I couldn’t help but take in all the sounds that were echoing about the neighbourhood. The smell of fresh cut grass wafting through the white transparent curtains to the sound of children jumping on a trampoline – a preferred soundtrack to my evening. The much-anticipated approach of summer is always an exciting time as we begin to plan each and every day hoping to take advantage of the three short months we are allotted. This will be the first summer I’ll be required to find new adventures and activities to keep myself occupied as summer’s prior consisted of days being spent on the Otonabee River boating with friends – nothing beats stretching your legs out on the open water. However, I must fill you in on a small detail; boating often resulted in a fair bit of teasing as I have had a phobia of fish since I was a child. Often when it would be my turn to strap on the wakeboard and drift out behind the boat I would often hear a few heckles of fish sightings from my “comforting” friends. All in good fun for them of course, made for an anxious tour on the river hoping that every jump I made over the wake wouldn’t be my last, leaving me bobbing in fish infested waters until the boat circled back around. I was lucky enough to take a trip to the Bahamas back in 2001 with a friend that was always up for an adventure. However, one of his adventures wasn’t an ideal one, which ended up being my last on that trip. For those whom experience any sort of phobia, whether it’s big or small, you will sympathize with my horrifying experience. Tourists alike boarded a small boat to then take an excursion around the island to a secluded area where we could snorkel and take in the beauty of the under world beneath us. I was apprehensive of the idea, however, I encouraged my friend to take the opportunity to enjoy himself for I knew he would regret not doing so.
Once in the water he felt the need to encourage just the same knowing I have an issue with the life that populates the water he was swimming in. Imagine my skepticism as someone who is petrified of fish to jump willingly into the water knowing of the possibility of seeing something I don’t want to see. Sharks, barracudas and other sea life is not what I want to encounter when snorkeling about aimlessly without the reassurance in knowing that I can remove myself from a situation that may present itself unexpectedly. Nonetheless, I managed to find the courage to put on the snorkeling gear and jump in with both feet. The experience was a beautiful one; swimming about a world that is often left unseen was what I needed to keep my mind off what was swimming around me. “Everyone back in the boat, quickly please,” echoed from the boat as fellow snorkelers franticly swam back to the boat. I froze, unable to make any rash decisions. I treaded water for a moment trying to collect my thoughts and to plan my next “calculated” move. The instructor, calmly might I add, informed the group that there was a barracuda under the boat – no big deal right. My courageous efforts to participate in the day’s activity left me feeling regretful and absolutely petrified. I managed to lower my head below the waters surface to reassure myself that the accusations were true. There it was beneath the boat, floating there contemplating who would make for a tasty treat. I managed to get myself to the boat, limbs intact, to then peer over the side to see the barracuda swim by. I quickly gave an “I told you so” look to my friend to then retreat to a quiet place on the boat to catch my breath. Summers accompany a bit of anxiety as I often fret when that invite will come to explore the beaches of my local neighbourhood or to take off in a boat to know I will be convinced to get wet. Here’s to kicking this phobia and taking a swim with the fish this summer.