Coast Mountain News Thursday, December 5, 2013
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Vol. 29 | No. 23 Thursday, December 05, 2013
Serving the Bella Coola Valley and the Chilcotin CoastMountainNews.com
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Ron Harrison with his handcrafted Viking Ship game at his booth at the annual Arts and Craft Fair
Ray Mcllwain photo
Community outraged over loss of Bella Coola’s Route 40 ferry service BY CAITLIN THOMPSON Hot on the heels of the announcement that the government and BC Ferries have cancelled Bella Coola’s Route 40 ferry service, dozens of community members showed up to the corporations ‘BC Coastal Ferries Community Engagement’ meeting at Lobelco Hall on November 22nd. Poorly advertised and slated for the dinner hour on a Friday night, the meeting saw a good turnout despite the weak efforts on behalf of BC Ferries to promote it. Understandably, many were taken aback with the title
of ‘Community Engagement,’ when the decision to cut off one of the most important services to the Bella Coola Valley and the Chilcotin appears to have already been made. “What is the point of this meeting,” asked Bella Coola resident Jenny Roberts. “You’ve already made your decision, so why are you here?” Roberts went on to stress that although the ferry service may suffer a financial loss, the economic benefits to the communities far outweigh the costs. “People need the employment this ferry supports,” she said. “I don’t want to live in a ghost town.”
This sentiment and many others were repeated over and over again by each speaker to take to the microphone. The feelings of anger, betrayal, and indignation were palpable. After years of economic depression, a fledging tourism industry has been steadily rising, and losing the ferry service is a terrific blow. “As a former member of the Ferry Advisory Committee, I understand the complexity of these decisions,” said Stephen Waugh. “However, this decision completely ignores the social, cultural, and economic values and impacts on our communities. What’s doubly insulting
is that this decision is coming from our own government, who are supposed to be considering these issues.” John Morton, business owner in the Valley for 45 years, was equally as scathing in his comments directed at government, comparing them to a bully such as Mike Tyson. “We have suffered massive economic and demographic changes over the years, but we have picked up and carried on,” said Morton. “It feels like we’ve been knocked down one time too many. The government and BC Ferries are working against us, and it’s not right.”
Resident Ken Dunsworth also leveled some serious accusations, comparing the cancellation of the ferry service to the economic collapse of fishing and forestry. “The big corporations took all the resources out of here, they left nothing for us,” said Dunsworth. “We had to rebuild on our own, and we did it with tourism. Everything we’ve ever done economically has been taken away from us by government, and now they’re doing it again. This is a drain on the spirit of the people who live here, and I think it’s time for a fight.” SEE FERRY ON PAGE 3