FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14 2014 VOL. 41, NO. 45
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Democracy lessons
Bowen teachers use election as a learning tool
School Trustees
Jane Kellett encourages islanders to do their homework and make their picks
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Letters: It’s what we’re talking about in the 2014 election
Chapman says Bowen passengers at risk in Horseshoe Bay terminal MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
In the past week BC Ferries has pointed to a prohibitive price tag on the upgrade of the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal as a reason for considering the closure of the route to Departure Bay. Now, saying they won’t cut that ferry, BC Ferries CEO Mike Corrigan says that fares will have to go up in order to the cover costs of the planned upgrade. Bowen Islander and candidate for council, Michael Chapman, says the economic discussion is clouding a bigger issue: that in the event of a major earthquake, passengers in their cars, waiting in line to board the Queen of Capilano, would be crushed by the overhead transfer deck. Bowen Islanders gathered at the cenotaph on Tuesday to remember and pay homage to the men Chapman says that he decided and women who lost their lives at war. More photos and a memory, on page 16. to file a freedom of information Meribeth Deen, photo request last March, after chatting with someone who was working on the ceiling above the Bowen ferry marshalling area. “I’d been noticing this on-going work for months. It was very noisy and disruptive, and initially I was just thinking that this was too loud, especially for people who might be waiting there with babies or young ment of a municipal taxi service. MERIBETH DEEN kids,” says Chapman. “But then I “People seem to not like the word, ‘taxi, ’ ” says EDITOR Zawadzki. “What I envision would essentially be a taxi, asked the guy who was working up there what he was doing, and he told Starting this year and for the next ten years, Bowen but it would be more flexible, and it wouldn’t compete me he was doing some seismic work. Island can expect to receive payments of approximatewith the bus service that we already have. Gabriola That’s when I decided to research the ly $60 thousand per year because of a new Gas Tax Island has a service that’s comparable to what I enviissue further on my own.” Agreement signed between the Provincial and Federal sion, the difference is that while it is supported by the He says that he received fifteen governments. The municipal Manager of Finance, municipality, it is not run by it.” emails with three to four reports Kristen Watson, announced this news at council on The Gabriola service, called GERTIE (Gabriola’s each on July 29th, and he’s been siftMonday and was granted her request to establish a Environmentally Responsible Transport for reserve fund for the money. George Zawadzki, a candiIslanders Express), offers transportation around the ing through them ever since . He says that the recent media reports date for council, says he sees this money as the perfect island via two 12-seater, bio-diesel powered buses, about the Horseshoe Bay terminal opportunity to get rolling on a plan to build a better driven by volunteers. have motivated him to get the infortransportation system on-island through the establishcontinued, PAGE 2
Zawadzki says gas tax monies should fund municipal taxi service
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mation out there. “Bowen bound passengers are marshalled at the end of the parking compound, under the transfer deck – which is built on fill that will liquefy in the case of a major earthquake,” says Chapman. “I know that when it comes to construction your costs go way up when it comes to unknown base structures, I think this number of $200 million comes out of nowhere. It would likely cost them a lot more than that to rebuild that terminal in a way that is safe for all passengers.” Chapman points to a document sent to BC Ferries at the end of May, 1999, by Klohn-Crippen Engineering, as the critical document outlining what would happen in the terminal in the case of an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 to 7.0. “The structure we wait under would collapse,” says Chapman. “Following that report, BC Ferries chose the most economical option to upgrade the terminal and limit their liability, which was to install catchwires in the ceiling. This does not prevent collapse, but it would make the structure collapse in a more uniform way. Likely, the people driving on to the ferry above us would survive, but not us.” Chapman offers a solution that he says is far more economical than re-building the Horseshoe Bay terminal. “Just move Bowen passengers to the open air line-up, the lower part of the line-up to Nanaimo. The vehicles waiting to Nanaimo can just wait further up the road.” Chapman says that he intends to call BC Ferries and make the request as soon as the election is over.