This blog was actually spurred by something small. An old postcard I came across tucked into a drawer. Faded and a little bent at the corners. It immediately pulled me back to a lifetime of ferry crossings and reminded me just how long BC Ferries has been part of my story.
As a child, my aunts and grandparents lived in Nanaimo, and those trips felt special. The ferry ride was part of the excitement. Snacks packed, windows fogged from breath and sea air, watching the shoreline drift away as we counted down the minutes. The journey itself mattered, not just the destination.
Years later, another route became a regular rhythm when our family bought recreational property on Galiano Island. Ferries turned into weekends, holidays, and a clear dividing line between everyday life and island time. The moment you stepped on board, things slowed down.
Then came another chapter when both of my kids went to UVic. I loved that they were away but still close enough that we could visit easily. We would take the ferry over, go for dinner, walk the waterfront, and enjoy those moments where independence and family overlapped just enough.
Now, as part time residents, the ferry feels almost ceremonial. It marks the transition from one pace of life to another. And yes, the relationship with the corporation itself has had its moments. Policies can be puzzling, schedules imperfect, and patience sometimes required. But it is also a massive system trying to move thousands of people through a very complex coastline, and most days it does exactly that.
What never fails is the people. The staff, especially at Sturdies Bay on Galiano, are consistently kind, calm, and welcoming. Always a smile, always professional, even when things do not go exactly to plan.
One of my favourite feelings in the world is still driving off that ferry. As the ramp lowers and the tires hit land, there is an instant sense of calm and happiness. The noise fades, the mind clears, and the island does what it always does.
BC Ferries may not be perfect, but it has carried decades of memories, family visits, island beginnings, proud parent moments, and countless returns home. And sometimes, all it takes is an old postcard to remind you just how much of life has passed across that deck.This blog was actually spurred by something small. An old postcard I came across tucked into a drawer. Faded and a little bent at the corners. It immediately pulled me back to a lifetime of ferry crossings and reminded me just how long BC Ferries has been part of my story.
As a child, my aunts and grandparents lived in Nanaimo, and those trips felt special. The ferry ride was part of the excitement. Snacks packed, windows fogged from breath and sea air, watching the shoreline drift away as we counted down the minutes. The journey itself mattered, not just the destination.
Years later, another route became a regular rhythm when our family bought recreational property on Galiano Island. Ferries turned into weekends, holidays, and a clear dividing line between everyday life and island time. The moment you stepped on board, things slowed down.
Then came another chapter when both of my kids went to UVic. I loved that they were away but still close enough that we could visit easily. We would take the ferry over, go for dinner, walk the waterfront, and enjoy those moments where independence and family overlapped just enough.
Now, as part time residents, the ferry feels almost ceremonial. It marks the transition from one pace of life to another. And yes, the relationship with the corporation itself has had its moments. Policies can be puzzling, schedules imperfect, and patience sometimes required. But it is also a massive system trying to move thousands of people through a very complex coastline, and most days it does exactly that.
What never fails is the people. The staff, especially at Sturdies Bay on Galiano, are consistently kind, calm, and welcoming. Always a smile, always professional, even when things do not go exactly to plan.
One of my favourite feelings in the world is still driving off that ferry. As the ramp lowers and the tires hit land, there is an instant sense of calm and happiness. The noise fades, the mind clears, and the island does what it always does.
BC Ferries may not be perfect, but it has carried decades of memories, family visits, island beginnings, proud parent moments, and countless returns home. And sometimes, all it takes is an old postcard to remind you just how much of life has passed across that deck.