CFG
Deckhand
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
Posts: 64
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Post by CFG on Jun 10, 2010 22:56:08 GMT -8
In my opinion, BC Ferries 50th anniversary should have incorporated the following: They should hold three parades; one in downtown Vancouver, one in Victoria, and one in Nanaimo, along with four smaller ones; one in Prince Rupert, one in Comox, one in Powell River, and one in Gibsons. Each parade should have floats of ferries in it, and in the Major parades, they should have open-houses on ferries where you can tour the whole ferry from top to bottom, and they'd have heritage displays scattered around the ships. They should have plaque dedications at all the major terminals, and they should put a plaque on the 5 oldest vessels in the fleet. BC Ferrries should've repainted the logos on all the major vessels with a special "BC FERRIES 50 YEARS" logo on it, and they should've done the same to their website. The reason they didn't do that or any other significant celebration is that it is not a money making venture, plain and simple. The cost of what you propose is very high for the amount of return they would get on that cost from advertising and what not. ie minimal profit from major expense equals a no go in the privatized world... get used to it, its not gonna change any time soon...
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Jun 11, 2010 10:51:08 GMT -8
and in the Major parades, they should have open-houses on ferries where you can tour the whole ferry from top to bottom, and they'd have heritage displays scattered around the ships. I see two issues with this: 1) BCF probably doesn't want people to see the insides of the ferries anymore, the Coastal are the only ships that would have a chance of not scaring the poop out of anyone who ventures into the engine rooms and such, and there probably not spotless anymore either. 2) BCF does everything they can to ignore their past, as far as they seem to be concerned the company started in 2003 (PF Day(Privatized Ferries Day)), so I doubt they really want to acknowledge the 50 year milestone. Their probably only doing the employee events, just to keep the older guys happy. It would be fun though.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Jun 11, 2010 12:39:53 GMT -8
The other side to this is potential public reaction. While some would celebrate BC Ferries anniversary and enjoy it, others not so much. I could see people squawking loudly that the money spent on the celebrations should be used to lower fares and not for frivolous celebrations. The public can be very fickle these days and you can't win. And given the money spent during the Olympics, and the FakeLake debacle now, people are in the mood to take government or quasi-government on over spending.
I remember seeing the Centenial Train - the family is in debate as to whether we saw it New West or downtown somewhere. Anniversaries are important for community building and a sense of belonging. Those "sign-posts" are more important than you realize and certainly for children. Now BC Ferries is not so significant as 67 was for the country but still would be fun to have something reasonable and fun - even an openhouse in the three main cities with tours would be great.
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Post by Blisswood on Jun 11, 2010 12:43:51 GMT -8
If I meet any forum members on Tuesday, I will show you a letter I wrote to the company proposing what to do on The Big Day. I hope at the very least to see Captain Salty, the company mascot...after I get my chocolate. I will be at Swartz Bay, wearing a black baseball cap with the BC Coat of Arms, some time after 0900. I like what I'm reading from everyone. MW
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jun 11, 2010 13:03:53 GMT -8
I will be passing through Swartz Bay just before 11:00. If I see you, I'll stop and say hello!
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Post by Nickfro on Jun 11, 2010 14:15:21 GMT -8
They should hold three parades; one in downtown Vancouver, one in Victoria, and one in Nanaimo, along with four smaller ones; one in Prince Rupert, one in Comox, one in Powell River, and one in Gibsons. Each parade should have floats of ferries in it Sure. Pay hundreds of thousands for a whole bunch of parade floats that are worthless after that one day. Spectator turnout would probably be considerably less than an annual community parade! in the Major parades, they should have open-houses on ferries where you can tour the whole ferry from top to bottom and they'd have heritage displays scattered around the ships Are you suggesting halting service for a big 50th anniversary open house on a bunch of ferries? That'll go over well. 50 years isn't quite long enough from a heritage standpoint, in my opinion. The CPR years, now that's getting closer to heritage. I don't mind how BC Ferries appears to be approaching their 50th, especially considering how the economy has been over the past couple years. If they were to do any big do up, I'm sure it would have its share of people arguing against spending such funding for such an event when it could go towards fare management and other operational costs. Decommissioning ceremonies are relatively low cost events to do, and they celebrate the end of something. 50 years is just a milestone, nothing more, and as others have stated, not everyone thinks of it as 50 years, but only 7.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 13, 2010 7:19:29 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 13, 2010 7:23:29 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 13, 2010 7:26:17 GMT -8
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Post by Kahloke on Jun 13, 2010 8:46:31 GMT -8
Interesting article - thanks for posting it. I am curious as to why Hahn thinks it will be ten years out for customers to buy tickets and print boarding passes online. WSF has been using that technology for the past 2-3 years now. Most of the time, if I know which ferry route I am going on, I'll buy my ticket online and print it out at home. It saves time at the toll booth, especially in Seattle where they have a pre-ticketed lane which moves much faster than the others.
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 13, 2010 10:52:58 GMT -8
Obvious Typo. Was this the Spirit of Vancouver Island, or Queen of Vancouver?
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 13, 2010 10:55:21 GMT -8
Interesting article - thanks for posting it. I am curious as to why Hahn thinks it will be ten years out for customers to buy tickets and print boarding passes online. WSF has been using that technology for the past 2-3 years now. Most of the time, if I know which ferry route I am going on, I'll buy my ticket online and print it out at home. It saves time at the toll booth, especially in Seattle where they have a pre-ticketed lane which moves much faster than the others. Air Canada has been doing it for even longer! It's gotta be at least 5 years now?
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Post by Kahloke on Jun 13, 2010 11:54:28 GMT -8
Air Canada has been doing it for even longer! It's gotta be at least 5 years now? Yeah, airlines have been providing online ticketing and check-in for a long time now. I can't even remember the last time I went through a travel agency to purchase tickets and had to check in at the ticket counter at the airport. I think it may have been in the 90's.
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 13, 2010 13:34:52 GMT -8
Air Canada has been doing it for even longer! It's gotta be at least 5 years now? Yeah, airlines have been providing online ticketing and check-in for a long time now. I can't even remember the last time I went through a travel agency to purchase tickets and had to check in at the ticket counter at the airport. I think it may have been in the 90's. Exactly. So why couldn't the ferries do that for all this time? Ferries are basically just planes that float, don't fly, and carry cars...
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Post by johnnytindale on Jun 13, 2010 15:38:25 GMT -8
Obvious Typo. Was this the Spirit of Vancouver Island, or Queen of Vancouver? Correct, it was the SOVI.
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Post by Blisswood on Jun 14, 2010 13:07:22 GMT -8
Another typo was about the baby born on Queen of Victoria - it was 1971, not 77. Wonder whatever happened to him... Also, do babies born on the ships get a lifetime pass to that specific route, or the entire system? I've heard both. Overall: the articles were good, but I would have been happier if there were some pictures of the former ships, not a big one of the boss with a blurry Coastal in the background.
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Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Jun 14, 2010 14:07:19 GMT -8
I agree with you, blisswood more photos would have been nice. Another item that the article skipped over was the lifting of the V's it had them lumped in with the construction of the first generation C- class in the '70's.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Jun 14, 2010 14:52:05 GMT -8
But B.C. Ferries represents a lot more than fares. Its fleet of 36 ships tops the number in -- if not the firepower of -- the Canadian navy. HAHA, aint it the truth, and aint in pathetic? Maybe the Feds should give BCF a subsidy to arm the crew and install deck turrets on the ships. You could hide a giant rail gun of sorts on the lower car deck and open up the bow doors to blow things up or launch aircraft, of course landing would be tricky. Cheers,
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 14, 2010 14:59:59 GMT -8
But B.C. Ferries represents a lot more than fares. Its fleet of 36 ships tops the number in -- if not the firepower of -- the Canadian navy. HAHA, aint it the truth, and aint in pathetic? Maybe the Feds should give BCF a subsidy to arm the crew and install deck turrets on the ships. You could hide a giant rail gun of sorts on the lower car deck and open up the bow doors to blow things up or launch aircraft, of course landing would be tricky. Cheers, NONONONONONONONONONONONONO. NO.... NO. That would put our beloved ferries at risk! We can't do that! We've already lost one to sinking, and we don't need to suffer the loss 36 more times...
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jun 15, 2010 3:25:04 GMT -8
Happy 50th, BC Ferries! Now to head out the door and celebrate the milestone with some all day ferry riding...
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Post by Retrovision on Jun 15, 2010 4:55:30 GMT -8
Happy 50th! Here's to W.A.C. (William Andrew Cecil) Bennett and Flying Phil's core vision of ro/ro as she goes!
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 15, 2010 6:00:29 GMT -8
Happy 50th to all!
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Post by Balfour on Jun 15, 2010 7:23:47 GMT -8
Happy 50th!
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Post by Curtis on Jun 15, 2010 9:39:43 GMT -8
A Ferry Happy 50th Anniversary, BC Ferries! I hope to at some point today to get aboard a vessel in the Fleet, but it is going to be hard deciding which one to board and when.
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Post by hullnumbers on Jun 15, 2010 9:46:41 GMT -8
Happy 50'th BC Ferries, hope the next 50 years will be good to you.
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