A disruption occurred on Nov. 4, when the ferry service, MV Forester, which operates on Francois Lake, experienced a mechanical issue with one of its engines.

At approximately 4 p.m., the vessel was taken out of service for diagnosis and repair, according to the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI).

The ferry was back in operation by 8:30 p.m., following a repair that was completed by 8 p.m.

Maintained and operated by Waterbridge Equipment Ltd., the MV Forester runs between the communities of Francois Lake and Southbank, approximately 26 kilometres south of 亚洲天堂 Lake, on Highway 35.

The ferry provides a 15-minute crossing and operates daily, at regular intervals, from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Ris茅 Johansen, chairperson of the Chinook Emergency Response Society (CERS), said the breakdown highlighted the importance of reliable transportation for the safety and well-being of residents on the Southside of the lake.

While acknowledging that breakdowns like these are rare, Johansen highlighted how the incident exposed gaps in connectivity and the need for better emergency preparedness.

She also noted that communication during the incident could have been improved. 

Johansen learned about the disruption from a CERS member who was at the ferry landing. CERS posted about the issue on Facebook, and then began engaging with the community by responding to questions and providing updates, she said

鈥淎t CERS, we did our best to share what we knew, simply to keep people informed about the situation," Johansen said. "However, it would have been helpful to see more engagement from the organizations involved鈥攕uch as Waterbridge, MOTI, and possibly the RCMP鈥攅specially since many people had to drive around the head of the lake.鈥�

While most drivers are familiar with the challenging road around the lake, Johansen pointed out that clearer communication about road conditions and potential obstacles would have helped those impacted by the disruption. She also suggested that more frequent updates on the progress of the repairs would have been beneficial.

"I understand that the authorities may not have had all the details immediately, but better public engagement would have been beneficial," she said, emphasizing the power of social media platforms like Facebook (now Meta)  for spreading information quickly.

Some community members also raised questions about the lack of a tug and barge service during the disruption.

While Johansen acknowledged that ferry breakdowns are rare, she reiterated that the ferry service typically runs smoothly. 

鈥淭he ferry runs like clockwork, they [Waterbridge] do a great job and I certainly want to impress that upon upon everyone,鈥� Johansen. 

Still, she stressed the need for better preparedness.

鈥淭his situation highlighted the need for better preparedness, much like we prepare for other emergencies like wildfires or earthquakes,鈥� Johansen said.

Additionally, Johansen suggested improving signage for those who had to detour around the head of the lake. Clear signage indicating potential hazards or emergency procedures would help ensure that residents are prepared in the event of future emergencies, she said.

鈥淏etter preparedness is always a priority,鈥� Johansen concluded.

Moving forward, Johansen said CERS may reach out to local authorities to discuss how additional support鈥攕uch as RCMP assistance around the head of the lake鈥攃ould help guide traffic and ensure safer travel during similar disruptions in the future.

Meanwhile, Southside resident  Annie Vanmetre, shared her experience of the ferry service disruption.  Vanmetre maintained that passengers who were present at the terminal received sufficient information from Waterbridge staff and commended them for personally providing updates about the situation. 

 Vanmetre said she arrived at the ferry terminal at 5 p.m. to wait for the ferry, joining a lineup of 15-20 people. When the ferry failed to arrive, she checked for updates on Drive BC, which showed no activity on the south side. Around 6 p.m., a manager from Waterbridge, personally visited each vehicle in the lineup to explain that the ferry had broken down and they were working on a solution, she said.

At approximately 7 p.m., another staff member, came around to update passengers again, explaining that an engineer was on their way but would take about an hour to arrive. Passengers were given the option to stay or take an alternate route around the lake. Vanmetre decided to drive around the lake, following a slow, rough, and winding 10-12 km road that was mostly clear of snow.  

Waterbridge spokesperson Ron Van Tine said the disruption was due to an electrical issue that initially appeared to be a simple blown fuse. It was expected to take minutes to fix, but the problem ended up being more complex and took longer than anticipated.

Van Tine explained they were slow in posting updates on social media, particularly Drive BC and Facebook, because they initially thought the issue would be resolved quickly. By the time they posted, the service had already been restored. Although the team communicated with Drive BC after the breakdown, it was an hour or two later than they would have liked, he said. Future improvements will include making sure posts are done immediately, even if the disruption is expected to be short, Van Tine said. 

Talking about communication methods, Van Tine said besides social media, Waterbridge does not currently have a dedicated email or text update system. They rely on phone calls and direct contact with people in the community.

On the day of the disruption, Van Tine said staff were on-site providing updates every 20-30 minutes, with the office remaining open and staffed late into the evening, to answer calls and provide support. Van Tine personally took 30-40 calls that night and said he appreciated the cooperative attitude of the community.

He thanked the community for their understanding and patience, noting that despite the inconvenience, there was a lot of support and positive feedback from local residents.