About the FAC

BC Ferries has been engaged in public consultation with ferry dependent communities since 1993.

The FAC is a volunteer committee. The role of the FAC is to act as a liaison between islanders and BC Ferries.  The FAC does not work for the ferry corporation, nor do we get any free perks, we are just local island people trying to protect and improve our island link to Vancouver Island. Our aim is to provide a conduit for islanders to raise issues with BC Ferries and for information to be shared between BC Ferries’ management and island residents on day-to-day ferry operations, planned improvements to terminals and broader policy issues, such as the tariff and the corporate strategic plan.

Thirteen Ferry Advisory Committees represent the communities served by BC Ferries. Committees are appointed in cooperation with local governments, the Islands Trust and First Nations. The Committees meet officially a minimum of twice a year and more often as the need arises.

This new Ferry Advisory Committee has been appointed to serve for a period of three years, ending in 2014.  All members of the Committee were newly appointed in 2012.

your community FAC members

click on a name to send an individual email

John Hodgkins                             (Chair)

Dyan Dunsmoor-Farley            (Deputy Chair)

Roger Perry                                   (Commuter representative)

Gisele Rudischer                          (Gabriola Island Trustee)

BC Ferries representatives

Darin Guenette                             (Manager, Public Affairs)

Captain Lewis MacKay                (Marine Superintendent, Southern Islands)

What the Ferry Advisory Committee does

The Ferry Advisory Committee:

  • represents the community in a consultative partnership with BC Ferries
  • brings forward local ferry service issues and concerns identified by the community to BC Ferries
  • provides feedback on local ferry service operations to the community
  • advises BC Ferries on long-term community planning issues affecting the local ferry service
  • advises BC Ferries on more effective ways to communicate local ferry service issues to residents
  • informs local residents of BC Ferries’ long term plans and priorities

Our Terms of Reference

download our current Terms of Reference here

How to contact the Committee

email    gabriola.fac@gmail.com

Ferry Advisory Committee meetings

The FAC meets at least twice a year (normally in April and October) and may meet more often if required.

All meetings are open for the public to attend and contributions from residents or community representatives are invited, providing they have been notified to the Chair in advance of the meeting.

A period of 30 minutes is set aside for presentations from the public. Each presentation should be not more than 5 minutes in length.

Where are the meetings held?

Most meetings take place at the Gabriola Golf Club in South Road. Details are published in the local media (and on this website) before each meeting.

Agendas and Minutes will also be published on this website and on the BC Ferries web pages.

Informal community meetings make take place at other locations. Details in the local media and on this website.