B.C. Ferries has won permission to carry more weight on the Salish Heron, as a growing number of heavy commercial vehicles use the vessel to travel between Swartz Bay and the Southern Gulf Islands.
Early this month, the Salish Heron pulled out of Swartz Bay with empty deck space, leaving several motorists behind, after its load of commercial vehicles used up its weight allowance. Those left behind had to wait four hours for the next sailing. Population growth on the islands easily outstripped the rest of the province between 2016 and the most recent census in 2021. As B.C. grew 7.6 per cent, the southern Gulf Islands — not including Salt Spring — saw 29 per cent growth.
Braedon Bigham, owner of Braedon’s Big Digem Excavating and Trucking on Pender, said business is steadily increasing on the island. “Every year we kind of get busier and busier.”