BC Ferries has confirmed it’s still committed to offering some financial support towards the Persephone restoration project, which will see the main boat from The Beachcombers TV series restored to its former glory.
The series, which ran from 1972 to 1990 and followed the trials and tribulations of “Nick Adonidas” Bruno Gerussi, a Greek Canadian log salvager based out of Gibsons, who with his partner “Jesse Jim” (Pat John), made their living aboard the Persephone. Their biggest competition was the dishevelled and gruff “Relic,” who often stole the show, by stealing logs and business away from Nick whenever he got the chance. Much of the show was filmed in and around Molly’s Reach, the iconic restaurant still located on the Gibson’s waterfront. (The restaurant itself has been closed for the past year.)
Last week, Coast Reporter broke the story that HiBaller II, the jet boat driven by Relic on the show, had been discovered and purchased by Gibsons resident Deano Fatovic, who had been searching for the vessel for 10 years and now has plans to restore it.
Today, BC Ferries says it’s waiting for more information and details on the project before it finalizes any donation.
“At this time, we are awaiting confirmation from the organizers that the project has a location where the restoration will take place, a specialist to do the work and the date the work is set to commence,” BC Ferries said in an email to Coast Reporter. “As the funding we have available is budgeted for this year, we need to have confirmation on details by the end of December to move ahead with any contribution.”
The email added, BC Ferries “would be proud to make a donation to this project, as revitalizing the Persephone will have a lasting and positive impact for many years to come. This opportunity would be funded as part of our community and social investment program that gives back to the coastal communities we serve. We invest in non-profit groups and community organizations with the intention to generate a beneficial social and environmental impact. We look forward to seeing the project to restore to Persephone come to fruition.”
Gibsons Town councillor David Croal moved to Gibsons in 1979 to start work on the series as an art director, a job which lasted for eight seasons and through the two Beachcombers movies––produced in 2002 and 2004.
In 2020, Croal formed a special committee to look at options for restoring the Persephone. He adds for years the vessel was located at the corner of Gower Point Road and School Road (Five Corners), where it sat and weathered the elements, until it was finally relocated to the Town of Gibsons’ Public Works Yard in October 2021.
“I guess it's probably going back to 2020, Mark Collins [past president and CEO of BC Ferries], heard a radio interview that I did with CBC, just about the start of the process,” says Croal. “The fact that we were going to have to move it because the property it was sitting on was going to be developed and the boat also was, once again, in need of restoration. And BC Ferries stepped up.”
A 2020 video announcing the funding, produced by Sunshine Coast journalist Brittany Broderson, included comments from Collins who said he’d been a lifelong fan of the show, which he first watched as a child growing up in Newfoundland. The announcement coincided with the 30th anniversary of the filming of the final episode of The Beachcombers.
“We watched it for years, as a family. So, when I heard an interview with David about the restoration project, that's something that BC Ferries should be part of,” Collins says, in part, in the video. “This is a maritime project in a maritime town. That's a huge part of helping people understand the maritime nature of Canada. And I think at least introduce British Columbia to the other side of our great country. BC Ferries is pleased to support this project. We're thrilled to be part of it…”
Croal says at the time, BC Ferries committed $25,000 towards the restoration of the vessel. BC Ferries did not confirm that amount to Coast Reporter.
“But, then between one thing and another, COVID, this that and the other thing, things dragged on for a bit,” says Croal, who adds he was back in touch with BC Ferries at the beginning of 2024, which confirmed it was still interested in being part of the restoration project. “But at this point, the project has been taken out of my hands so I’m not sure what’s happening.”
Gibsons Mayor Silas White confirmed the Persephone is still at the town’s public works yard and notes it’s within eyesight of anyone dropping off their green waste. He added plans to restore the vessel and relocate it are underway, but not yet complete.
“We’re mostly waiting for some architectural renderings of a site plan.”
