An elderly couple visiting from Ontario is frustrated after an out-of-service elevator on the Island Sky ferry left them stranded on the cold vehicle deck from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay.
Dudley and Eva Coles, 85 and 79 years old respectively, arrived in BC recently after a month-long cruise through the Panama Canal and up the west coast of North America. The couple, who celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this year, were bound for Powell River to visit Eva’s sister June Westgate.
The couple took the bus up the Sunshine Coast. After boarding the Island Sky for the 8:20 pm sailing they found the elevator to be out of service and realized they would not be able to go up to the passenger lounge because Eva has difficulty climbing stairs. The driver of the bus explained to them that policy dictates they were not allowed to remain on the bus for the voyage either.
The couple sat at the bottom of the stairs until crew told them that they had to move. They were directed to sit in the area reserved for people travelling with dogs, which is open air and at the time was extremely cold and wet, according to the Coles. Unable to take the cold anymore they returned to the stairwell, before once again crew told them that they could not stay there.
Eventually, crew directed the couple to a crew room on the vehicle deck that is closed off from the open air and had a bench for them to sit on. A member of the crew brought them some tea and they remained there until they were able to board the bus again.
Everyone, bus driver and BC Ferries crew included, were more than helpful in trying to find a solution to the couples’ dilemma, said the Coles, and it’s the overall situation of the inoperable elevator that has them frustrated. They think an alternative seating arrangement should be available for those with disabilities when the elevator isn’t working, such as a heated room on the vehicle deck.
“I think they should have some better arrangement for handicapped people if the elevator’s not working,” said Dudley. “I think [BC Ferries] ought to have an arrangement more satisfactory than they had...To have the elevator out of service is really unacceptable.”
BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall confirmed that the elevator is currently out of service due to “ongoing door issues” and hasn’t been operating since May 9. Parts for the elevator were expected to arrive from Europe at the end of May. But as of June 14, the elevator was still not operating. Marshall said there have been four elevator service calls on the Island Sky in the past 12 months, although she did not have figures for the number of runs the ferry made without an operational elevator.
In the meantime, Marshall said a portable toilet is available on the vehicle deck and that staff “do whatever they can to try assist customers with their needs.”
