dolphin spring 2000

8/2/2019 Dolphin Spring 2000

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BRAINSTORMING THE 40TH 2

LORDY, LORDY,LOOK WHOS 40 3

STEP UP TO THE MIKE 3LAUGHTER LOG 4

OUR FIRST BABY 5

MUSEUM OF MEMORIES 6

A SPECIAL PERSPECTIVE 6

A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE 7

OUR FAVOURITE RECIPES 8

CAPTURE YOUR SPIRIT 8

Lets Make Memories

Malcolm in the Middle

Weve comea long way in

40 Years

They say life begins at 40, andfor BC Ferries, this is the year tofind out! Employees throughoutthe fleet are dreaming up waysto have fun and enjoy the

celebrations during this specialanniversary year. Using existingbudgets and involving currentand past employees, the teamsare developing a variety ofactivities for the year 2000anniversary celebrations.

The 40th Anniversary events arebeing put together byemployee-led project teams inan effort to involve as manyemployees as possible. Its timeto rebuild communityenthusiasm and recapture ourpride in BC Ferries, says David

Niven, BCFMWU representative,in his role as one of thecoordinators of the40th Anniversary activities.We want to involve employees,customers and communities in acelebration of our history and

in the development of anexciting future.

Employee teams are exploringseveral ideas, such as creating aparade float and mascot,decorating terminals andvessels, producing a cookbook,time capsules and evenparticipating in the nationalTrans Canada Trail Relay. As partof the celebration, theDolphinwill be collecting entries for anelectronic photo album andscrapbook, and will be printinga representative selection inupcoming issues this year.

We want to hear from you,whether you have a story, poem,photograph, memorable event

or person that you want to tellus about. With your personalexperiences and recollections,we can create a record from thepast 40 years, so gather up yourstories and submissions andsend them to theDolphin.

Thanks to the generosity of BC Ferries employees, Customer RelationsOfficer Malcolm Pearson is buried in goodwill! These furry friends

have made their way to the Kakawis Family Development Centre onMeares Island, which provides drug and alcohol treatment for FirstNations adults. The Centre also looks after the children of its patientsand provides each child with a teddy bear during the parents stay.Unfortunately, due to a lack of funds, the Centre had the distressingtask of asking the children to give the bears back when they left.

After CHEK-TV news anchor Lee Mackenzie and husband Tony Coxmade an appeal to CHEK, the BC Legislature and BC Ferries for teddybears outgrown by the employees children, BC Ferries employeesresponded by donating over 200 bears to the first OperationBearlift. Everyone at the Kakawis Centre was overjoyed andoverwhelmed when West Coast Air delivered 450 stuffed toys toMeares Island in time for Valentines Day. The bears that broughtsmiles to the faces of our children are now bringing smiles to thechildren at the Centre, and we can enjoy knowing that the bears we

donated have found new homes.

IN OUR FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION,BC FERRIES CARRIED

692,000 PASSENGERS.IN FISCAL 99/00,

THE LAST COMPLETE YEARFOR WHICH WE HAVE

STATISTICS, WE CARRIED21,381,000 PASSENGERS.

PASSENGER MILESTONE YEARS:1970 5,000,000

1979 10,000,000

1987 15,000,000

1992 20,000,000

D O L P H I N Spring 2000

B C F E R R I E S E M P L O Y E E N E W S L E T T E R

WHATS INSIDE

Side by side at Swartz Bay,the Queen of Cumberland

and the Spirit of VancouverIsland now proudly

wear their BC Ferries40th Anniversary logos.

If youd like to find out moreand participate in this yearsactivities, please contact theregional CommunicationsCoordinator in your area:

MAINLAND SERVICES (CENTRAL):Deborah.Dykes @bcferries.com,tel (604) 921-4283;

MAINLAND SERVICES (SOUTH):Stephen.Nussbaum @bcferries.com,tel (250) 655-6187;

INTER-ISLAND & NORTHERN SERVICES:

Ann.Carpenter @bcferries.com,tel (250) 703-2331.

At Fleet House, you can contact:Emilie Dor, Special Projects andEvents at Emilie.Dore @bcferries.com,tel (250) 978-1269;

Bill Bouchard, Corporate

Marketing Group atBill.Bouchard @bcferries.com,tel (250) 978-1288.

You can also call the EmployeeInformation Line at 1-877-280-1419(in Victoria, call 978-1117).


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A Symbol of Our Celebrations

SWARTZ BAY AND TSAWWASSEN SHOWCASE PROUD HISTORY

The 40th Anniversary representsa unique opportunity to involveour employees, customers andcommunities in a celebration ofour proud maritime traditions aswe look ahead to the future.The first step in this mission wasthe development of a special40th Anniversary logo in honourof the men and women who haveserved the travelling public forfour decades. This distinctivered and blue logo will appearthroughout the fleet in variousapplications as the primary

visual symbol of our celebrations.Last January, as part of theirregularly scheduled refits,the Queen of Cumberland andtheSpirit of British Columbiawere emblazoned with crispnew 40th Anniversary logos.Simon Peters, Superintendent ofMarine Coatings, says the projectwas a joint effort between manyindividuals in the signage andpainting departments. We gotthe logo from the designer viathe Internet, then made atransparency of it. We projected

it on to coroplast sheeting toabout 12 feet in diameter, thencut it out, and cut it in half foreasy handling. We taped thestencil to the vessel, outlined itin pencil, and then filled it inwith the red and blue paint.It really looks smart.

Simon says that they normallycreate decals for this purposeand gives credit to Lorne Steadin the Paint Department forcoming up with the stencil idea.According to Lorne, I realizedthe stick-on vinyl transfer would

be too awkward to position atthis site, and the cold weatherand rain would deter properadhesion. Painting the logowas simply a quicker, lessexpensive choice.

Simon Peters says, I think its agood way for us to let peopleknow that there are a lot ofpositive things about BC Ferries.Our fleet has been going for40 years, and we can be proudof what were doing!

The Swartz Bay CARES(Customers Appreciate ReallyExcellent Service) Committee istaking the lead in developingideas to celebrate BC Ferries40th Anniversary at Swartz Bay.One great idea first surfaced atTsawwassen terminal through

discussions with DeannaFernandes, Secretary, TerminalPlanning and Resources, andFred Haywood, Manager,Dangerous Goods and TerminalResources. They suggestedshowcasing the historicalmilestones of the two terminalsthrough the creation of ahistorical photographic collage.

Spearheading the project atSwartz Bay are Kathy Marks,Trish Smiley and Lloyd Phillips.They plan to assemble a collageusing a combination of

corporate photographs and

A pioneer club for retirees;employee thank-you cards; timecapsules; a departmental groupphoto: these were just some of

the ideas that arose whenmembers of the Human ResourcesDivision sat down together onemorning to talk about what theycould do to help celebrate our40th Anniversary. They splitinto three work groups to focuson employee recognition,long-service retirements, andenhancing regular activities.

Head Office employees oftenhave a bad reputation in thepress or in the fleet, says NaomiPonech, Administrative Assistant,Labour Relations, who was part

of the employee recognitionwork group. I wanted to seesomething to recognize ourHead Office employees servingin a volunteer capacity withinthe Corporation, such as theharassment intervenors.

With a focused event such asa long-service retirement,you can really go to town on it.They came up with a millionideas, says Lonni Swanlund,Instructional Designer, Trainingand Development. Her group

suggested adding the40th Anniversary logo tomaterial they alreadyproduce, such as retirement

and training certificates,postings and pay cheques.

Many times, employees goout of their way to help us,Lonni says. For example,it takes extra time to be partof a focus group, yet its soimportant to have thatemployee input. The 40thAnniversary year will kick offrecognition for employeeswho go that extra distance.

Many suggestions havealready been implemented,such as putting a weekly

message about BC Ferrieshistory on the departmentwhiteboard. Others, like thepioneer club, based on aBC Hydro concept, would takeconsiderable organizing, andcould only be developed witha great deal of further input.

It was fun, and lots of goodideas came out of the session,Lonni says. Many of thesesuggestions have now goneforward for consideration.

photos taken by employees.They hope to mount the collageon a wall or on a portabledisplay. The finished projectwill be of significant interestfor employees and regularcustomers, as well as tourists.

Nancy Talbot, Terminal

Planning and Properties, hasoffered to help interestedgroups with the corporatehistory of the terminals.Her department has a verycomplete photographic recordof major constructionundertaken at the terminals.

The Swartz Bay CARESCommittee is activelysoliciting other ideas. If youhave a suggestion, big orsmall, please contact anymember of the Swartz Bay

CARES Committee.

(From left) PaintersKen Pearson and Bill Lesliewent right to the top topaint the 40th Anniversarylogo on the Spirit ofBritish Columbias funnelduring refit.

(From left) Len Crotty, Ticket Agent; Elaine Kerr, Ticket Agent; Kathy Marks, Ticket Agent;Sue Horn, Retail Merchandiser; Val Townsend, Secretary, Office of Marine Superintendent;and, Trish Smiley, Senior Ticket Agent (missing is Lloyd Phillips, Foot Passenger Ticket Agent)

of the Swartz Bay 40th Anniversary Committee. There are 20 Swartz Bay CARES Committeemembers now - and counting!

One of the working groups at work: (from left) Bruce Kerk-Hecker, Planning Program

Assistant; Sandi Crosson, Employee Services and Compensation Technician; Stefan Graham,Classification Advisor; Sharon Bierd, Appointment Policy Advisor; Lore Cumberbatch,Secretary; and, Laurie Haberlin, Program Assistant.

BRAINSTORMING the 40th:the Human Resources Experience

2 DOLPHIN | SPRING 2000

4 0 Y E A R S O F B R I N G I

THEY REALLY DO CARE!

Trish Smiley, who initiated theCARES Committee at SwartzBay, asked Val Townsend

for some thoughts oncustomer service for the

group. Val responded withher reasonably sizednutshell philosophy.

Practice makes perfect isaccurate when one thinks ofRespect, Acceptance and

Caring. Practice is all ittakes, when mixed with a

positive attitude.

Respect: The importance ofacting in a respectful,

courteous manner towardspeople in all walks of lifeis paramount for any type

of communication tobe successful.

Acceptance:Just waiting a

few moments for a person tofinish what they are saying,

and letting them know weaccept it - not necessarily

agreeing with them,but hearing them

works wonders.

Caring: Often, in a difficultsituation, when the customer

is asked, what can I do foryou? they are speechless.

Show them you care. Couldyou be angry with someone

who is eagerly trying tohelp you?

When one imagines oneself inthe same situation as another

person, particularly indifficulty, it becomes easier toknow what to do and to dealwith the person(s) in a kind

and productive way.

Thanks to Val Townsend, Secretary,

Office of Marine Superintendent,

Mainland Services, Swartz Bay for

permission to extract from

her presentation.


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BC FERRIES in the Community

BC Ferries employees want theirown community relationsprogram and, throughout thefleet, employee teams areexploring ways for BC Ferries toget involved in their communitiesand participate in local events.

Were looking at the whole areaof community relations for thelong term, said Emilie Dor,Coordinator, Special Projectsand Events. Its an area thatcan grow as our employees give

us feedback on what they wouldlike to do to link BC Ferries evencloser to their communities,she said.

Regional teams, working withCommunications CoordinatorsDeborah Dykes, StephenNussbaum, and Ann Carpenterare working on the developmentof a list of community eventsand festivals where BC Ferriesmay participate.

Emilie is looking forward tosupporting the communityrelations program initiativesand welcomes your calls at(250) 978-1269 or emails [email protected].

Can you name the NumberOne fear of human beings?If you answered the fear ofpublic speaking, you areabsolutely right, according toThe Book of Lists. But somelucky folks are blessed withfearlessness when facing thefront row of a waiting audience.These are the people who areabout to help celebrate theCorporations 40th Anniversaryas members of BC Ferries newSpeakers Bureau.

A corporate Speakers Bureau,like many good ideas thatwork well, is simple: first,assemble a group ofenthusiastic volunteers,provide professional training,invite senior staff to offer

specific background from alldepartments, and then standback and watch the fun!Retirees make ideal SpeakersBureau volunteers, becausethey have many years ofinteresting real-life anecdotesto share with the public;theyre not involved inday-to-day workplace issues;and, best of all, they havesome free time to spend asgoodwill ambassadorscelebrating our proudmaritime tradition.

Possible speaking opportunitiesinclude addressing school groups,serving as guest speakers fornewly-hired employees, andeducating and entertainingferry passengers on severalroutes during a time in ourhistory when positive newsabout BC Ferries is rare.

This is a wonderful way to shareour 40th Anniversary celebrations,says Customer Services OfficerMichael Denton, who is amember of the employee teamimplementing plans for theSpeakers Bureau. Our customerswill not only be entertained,but will learn a lot about us.

I think this is a super idea,said Wally Young, retired ChiefSteward from Nanaimo, when he

heard about the program.Weve a lot of history to exploreand tell people about. Count mein for sure.

What makes a good SpeakersBureau volunteer? A positiveattitude about life in general -and ones own corporateexperience specifically -is the most important quality,says Michael, who isapproaching retirees with aninvitation to participate.

A comprehensive volunteer

training program consisting of a

number of full- and half-dayworkshops will be provided.

The Speakers Bureau will be anongoing program, starting witha limited number of retirees thisyear and expanding in future toinclude employees.

This will be great. Im lookingforward to joining the team andbeing a part of it, said retiredTsawwassen Terminal ManagerSilvia Yeomans.

If you are interested, or knowsomeone who may be interestedin participating, contact MichaelDenton at (250) 655-6188, or

[email protected]

Im really excited about the new Childrens Program and what a

perfect time to be introducing it, says Jane Wolfenden, Office

Manager, Comptrollers Office, who heads up this employee project

team. The program will develop a link with young travellers

through fun, educational activities for children four to 12 years old.

Ideas under development include a fun, interactive section for

children as part of BC Ferries website that will include, among otherthings, a virtual tour of the bridge and engine room and

The Ships Whistle activity booklet that will include a route map

with nautical and geographic information.

Jane says that Chief Stewards, ships officers, and others will be

consulted for input on the program and logistics. I think this will

be a wonderful opportunity for both employee and community

involvement and I appreciate the opportunity to be personally

involved, she adds.

The Childrens Program will be launched as a trial project this

year, and will be evaluated with plans to continue and expand it

in future.

For more information, contact Jane Wolfenden at (250) 978-1228

or Jane.Wolfenden @bcferries.com.

There is more than one reason tocelebrate this anniversary year.Not only is June 15, 2000,BC Ferries 40th Anniversary, it isalso the 40th Anniversary of theQueen of Sidneys inaugural runfrom Swartz Bay and the Queenof Tsawwassens inaugural runfrom Tsawwassen.

WhenM.V. Sidney andM.V.Tsawwassen first sailed on June

15, 1960, no one could havepredicted the excitement,success and expansion thatfollowed. Both vessels were

instant success stories, not onlywith passengers, but with staffmembers who spent their daysoff at the terminals.

In honour of this specialoccasion, Ann Carpenter,Communications Coordinator,Inter-Island and Northern

Services, and StephenNussbaum, CommunicationsCoordinator, Swartz Bay, areheading up employee teams to

When the Queen of Sidney began her first scheduled sailings back in June 1960, she was manned by three watches,but nobody has a complete list of the crew. Can you identify anyone in the photograph? If you can, drop a note to theDolphin. Theres a T-shirt in it for the person (or team of people) who can name the most people in our historical photo.

The M.V. Tsawwassen as seen here on Route 1 in the early 1960s. Renamed the Queens,platforms were added to the car decks of the Queen of Sidney and Queen of Tsawwassen in1971, increasing capacity from 106 to 138 cars.

Retiree Alfie Carr is keen to move forwardwith the project. A former Chief Steward,Spirit of Vancouver Island, Alfie was amember of the first group piloting theSpeakers Bureau training program.

Emilie Dor

LORDY,LORDY,

LOOK WHOS

FORTY

STEP UP TO THE MIKE!

KIDS:EXPERIENCE THE VOYAGE

DOLPHIN | SPRING 2000 3

N G P E O P L E T O G E T H E R

explore ways for passengers,shore staff and crew tocelebrate on June 15. If youhave any suggestions orwould like to participate,please contact Ann at Courtenay(250-703-2331 [email protected])

or Stephen at Swartz Bay(250-665-6187 [email protected]).


4/8

THELAUGHTERLOG

The sun broke through thehaze on a cold, crisp Januarymorning in Howe Sound.For the first time in 20 days, ithad stopped raining, presentingan ideal opportunity for arescue boat drill.

Greg Boom Boom Cooneyand Richard Tricky DickyFinnegan had gone away inthe number one boat just offGrace Island, and wereshivering as they waited forrecovery at Langdale.Suddenly a plaintive cry washeard: Delta One, wevestalled the engine.

A northerly outflow wind hadcome up and was setting the

boat away from the shiptowards the beach.What should we do? camethe call. The answer was shortand sweet. Get out thepaddles, replied Delta One.

Were tired, they cried,as they drifted backward,losing any sea room they had

gained. Just keep paddling,said Delta One. And so they did,until the sweat ran.

Eventually, Boom Boom

discovered that, if the motor wasin gear and they cranked thestarter, they could actually getan extra knot of speed.Finally, they came alongsideand were hoisted aboard.As they peeled out of theirexposure coveralls that weredamp from sea spray andperspiration, the Mate said,I think you flooded it.The Chief Engineer said, I thinkyou forgot to unscrew the vent.Paddling is a lot of work andwere not used to that, said

Boom Boom and Tricky Dicky.So, for paddling above andbeyond the call of duty, and forrescuing themselves, they werepresented with the GoldenPaddle Award.

Many thanks to Mike Davis, B Watch,Queen of Surrey, for this storyand photo.


Boy Scouts by the Boat Load

OUR PEOPLEBON VOYAGEAfter 24 years of service,Swartz Bay TerminalSupervisor Margaret Jesticowas officially crowned QueenMargaret at her retirementparty, and - to the enjoymentof staff and customers -treated to a ride around the

terminal in one of VictoriasKabuki cabs.

After 26 years with BCFC, JockScullion, Trades Supervisor,Terminal Maintenance (South),Tsawwassen, has retired. Jockbegan at Deas Dock in 1973when it was still under theDepartment of Highways. Hehas been responsible for rampand facility maintenanceduring his career at Deas Dock,Tsawwassen, Sturdies Bay,Montague Harbour, HorseshoeBay, Langdale, Bowen Island,

Prince Rupert, Skidegate and

Alliford Bay. Jock was honouredby his friends and colleagues atthe Terminal Maintenance SouthGolf Tournament, and presentedwith a set of golf clubs.His plans now include perfectinghis golf game, visiting familyand friends, and completinghome renovations.

Sylvia Kilduff, Terminal TrafficController, Langdale, is retiringafter 25 years of service. Sometime ago, Heather December

sent some seasonal photos to the

Dolphin, noting: We have lotsof fun at Langdale. We had aSecret Santa who turned outto be Sylvia.

Cleaner/Driver Paul Fortin isretiring from Langdale after22 years of service. Paul was oneof our employees selected by aprofessional photographerduring a fleet photo shootlast year, so we have this greatphoto of him.

Farewell and good luck as well toYork Sing Chan, Chief Cook,Tsawwassen, after 33 years;Wing Jun Chang, Deckhand,Duke Point, after 27 years;Herbert Cunningham, Master,Hornby Island, after 26 years;Derena Dahlgren, Cashier Cafeteria, Nanaimo, after25 years; Joanne Davis, SeniorStaffing Clerk, Little River, after23 years; David Dyke, Master,Little River, after 30 years;Beryl Grant, Staffing Clerk,Long Harbour, after 10 years;

Robert Hann, Master, LongHarbour, after 24 years;Johnnie Karpenko, 1stEngineer, Langdale, after24 years; Ernest Kiss, AssistantEngineer/Engine RoomAssistant, Alert Bay, after19 years; Philip Ledward,3rd Engineer, Duke Point, after

18 years; Woo Ning Lee, GalleyHelper, Tsawwassen, after25 years; David Leslie,Deckhand, Langdale, after33 years; Barbara Pittam,Administrative Assistant toDirector of Security, HeadOffice, after 10 years; GeorgeSchweter, Sr. Chief Engineer,Tsawwassen, after 25 years;Carol Ann Thompson,Cleaner, Duke Point, after11 years; Joseph Urbanczyk,Senior Bar Steward, PrinceRupert, after 33 years;

Leonard Wilson, Building

(From left) Al Winning, Jock Scullion, Alex Szabo

Sylvia Kilduff as the Secret Santa

Paul Fortin

Langdale crews held their breath as 3,000 Scouts, attending the largest Jamboree on the Sunshine Coast in 40 years,travelled as foot passengers in groups of around 300 over a couple of days. And how did everyone cope? Melanie Plambeck,

Assistant Terminal Manager, Langdale writes, I think I speak on behalf of the crews, both ship and shore, at Langdale whenI commend the behaviour of the Scouts Canada troupes. Without exception, they were excellent passengers

in all areas and we look forward to welcoming them back.


(From left) Greg Boom Boom Cooney and Richard Tricky Dicky Finnegan receive theGolden Paddle onboard the Queen of Surrey.

Meeting the ChallengeCUSTOMER SERVICE

DEAR DOLPHIN

Taking a gamble that they would be able toeffect repairs (before the engine was dismantled

for inspection), the decision was made NOT tocancel reservations and alert the public thatthe route would have to be closed down for the

following day. Additional crew responded,

coming in (at least one from vacation); theafternoon shift stayed back late; the morning

shift came in early.

The necessary temporary repairs werecompleted shortly before the vessels first sailingtime of 0640, allowing the vessel to take trafficas normal and proceed with her sailing schedule,all without a hiccup and unbeknown to the

public, although at a reduced service speed.

Working behind the scenes, the engineers on theQueen of Nanaimo ensured that the bestcustomer service possible was maintained.

THANKS TO ALL OF OURENGINEERS THROUGHOUTTHE FLEET WHO WORK SOHARD BEHIND THE SCENES.

Good customer service isntalways highly visible.Sometimes the customersdont even know that

theyre benefiting.Wayne Ralph, EngineeringSuperintendent, Inter-Island Services (South),reminds us that, like aniceberg, a lot of goodcustomer service canhappen below thesurface. He writes aboutthe engineers on the Queenof Nanaimo who werefaced with a damagedengine that wouldnormally have taken thevessel out of service whenthe relief vessel, the Queenof Tsawwassen, wasnot available.


5/8

During one of his fleet visits, President Bob Lingwood gets an engineering lesson onboardthe Queen of Oak Bay. (From left) First Engineer Peter Alexander; Chief Engineer SylvesterWrzesinski; Bob Lingwood; and, Captain K. Singh, the vessels Master.

OUR FIRST BABY

REVVING UP BELOW DECK

Meet Gordon Wayne Skipper Earwaker, seen here receiving a lifetime pass as the first

baby born onboard a BC Ferries vessel. Skipper surprised the crew of the Queen of Victoriaon May 3, 1971. Does anyone know where the Skipper is today?


TAKING A SOUN D BEATING

For the first time ever,DolphinEditorial Advisory Team membersgot together in one room toshare their experiences with andthoughts about theDolphin.Talking about the feedback theyreceive in their various areas,the team agreed with CindyRichardson when she said,TheDolphin is an adhesive foremployees. It builds a sense ofcommunity. Deborah Dykescommented that employees arepleased to see photos andactivities from around the fleetin theDolphin, because it helpsto see what is going on beyondtheir point of assembly. DavidNiven noted that there is still aneed for more in-depth issues.

During the day, ideas flowed for

the future direction of theDolphin,which the team summed up aspeople, people, people!We discussed an e-Dolphin,and how an electronic versioncould work on the BC FerriesIntranet. Team members alsosuggested the possibility ofsharing theDolphin with the

public, and putting it on theBC Ferries website.

You are already seeing theresults of the Editorial AdvisoryTeam meeting. Starting with thisissue, the graphic appearance oftheDolphin has been refreshed

and, at the same time, madecompatible to an electronicformat. Our new masthead isnow more colourful, moreexciting, and more about ouremployees. In an e-Dolphin,the masthead photos have thepotential of acting as hotlinks, taking readers directly tothe story inside. The typeface

has also been changed to amore web-friendly style.

TheDolphin thanks theemployees of InformationServices who turned theircomputer training room into ameeting room for the team.

It was an exciting day.Arlene MacLeod of PrinceRupert said it best: I dontfeel like Im working inisolation any more. Now Ireally feel like part of the team.

Check for the electronicDolphin on BC Ferries Intranetat insidebcferries.com.

The Editorial Team jokers enjoying a lighter moment are (from left) Della Wolfenden,Ed McKenzie, Anna-Maria Lustig, Stephen Nussbaum, Nigel Passmore, Paul Curtis,Arlene MacLeod (front), Jane Wolfenden (back), David Niven, and Cindy Richardson.(Absent from photograph: Ann Carpenter, Nancy Cameron, Deborah Dykes, Marilyn Grant,Carole McMillan, Anita Mahoney, and Jim Wilkinson.)

Dolphin Editorial Team Looks to the Future

Service Worker, Deas Dock,after 3 years; Dennis Wilson,1st Engineer, Nanaimo, after33 years; Kuo Chung Wong,Catering Attendant, HorseshoeBay, after 30 years; and,Daniel Young, Deckhand,Prince Rupert, after 24 years.

ACCOLADESCustomer complimentscontinue to arrive by phone,fax, mail, Internet, and in onecase via paper napkin!The paper napkin was sent inby Lynda Laity, CustomerService Officer,PacifiCat

Explorer, who writes thatCasual Catering AttendantTanya Burtini assisted a ladywithout anyone else knowing.The customer returned with asmall gift for Tanya and a notethat said: The gift I received

from you was that your act of

kindness touched me very

deeplyso I wanted to giveback! Lynda writes:This incident was very wellreceived by all the crew.

ACHIEVEMENTSCongratulations to JackieNgai, Tourism GroupsRepresentative, ReservationsCentre, who was elected toSaanich Council in her first runfor municipal government.Jackie is no stranger to thevoters, however, havingserved six years as a Trusteefor Greater Victoria SchoolDistrict 61.

HELPING HANDSCapt. Harry Martin, SeniorSafety Advisor, was arrested inhis office and thrown in jail byDon Cockburn and MaggieWynde of Royal LePage butit was all for a good cause.

Lynda Jamieson, Jane

Once again, the families and friends of Deas Dock employees were treated to a spectacular day of tours and entertainment, food and fun at the

1999 Deas Dock Family Day. It was a great day for all, especially for the kids, and a fine start to the refit season. Many thanks to all of the

volunteers who worked so hard to make this happen.

Heading south through QueenCharlotte Sound from Prince

Rupert towards Port Hardyone December day, the Queenof Prince Rupert ran into avery nasty winter storm, with

seas of almost 10 metres anda wind of 80+ knots, gustingup to 140. While the

passengers hunkered down,Paul Dexter, Cleaner, B Watch,snapped this dramatic shotand sent it to the Dolphin.

OUR PEOPLE



6/8

MUSEUM OF MEMORIES

What better way to profile theexperiences of the women andmen of BC Ferries who haveserved the travelling publicthese past 40 years? Thats the

overwhelming feeling whenvisiting the BC Ferries gallery atthe Maritime Museum of BritishColumbia in Victoria one ofthe worlds largest collectionsof its kind.

Opened in July 1997, the galleryillustrates the history ofBC Ferries in a series ofnautically-inspired displaycases. Contributions to thedisplay came directly fromthe people who have fuelledBC Ferries ships and terminalswith their dedication and

professionalism over the pastfour decades.

Eleven staff and retirees madeup two committees, the Heritageand Working Committees,and called on people fromthroughout the fleet to donateitems of interest. It was like atreasure hunt, said PegBuchanan, a MarketingDepartment retiree fromTsawwassen. People scouredtheir offices, closets and atticsfor memorabilia, some of whichdates back to the early days of

the first ferries.

Pat Stephens, an InformationOfficer with the CorporateMarketing Group, said the arrayand quantity of items collectedwere terrific. We collectedphotos, uniforms and even someof the china and silver from thedining rooms of early vessels,she said, adding that itemizingthe thousands of artifacts no small undertaking had totake place in a large warehouse.

The efforts of the committees

have reaped rewards a hundredtimes over. These are more than

TODAYS SOUVENIRS:TOMORROWSMEMORABILIA

Special coffee mugs, a genericreplica of a Spirit vessel,

and the very-popular travelmugs bearing the BC Ferries

40th Anniversary logo will beappearing in the gift shops

of major vessels in May.Merchandiser/BuyerLiz McIntosh is working with

suppliers to ensure that thesememorable souvenirs are

available in plenty of timefor Anniversary Week,commencing June 12.

Were pleased to be able tobe part of bringing the

40th Anniversary celebrationsto our customers,

says Arensha Garrison,Manager, Retail. Well be

ordering enough merchandise

to carry us through July, andwill continue to stock it aslong as the demand lasts.

Soon youll be able to click onBC Ferries website and surfour history! As part of the40th Anniversary celebrations,

employees are creating a virtualphoto album that will be postedon the Internet for employeesand customers alike to enjoy.

Paul Curtis and Pat Stephens ofthe Corporate Marketing Groupare working on developing thecontent. Were puttingtogether a 40th Anniversaryhistory page, says Paul.Well have a brief history ofBC Ferries and a series ofnautical milestones from thelast 40 years. Pat Stephens has

been enormously helpful,searching out archival photosand providing descriptions ofthem for the page.

TheDolphin will also beposting the stories, poems andphotos it receives on theBC Ferries Intranet.

(From left) Working Committee Chair PegBuchanan and Guy Mathias, Head ofCollections, Exhibitions and Programs,Maritime Museum, with detailed modelof the Spirit of British Columbia featuredin the BC Ferries gallery.

Former Dolphin editor Pat Stephens,Information Officer, Corporate MarketingGroup, has a treasure trove of BC Ferriesarchival material.


e-Album ofMemories

A SpecialPerspective

OUR PEOPLE

Wolfenden, Joan Robertson,Behram Dadachanji, and EdMcKenzie all went to work tomake bail for Harry, raising$588 for the KidneyFoundation of Canada, B.C.Branch, and springing Harryfrom his cell.

Langdale highlighted WorldAIDS Day by sporting redribbons and raising $75 forpeople living with HIV.The funds were donated toAIDS Vancouver.

CONGRATULATIONSTwo more members of ourBC Ferries family have tied theknot. Congratulations to Capt.Lew Glentworth, Queen of the

North, and Bev Stansbury,former Administrative Assistant,Employee Relations (andDolphinassistant), on the occasion oftheir marriage last December,and best wishes to you both formuch happiness together.

SECRET RECIPEOn a field trip to Thetis IslandSchool, Nancy Cameron, formerCommunications CoordinatorInter-Island Services (South),discovered the real secret recipefor improving customerrelations. She received thefollowing description of her visitwritten by a young student:

She brought the toy ferry thatwe folded up and she talked.

She took pictures too. But the

most important thing aboutNancys visit was that shebrought cookies.

IN FEET FIRSTBack in 1976, Betty Nicholson,then a BCFC CommunicationsOfficer, left her camera behindduring a northern trip. As a joke,Capt. Lew Glentworth and hiscrew filled the roll with photos offeet and returned the cameralater onboard the vessel.

They never, ever heard a word

about it. On a visit to FleetHouse this winter, he againmet Betty, who has returned toBC Ferries as Director ofCommunications. And the firstthing she said to him after somany years? Hey, I have abone to pick with you. Yourethe one who took all those

pictures of feet.BUT SERIOUSLY, FOLKSIt was a serious messagedelivered in a fun way as theDeas Dock Safety AwarenessDay wound up a week ofsafety activities. There weresafety supplier displays in theLife Raft Centre, a life ring tosscompetition, fire hose fun,CPR demonstrations by theRichmond Fire Departmentand BC Ferries own safetycompetition teams, along withprizes for the week-long

safety trivia quiz and safety

On Sunday, February 13, the Sunshine Coast Shriners boarded the Queen of Surrey to present CaptainFinn Anderson and the crew with a certificate of thanks for allowing them onboard to entertain thepassengers over the Christmas period.

(From left) Capt. Harry Martin arrested bySheriffs Don Cockburn and Maggie Wynde. Captain and Mrs. Glentworth

Michael Francis, Chair of the Board


just artifacts, said theMuseums Collections Manager,Lynn Wright. These authenticdisplays represent peoplesmemories, and a surprisingnumber of visitors that comethrough the gallery leave us witha story or two of their own.

The Maritime Museum ofBritish Columbia is the officialcustodian of BC Ferriesheritage. President of the

Board John Anderson andExecutive Director YvonneSharpe invite all BC Ferriesemployees and their immediatefamilies to visit the MuseumFREE OF CHARGE for the rest ofthis 40th Anniversary year.

Simply show your BCFCidentification at the door.The Maritime Museum is openfrom 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.,seven days a week, at28 Bastion Square, Victoria.

As one of few people who hasused BC Ferries in every one of its40 years, Chair of the Board ofDirectors, Michael Francis, has aspecial perspective on theCorporations upcominganniversary. Having commutedweekly from Vancouver toVancouver Island for most of

those years, he knows the ferriesintimately. Even as a young boygrowing up on Bowen Island,Michael bobbed on the wash ofthe ferriesbefore they belongedto BC Ferriesas he fished fromhis own boat.

Its especially easy for me toappreciate the fact that theCorporation is a vital link, fromboth a social and an economicpoint of view, Michael says,and that maintaining it as ahealthy, vibrant entity is essentialto the well-being of the province.

Because he rides the ferriesevery week, Michael sees thefront-line staff on a regular

basis. I am always soimpressed by their goodhumour and their attention tothe comfort of the passengers,he says. It makes me veryproud to be involved with them.

As both a veteran ferry userand as Chair, Michaelcongratulates all BC Ferriesemployees, not only on theoccasion of the 40thAnniversary, but also forenduring the challenges of thepast year. I complimenteveryone on coming through

one of the most difficult yearsany corporation could have.


7/8


A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE

With President and CEO BobLingwood well into his secondyear at the helm, BC Ferries hascharted a new course and ison the way to re-establishing

itself as a transportationcompany that puts customersfirst and values the employeeswho are the backbone ofour service.

Soon after his arrival, Bob setfour priorities for theCorporation: addressingfinancial challenges, dealingwith issues surrounding thePacifiCats, establishing afive-year capital plan andrefocusing on customerservice. Substantial work hasbeen done in all of these areas.

The refinancing of BC Ferriesand the removal of $1.1 billionin debt is one of the mostsignificant financialrestructurings of a crowncorporation in B.C.s history.

Bob explains that the decisionto sell the three PacifiCats wasmade after careful analysis.In addition to concernsexpressed by customers,residents along the route,tourism groups and thetrucking industry, we concluded

that the long-term operationof fast ferries is not financiallyfeasible. We are now movingquickly on a process to get thebest price for each vessel,he says. BC Ferries will continueto operate the PacifiCats on asupplementary and rotationalbasis to demonstrate theirvalue to potential buyers.This particular chapter inour history is past and theCorporation needs tomove on.

As part of the overall strategy torebuild the Corporation,a five-year capital plan has beendeveloped to improve serviceswhile giving the Corporation a

foundation for maintaining itsterminals and fleet, withoutsignificant increase in tariff.Bob is pleased withgovernments support for theplans and says, The first thingwe did was to bring back the

Marguerite III from the Victoria

Line Ltd., repaint her, renameher the Queen of Burnaby andput her into use this summer asan extra vessel.

The Corporations fourth priority,customer service, has focused onemployee recruitment, selectionand customer service training,especially for front-line andsummer staff. Bob believes thatan important part of keepingBC Ferries on a sound financialfooting is to ensure that our

operational needs match our

Three times this year, 20 to 25BC Ferries employees will riseearly in order to cook breakfastfor up to 300 homeless and lessfortunate people in Victoria.

Although this charity event islittle known, it is clear that theseefforts are well appreciated bythose who have fallen ondifficult times.

At a recent breakfast, a dinerwas moved to stand and offerthis toast: Thank you very much,BC Ferries. Dont let them sellyour company. Its no wonderBC Ferries employees from FleetHouse and Swartz Bay have

shown great enthusiasm byvolunteering their time ordonating money for this cause.

For those interested inparticipating in futurebreakfasts, contact MaureenPicyk at (250) 978-1350 [email protected],Monique Turgeon at(250) 978-1503 [email protected],or Jim Ferguson, Supervisor,Help Desk and RegionalSupport, Information Servicesat (250) 978-1547 [email protected].

Behram Dadachanji, Director, Internal Audit, cooks up a stack of pancakes at a recentcommunity breakfast.

Ferry Breakfasts Truly Appreciated

Top Tourism Draw

key scavenger hunt, and a30-day safety award lunch.

Many thanks to organizersGary Gerein, OccupationalSafety Officer, Paul Rolland,Manager, Inventory, and PeterBlair, Superintendent, QualityAssurance, and their manyvolunteers for all the workthey put into making this sucha fun and successful week.

WHATS HAPPENING??

Remember, if you havesomething to share with your

fellow employees, send italong to the Dolphin!

(From left) The winning foursome: Ed Koshman, Terminal Development, Horseshoe Bay;

Jock Scullion, Terminal Maintenance, Tsawwassen; Tim Hull, Machine Shop, Deas Dock;

and, Danny McJannet, Terminal Development, Tsawwassen.

The 3rd Annual Golf Tournament hosted by Terminal MaintenanceSouth was held at Langleys Newlands Golf and Country Club and,once again, the tournament was very successful with 44 participants

from Fleet House, Swartz Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Deas Dock andTsawwassen. The Texas Scramble format was playedand awards were presented at the dinner buffet. GuestBeth

Salchenburger and Greg Gammer, Paint Shop, Deas Dock took theprizes for longest drive, whileKim Boudreau, Galley WestTsawwassen, and Terry Salchenburger, another guest, won awards

for closest to the pin. Guests Tina Burbank andBill Barr won theputting trophies. Golfers the 4th Annual Golf Tournament will be

held on June 17, 2000, at Carnoustie Golf Club, Port Coquitlam.

Last year, more than 20,000 B.C. Grade 9 students joined their parents and guardians onthe job as part of Take Our Kids To Work, organized by the Learning Partnerships of B.C.

Seven employees and their kids visited Fleet House for a tour, which included briefings

and information packages. It gave them a real glimpse into the working world,

says Sonja Martins, Policy Analyst, Human Resources, who organized the successful day.

(From left) Katerina Kuwert and mother Cindy, Sonja Martins, Alexis Sullivan and son

Jack, Jared Rawson and mother Chris.

Watching a CPR demonstration.

OUR PEOPLE

customers needs in the bestpossible manner. We want totake a more organized andcoordinated approach toemployee training, he says.

Were looking at initiatingtraining programs for clericaland support staff and front-linesupervisors, as well as for thenext generation of engineers,deck officers and masters.

With the challenges faced by theCorporation in the past year,and the hard work that is beingdone to address them,Bob sees the Corporations40th Anniversary as a majorachievement and a greatopportunity to look ahead.I hope it will mark the point atwhich we put the problems ofthe past few years behind us,and can look forward to abrighter future.


Bill Bouchard, Director of Corporate Marketing, meets with a European tour operator at theCanadas West Marketplace at the Victoria Conference Centre. This annual event, sponsoredby Tourism British Columbia, Travel Alberta and Canadian Airlines, provides an excellentopportunity for B.C.- and Alberta-based companies to showcase their travel products to

international buyers. BC Ferries is such an important part of any travel itinerary to BritishColumbia that we were given the exclusive opportunity to have a double booth at theshow, reports Bill.

(From left) Rob Clarke, Vice President, Finance and Corporate Services; Capt. Mike Carter,Executive Vice President, Operations and Customer Services; and, Bob Lingwood, President andCEO, visit the Princess Marguerite III, joining our fleet as the Queen of Burnaby. The vessel hasbeen serving the Victoria-Seattle route for the past three years.


8/8

Our thanks to the many employeeswho assisted with this issue of the

Dolphin. Contributing writers wereStephen Nussbaum, Ann Carpenter,Carol Vincent, Lois Smith,Darcy Hebert, Heather Goodman,Carolyn Thomas, Mike Davis,Erinn Grant, Deborah Dykes,Merrie-Ellen Wilcox, Karen Ivand,Maureen Cumming, Joan Broadhurst,and Brenda Ricketts. Photographicassistance was provided by

Stephen Nussbaum, Deborah Dykes,Michael Denton, Ellery Littleton,Nigel Passmore, Ed McKenzie, PhilJones, and Paul Dexter.

Ann Carpenter CommunicationsCoordinator; Inter-Island andNorthern Services

Paul Curtis Corporate MarketingGroup; Marketing andBusiness Development

Deborah Dykes CommunicationsCoordinator; Mainland Services (Central)

Marilyn Grant Information andPrivacy; Corporate Secretarys Office

Anna-Maria Lustig SeniorCoordinator, Customer and EmployeeCommunications; CorporateCommunications (Editor)

Anita Mahoney Executive Secretary;Presidents Office

Ed McKenzie Manager, EmployeeDevelopment; Organizational andEmployee Development

Arlene MacLeod Secretary;Northern Services

Carole McMillan Clerk;Human Resources

David Niven Retired Chief Engineer,SOVI; BC Ferry and MarineWorkers Union

Stephen Nussbaum CommunicationsCoordinator; Mainland Services (South)

Nigel Passmore Asbestos Inspector;

Deas DockCindy Richardson Secretary;Technical Operations

Jim Wilkinson A Watch, Tsawwassen;BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union

Jane Wolfenden Office Manager;Comptrollers Office

The DolphinCorporate CommunicationsBC Ferries2nd Floor, Fleet House1112 Fort StreetVictoria BC V8V 4V2Fax: (250) [email protected]

TheDolphin is published for theemployees of the British ColumbiaFerry Corporation by Corporate

Communications. Submissions andphotographs are welcomed fromthroughout the fleet. Please ensurethat you have permission to publishfrom any person mentioned inyour submission or appearing ina photograph.

e-Dolphin on BC Ferries Intranet atinside.bcferries.com.

For weekly updates, call the toll-freeEmployee Information Line at1-877-280-1419. In Victoria,call 978-1117.

British Columbia Ferry CorporationArticles may be reprinted onlywith written permission fromCorporate Communications.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY TEAM

Chief Cook Wally Chow,B Watch, was one of over200 crew and passengerswho signed the B.C. 2000Millennium Book onboard the

Queen of Oak Bay in March.All British Columbians willhave a chance to sign thebook as it travels to more than200 communities this year.Pages are also available forsigning at credit unionsthroughout the province.After December 31, the B.C.Book will go on permanentdisplay at the Royal BritishColumbia Museum in Victoria,and a page will be turnedeach day. Designed andhandcrafted from a variety

of B.C. woods and highlightedby gold leaf, the book wascreated by Victoria artisansPhilip Smith (husband of our

Dolphins Lois Smith) andKatherine Woods.

In 1988, Silvia (Carter) Yeomans,now retired TsawwassenTerminal Manager, solicitedemployees for their favouriterecipes. The response wasgreat: from bar-b-ques toholiday dinners, scrumptioussalads and hardy soups todecadent deserts, the recipespoured in. Sylvia got busysorting and organizing therecipes into the first BC Ferriesemployee cookbook. It had

everything! Children enjoyedmaking their own playdohand finger paints. Even thefamily dog was rememberedwith homemade dog biscuits.The books went on sale toemployees, who snappedthem up for their own kitchensas well as for gift giving.The money raised was used tosupport the HandicappedChristmas Cruise.

Joan Broadhurst with her cherished copy of the first BC Ferries employee cookbook.

Employees Make Their Mark in History

OUR FAVOURITE RECIPES

Come sail the deep blue seaOn a British Columbia ferry.

On the sundeck relax and snoozeOr gaze at the scenery while you cruise.

Watch orca whales breach and play,Ducks and loons and birds of prey.

Sailing through Active PassThe ships horn will give a blast.

The fishing boats motor on their way,From the wake of the ferry they do sway.

The white dots in the tall green treesAre eaglets waiting to fly free.

The seagulls are loyal as can be.They follow the ships as we cross the sea.

Theyll squawk, of course, and fly real lowTo fetch the treats that people throw.

When they are tired theyll hitch a rideAtop the mast, bobbing with the tide.

Summer is fragrant in beautiful B.C.Amid red roses and pink peonies.The Inner Harbour is a sight to see,

The Parliament Buildings, the Empress high tea.So come on over, sail with us

By foot, cycle, car or PCL bus.

Brenda Ricketts is a Coffee Shop Attendantat Galley West, Tsawwassen.

Capture Your Spirit By Brenda Ricketts

This year we celebrate our40th Anniversary and it is timefor a second edition. Send yourfavourite recipes [email protected] remember to include yourname, position and location.

As before, all proceeds fromsales of the book will go to localnon-profit charities, and we areasking for your suggestions forsuitable charities in your area.

In honour of our industry, wedprefer non-profit organizationsin the marine industry, such asSearch and Rescue.

Im looking forward to addingthis edition to my cookbookcollection, and seeing yourname alongside Our Favourite

Recipes! says Joan. She adds,Look for our information postersaround the fleet, or call me at(250) 978-1258 for more information.

dolphin spring 2000

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