Meeting Details:
Date: June 17, 2026
Location: Prestige
Lakeside Resort, Nelson
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Meeting Items:
- Welcome – WPM General Manager, Odai Sirri welcomed the attendees to the second annual
meeting of the Kootenay Lake Advisory Committee (KLAC). - Opening Remarks with Territorial Acknowledgement – made by Kootenay Central MLA, Hon.
Brittny Anderson. - WPM and KLAC Introductions – see attached Attendee List
- Tribute and honouring the contributions of Megan Rokeby- Thomas – made by Odai Sirri
- Review of Minutes from 2025 meeting – Odai referred to the previous year’s meeting minutes that
had been circulated prior to the meeting and asked if there were any questions regarding them. No
one had a question to put forward. - Ferry Operator Update – provided by James Maung, WPM Director of Operations & Moe Thu Aung,
WPM KLF Marine Manager.
April Re-Fit of MV Osprey – The MV Osprey Re-Fit was completed as per the schedule.
Open Question/Answer Period
Q.: Bruce Morrison asked for an update regarding Ferry capacity.
A.: James Maung & Moe Thu Aung: The reduction in passenger count is mandated by Transport
Canada, as part of their required safety regulations. Highest priority is given to passenger safety,
especially in emergency situations, whereby passengers are required to exit vehicles safely and
efficiently.
Q.: Garry Jackman asked if any improvements were made to the Balfour fire suppression system.
A.: Moe Thu Aung: The Balfour is not required to have a fire suppression system. The Osprey fire
suppression system upgrades are ongoing.
Q.: Garry Jackman asked what the maximum number of passengers will be on MV Osprey once the
upgrades are completed.
A.: James Maung & Odai Sirri: Vessel passenger capacity is set by Transport Canada. Once the
upgrades are complete, an inspection will be conducted, after which Transport Canada may revise
the maximum number, however drawing on his experience Mr. Maung doesn’t anticipate a change in
MV Osprey’s passenger capacity. Both Mr. Maung and Mr. Sirri shared that Transport Canada being
a national entity, a shipping incident occurring elsewhere in the country can have the effect of
Transport Canada being more stringent in their regulations across all jurisdictions. This has been the
trend recently.
Q.: Garry Jackman made the point that the East Shore communities are very reliant on the ferry
system, and the lack of adequate ferry service has a negative effect on different facets of the
community. He asked for more transparency in the planned service parameters of the new MV
Kokanee, and what anticipated out-of-service intervals will be for the new vessel, and whether the
MV Osprey will be put into service on an as-needed basis, for example if the highway pass is closed
due to an avalanche.
A.: Francois Bertrand: Transport Canada continually works on balancing safety and service,
understanding that safety is the number one priority. The BC MOTT is engaged with Federal
counterparts on these aspects, and appreciated the feedback from the community.
Ferry Operator Update Continued: James Maung & Moe Thu Aung: Shared that WPM has placed
a high priority on Crew Training Paths – whereby WPM encourages crew to obtain higher levels of
certifications, through financial aid with respect to further education opportunities, and thereby crew
has an opportunity for career advancement.
They also outlined some of the WPM training initiatives that regularly take place, such as slide
deployment, and rescue boat/life boat drills.
Cheryl Graham commented that she had witnessed a recent Slide Deployment training exercise and
was impressed by the level of participation and overall crew willingness to participate and learn.
Odai Sirri expanded on WPM’s commitment to training initiatives, stating its importance, and that
there is ongoing crew training related to workplace violence and harassment, bullying and racism
awareness, which is important for WPM, vessel crew, and the public at large.
Q.: Cheryl Graham asked for an update on efforts to increase the number of Captains on the Main
Lake Ferry.
A.: Odai Sirri answered that it remains a work in progress. There is an industry-wide shortage of
Marine Officers with existing certifications, and therefore all operators are competing to retain
qualified crew. WPM is investing to both attract new crew, as well as support the advancement of
existing crew through existing and new training initiatives. WPM is in the process of setting up an in
house Training Division which will conduct various Marine training courses for both internal and
external enrolees. Currently WPM requires approximately 10 more Officers to be capable of
implementing the planned day-for-day shift schedule.
Q.: (Unknown) asked if the Captain training process is a new initiative.
A.: Odai Sirri & James Maung answered that new Captains who hold an existing “Master” certificate
still need to train on our vessels, a process known as “Familiarization”, as specific ship handling and
controls vary from vessel to vessel. New Captains need to familiarize through one-on-one training
with an existing WPM Captain, and this process can take time – in some instances it takes months
before a new Captain can be “cleared” to Captain a WPM vessel.
Q.: Brittny Anderson asked for a timeline for the implementation of the 7 days on 7 days off (day
for-day) schedule of Main Lake crew.
A.: Odai Sirri & James Maung answered that Engine Room crew is already on a day-for-day
schedule, but the requirement for approximately 10 new officers is delaying the implementation for
Deck crew. It’s not possible to have a completion date due to various complexities in acquiring the
adequate number of officers to make implementation possible. Some of these variables include:
different officers require different amounts of training time depending on their experience, the one-on
one training requirement limits how many trainees can be accommodated at once, attracting new
crew to this area which is relatively remote, and many potential crew would prefer to work on the
coast.
Q.: Cheryl Graham asked whether housing is a challenge for new and potential crew members
A.: Odai Sirri confirmed that housing is a big challenge, both here and on the coast. The Arrow Lake
ferry operation was required to build housing to accommodate staff, and this might have to also be
done here.
Q.: (unknown) asked why WPM is moving to day-for-day schedule.
A.: Odai Sirri stated that a day-for-day schedule is mandated as part of the collective bargaining. It is
a wish of the crew, and could help to attract new crew from the coast.
Q.: Gauri Taylor-Topp mentioned that improved communication would be welcome and asked if the
current employment contract had been signed.
A.: Odai Sirri stated that there was a mediated meeting between WPM and the Union last week
which went well, and the process is back on track.
Q.: Anne Mowat referred to the recent rumors that had been reported in the media and asked
whether WPM could respond to such instances as they arise.
A.: Odai Sirri responded that the reporting of rumors by the media was unfortunate, and there are
protocols for responding which need to be respected. The desire for improved communication has
been noted and requires further analysis on how it might be improved.
Francois Bertrand acknowledged that a lack of information can lead to anxiety, and forums such as
this meeting can be effective. There might not be one solution, but perhaps many things can be done
to improve the flow of information.
Odai Sirri noted that WPM management are available and advised members to reach out as
needed.
Cheryl Graham noted that she has an area newsletter that could be utilized as a communication tool
Brittny Anderson noted that she understands WPM not wanting to respond to rumor but a lack of
information can lead to conspiracy building, and there is some lasting community tension following
the labour dispute. - MOTT Marine Branch Update – provided by Francois Bertrand, Marine Branch Executive Director
Francois shared that the New Ferry Build (MV Kokanee) is proceeding well. The MOTT stepped in
to complete the project and has contracted a new project management firm named Argus. As of a
May progress statement the build is 85 – 90% complete. The pre-commission phase started
recently and included a recent starting-up of the engines. The current timeline anticipates a
completion of construction by the end of 2026, followed by commissioning of the vessel, sea trials
in Balfour, and training of crew by WPM. This schedule would ideally put the MV Kokanee into
service in the first half of 2027. This schedule will be updated as events progress.
Spring Re-fit: Francois acknowledged the impact the re-fit period has on service levels. He
shared that the MV Osprey will need a mid-life re-fit, however once the MV Kokanee is deployed,
the capacity of the new ferry will mean that future re-fit periods will not have the impact on service
levels that has been experienced in the past. Francois also mentioned that the service reliability of
the main lake ferry service is at 98%, which is a great accomplishment that isn’t recognized as
much as it should be.
Post 2028 Update Francois shared that MOTT has begun to look past 2028, when the current
ferry operation contract ends. They are in the Internal Policy Discussion phase, analyzing how best
to sustain critical services for the community while providing the best value for BC residents.
MOTT will share more details as things progress.
Comment – Garry Jackman commented on the impact that the labour dispute had on the East
Shore community, noting that the community relies on the ferry service to keep the community
sustainable and vibrant, and that driving via the Kootenay Pass is not a viable alternative for many
residents due to the extra cost involved.
Brittny Anderson talked about the need for the community to be heard during a labour dispute, so
that the impact on the community can be taken into account. She had a recent meeting in which
Mike Farnworth agreed to meet with the Inland Ferry Coalition.
Odai Sirri stated that progress had been made with the union to ensure any future labour dispute
would not have the impact the last one had. He also mentioned that one of Arbitrator Mr. Vince
Ready’s recommendations is that a Special Mediator must be brought in before a strike can be
called. Mr. Ready’s recommendations are binding, so even though it’s called a recommendation
this is a requirement.
David Okra asked whether the main lake ferry would be utilized to evacuate residents in the
instance of a wild-fire requiring immediate evacuation. He asked if a dry run could be done as an
emergency preparedness exercise.
A long discussion ensued around this topic.
Odai Sirri stated that in the event of an emergency involving a risk to human life, Western Pacific
Marine’s highest priority is the protection of life and the safety of all those involved. Every
reasonable effort would be made to provide assistance and support within the capabilities of the
vessels, crews, and operational circumstances at the time. While it is neither practical nor possible
to anticipate every potential emergency scenario in advance, WPM is committed to responding in a
manner that is appropriate to the circumstances, working collaboratively with emergency
responders and relevant authorities. As emergency situations can vary significantly, further review
of potential response options and protocols will continue as part of ongoing operational planning
and preparedness.
Cheryl Graham outlined some of the work Graham Marine has done regarding evacuation plans
utilizing their barge vessels.
Francois Bertrand also stated that MOTT Marine Branch would also do everything possible to
assist, if utilizing ferries was seen as the best solution. He made the point that utilizing ferries
might not be the best solution in some instances.
Brittny Anderson shared some of the extensive emergency management work that has been
done and assured that many plans have been done, but some of this information cannot be made
public. Some plans involve military operations. She made the point that it is important for every
resident to fire-smart their property, individuals should have their own evacuation plan, and public
service alerts should be taken seriously.
Cheryl Graham asked what would happen with the MV Balfour once it was decommissioned.
Francois Bertrand responded that it would likely be dismantled and recycled, but nothing has
been decided and he is open to other suggestions.
Gauri Taylor-Topp asked whether it would be possible to change the ferry schedule, for example
extra service on weekends.
Francois Bertrand explained that the ferry schedule is prescribed in the contract, however this
could be addressed in the future if the data indicated an ongoing “choke point”.
Anne Mowat asked when the next Kootenay Lake Advisory Committee would be held.
Odai Sirri said that this would be an annual meeting, with the next one happening next year
around this time. - Closing remarks – Odai thanked everyone for attending in person and looks forward to future
meetings. - Adjournment