The winds of change have set a new course for the Gabriola Island Ferry Advisory Committee.
The committee, one of 13 appointed by B.C. Ferries, represents the interests of ferry users in ferry-dependent communities.
A new three-year term for 2012-14 began Jan. 1 for all the committees.
B.C. Ferries put out a call for applications last fall, but Gabriola committee members Andre Lemieux, Erik Anderson, Eric Moeller, Randy Young and John Wood chose not to return.
Dyan Dunsmoor-Farley, John Hodgkins, Roger Perry and Gisele Rudischer applied and were appointed to the committee. Rudischer is also a Gabriola representative on the Islands Trust council.
Lemieux spent six years on the Gabriola Island FAC and said there was no coup against B.C. Ferries, but he felt it was time for a change.
“At times it was a bit frustrating with the same discussions over and over, but we did accomplish a lot,” he said. “We were able to build relationships with the Ministry of Transportation and the government. And before, there were no groups where B.C. Ferries could feel the pulse of the public.”
Young said suggestions made by the committee were seldom followed up or even listened to.
“It was interesting to get involved in all the situations, but I don’t know that we had an impact and that’s frustrating,” he said.
Darin Guenette, B.C. Ferries spokesman, said representatives of the 13 committees are scheduled to meet in April or May but the Gabriola committee might meet sooner to choose a chairperson.
“That’s not a B.C. Ferries decision. We have 13 committees and they’re all slightly different,” he said. “The committees provide a community perspective on B.C. Ferries and we want honest feedback.”
Calls to new committee members were not returned.