British Columbians planning to travel over the Victoria Day long weekend are being urged to take precautions and stay informed about wildfire activity and road conditions.
In a press conference Friday, B.C. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma urged travellers to stay away from wildfire-prone areas, encouraging them to “explore” other parts of the province this May long weekend.
“We want people to come here to British Columbia and we want British Columbians to explore the province … all we are asking is if you are planning a trip, know before you go … be aware of the hazards.”
Crews are battling several wildfires in northeastern B.C., including the Parker Lake blaze near Fort Nelson and the larger Patry Creek fire, a holdover blaze from last year that’s burning as close as 25 kilometres north of the city.
WATCH | B.C. is open for tourists, says Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma
Although wildfires are burning near Fort Nelson, Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma says travellers are welcome in other regions. “British Columbia is a huge province,” she said.
“Now is not the time to visit the area around Fort Nelson, but there are plenty of other areas to explore,” Ma said.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is also stressing the need for travellers to stay updated on the latest weather and road conditions as the Coquihalla Highway, or Highway 5, received a fresh round of snowfall early Friday morning.
An Environment Canada spokesperson told CBC News some slushy conditions are expected on the highway between Hope and Merritt.
The ministry is urging motorists to plan ahead and check DriveBC for travel advisories.
Increase in impaired drivers and high-risk drivers: B.C. Highway Patrol
The Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) says three people are killed and 455 people are injured in crashes in B.C., on average, over the Victoria Day long weekend, according to data collected from 2018 to 2022. Speed was a top contributing factor in those crashes.
In a statement last week, B.C. Highway Patrol said it will join forces with ICBC to target impaired drivers and excessive speeders throughout the month of May, but especially during the long weekend.
“This May long weekend may also see an increase in impaired drivers and high-risk drivers, which could mean a higher number of collisions, including fatal collisions,” the statement reads.
YVR and B.C. Ferries gear up for busy long weekend
Long weekend preparations at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) moved into high gear on Friday.
According to the Vancouver Airport Authority, YVR is expecting more than 300,000 passengers between Friday and Monday, an 11 per cent increase compared to last year.
It says during peak travel times, staff will be stationed at information counters throughout the airport, and digital tools are also available to help people reach their gate on time.
The Victoria Day long weekend is the third busiest travel weekend of the year on B.C. Ferries, according to Reet Sidhu, the corporation’s senior communications adviser.
Last year, the ferry service faced a number of challenges, including staffing shortages, last-minute cancellations and long sailing waits.
Sidhu said B.C. Ferries has increased sailings, reduced fees and made staffing changes.
WATCH | B.C. Ferries preparing for summer surge:
B.C. Ferries announced a host of measures on Wednesday, ahead of the company’s busy summer season. The changes are meant to deal with operational challenges related to staffing shortages and vessel maintenance issues. As Sohrab Sandhu reports, the company says it is confident in its preparations and it’s looking forward to welcoming a record number of passengers this summer.
She said 350 news sailings have been introduced, including a new early morning sailing from Victoria to Vancouver, and a 13 per cent increase in sailings from Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast.
“We have also added 600 new staff for this summer,” she added.
After public outcry over the number of cancellations, B.C.’s transportation ministry announced in October 2023 that it planned to fine the ferry service for cancelled sailings on major routes.
The ministry said it will charge a penalty of $7,000 per sailing on major routes and $1,000 per sailing on minor routes if service sailings are cancelled due to crew shortages.