With an expanding fleet of 35 vessels that serve up to 47 ports of call along the diverse communities on the B.C. coast, BC Ferries is the primary provider of ferry service in the province and one of the largest ferry operators in the world.
ONBOARD?
Get in touch with nature
Interested in learning more about B.C. waters, including its unique marine life and wildlife, and our coastal, nautical and cultural history? You’ve come to the right place.Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Coastal Naturalist Program – a partnership between Parks Canada and BC Ferries – offers BC Ferries passengers on select routes enriching educational experiences about B.C.’s coast.
The program is still growing as new topics, sparked by popular interest, are added this season, says Silva Johansson, an outreach officer with Parks Canada’s Coastal B.C. Field Unit. One new presentation looks at seals and sea lions, another at local foodies (and not just humans). Yet another highlights the initiative to restore ancient clam gardens in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
“People are usually puzzled by that combination – clams and gardens – but it’s a longstanding tradition of the Coast Salish First Nations,” says Johansson. Restoring clam gardens means removing stones from the beach and building walls near the lowest tide mark, she explains, adding that research shows clam gardens produce four times as many butter clams and twice as many littleneck clams as unmodified beaches.
“The Coastal Naturalist Program brings Canadians and visitors closer to the region through education,” Johansson says. Joining the Coastal Naturalists on select BC Ferries sailings will be Parka, the friendly beaver acting as Parks Canada’s mascot, who’ll help to celebrate the anniversary.
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This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.