What do the famous, catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Year 79 that killed thousands of people in the ancient Roman empire city of Pompeii, the tragic BC Queen of the North ferry sinking and the recent Maui island wildfires have in common?

Their only hope of quick rescue was by boat.⛴️🛥️

From a University of San Diego translation of Roman historian Pliny the Younger’s first-hand account of the volcanic eruption:“Just as he was leaving the house, he was handed a message from Rectina, the wife of Tascus, whose home was at the foot of the mountain, and had no way of escape except by boat. She was terrified by the threatening danger and begged him to rescue her. He changed plan at once …. and ordered the large galleys (ships) to be launched and set sail.”

Unfortunately, the boats came too late as people who perished were trapped between the“volcano’s wrath and the sea” on the beaches of the Gulf of Naples (Italy), adds a science journal.  Their remains were mummified in falling volcanic ash (pictured).

Closer to home, a possibly little-known fact is that BC and the Yukon are home to all of Canada’s active volcanoes according to Natural Resources Canada.

While scientists advise the last eruption was 150 years ago, they also say future events should be expected anytime.

However, BC has seen other more recent emergencies where boaters proved to be heroes.

Last year, during the Maui wildfires of August 2023 that destroyed Lahaina and other areas, killing over a hundred people, survivor John Singer told ABC News … he saved himself by running toward the ocean and jumping into the water.  

"I ran with a lot of heat on my back. I ran to the ocean," he said. After escaping the inferno, he looked back at his home. "Devastation - everything gone. There's just nothing left."  

Boat captains chronicled the “harrowing”ocean rescues of Maui survivors for CBS news.

Here in BC, fleeing to the icy ocean temperatures means you wouldn’t survive long before hypothermia kicks in, just under 60 minutes.  

Even recent Kelowna fires saw people jump into the warmer Okanagan Lake to flee flames, profiled in Newsweek.

TOURISM ECONOMY
Tourism in BC’s remote regions is an economic driver, with adventurers and explorers drawn to serene waters or hidden coves. Picture a pristine bay with crystal-clear waters where docks offer essential access for recreational boaters, kayakers, and cruisers. They’re bridges that connect tourists to unforgettable experiences and local businesses to a thriving customer base.

ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION
Boating is not only a leisure activity but also a crucial means of transportation in many rural communities. For residents who live in areas where roads are few and far between, boats are often the primary mode of travel to get groceries, take children to school, receive building materials or retail supply stock and more. Reliable marina docks ensure that these communities remain connected and can carry out daily activities and commerce efficiently.

MEDICAL EVACUATION
Medical emergencies can turn a serene landscape into a race against time. When every second matters, docks can accommodate BC marine ambulance pickups or delivery of urgent medical supplies—saving lives and providing rapid care.

A provincially owned marina in Ladysmith, saw an ownership transfer deal made with First Nations that evicted an existing long-term marina operator/tenant of 37 years.

A subsequent court challenge by the marina operator was unsuccessful.

“Throughout 2023, the marina was a pressing topic in town as the society held town hall meetings, a protest, and community talks with the goal of continuing operations at the marina, which was owned by the province, leased to the Town of Ladysmith, and was scheduled to be sub-leased to the (Ladysmith Maritime) Society until 2029 before Stz’uminus First Nation and the province signed a reconciliation agreement to transfer the title of the water lot,” per the Ladysmith Chemainus Chronicle.

Without proper consultation, the B.C. government has also decided “to invest the Shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nation with co-management powers over dock tenures on
the Sunshine Coast.”

KEY ISSUES

• Inadequate public notice or consultation,

• Increase of waterfront setbacks & diminished land usage,

• Preventing safe access to the waterfront,

• Limiting the ability for docks and structures to be attached to land,

• Creation of buffer zones prohibiting installation of gravel, pavers, patios, decks, structures etc. within up to 35 meters from the water,

• Limiting the ability to alter or expand an existing structure, which would be made non-conforming, with the proposed changes

• Impact on property values