Gabriola Islanders are about to consider what was once unimaginable: a bridge.
The Gabriola Ratepayers Association has invited people to publicly weigh the pros and cons of keeping ferry service at a public meeting on Saturday.
On April 1, Gabriolans will lose two evening ferries on weekdays and two morning ferries on weekends.
Already, people are worried about difficulties to access entertainment and health care in Nanaimo, plunging home values and an exodus of residents.
On Saturday, facilitators will guide people through discussions on a number of options involving keeping or replacing ferry service. Afterward, they'll be asked to vote on it.
"We're going to hold breakouts where people go to various centres of discussion," said Erik Andersen, Gabriola Ratepayers Association president.
"The idea is to listen to your neighbours and also voice your own thoughts." Afterwards an informal ballot will be taken. The results will be forwarded to government in hopes it would lead to a binding referendum.
"It's really trying to do a poor man's referendum, in front of a real referendum."
At the meeting, members will be asked to say whether they support keeping ferry service as it is, under B.C. Ferries, or having the community buying and operated the ferry, building a bridge, or having the Ministry of Highways take it over, like in the B.C. Interior.
The chances that the government would agree do that fourth option - taking over the ferry and operating it for free - are close to zero, Andersen said, since those ferries are reimbursement for flooding to created hydro-electric dams.
Andersen said a bridge is now considered a real possibility.
"Three or four years ago, if I said 'bridge' to a number of people, I would have been under attack. Now, it's no longer the case."
It shows how far public opinion has shifted since the November announcement of service cuts.
The reason is fear - fear of loss of equity as property values plummet and fear of loss of a way of life for Gabriolans who work or recreate in Nanaimo, and need access to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Long-time bridge supporter Jeremy Baker is now organizing the Gabriola Island Bridge Group, to push for making his long-held dream a reality.
"There are so many people who have come to me lately and said: 'I didn't want a bridge before, now I support it,'" Baker said.
"This is a small step on Saturday but (now) there's enough angry people out there they might actually start smartening up."
