A British Columbia news digest: BC Ferries cancelled sailings between Victoria and Vancouver because of a steering-system failure, the Port of Vancouver reported record cargo volumes driven by oil and grain exports to Asia, and the family-owned Accent Inns and Hotel Zed business is being acquired by Vancouver-based Synvest Group.
Ferry Service Between Victoria and Vancouver Disrupted: Two Sailings Cancelled Due to Steering Problem
BC Ferries was forced to cancel two morning sailings on one of British Columbia’s busiest routes, connecting Vancouver Island with the mainland. The cause was a mechanical failure in the vessel’s steering system. The incident affected passengers planning morning trips on Wednesday, September 23, and once again drew attention to the reliability of the ferry fleet on which hundreds of thousands of residents depend in their daily lives.
According to information published by CHEK News, the 10 a.m. sailing from Swartz Bay—the terminal near Victoria at the southern end of Vancouver Island—and the noon sailing from Tsawwassen, a major mainland port south of Vancouver, were cancelled. Both terminals serve what is commonly called the “Victoria–Vancouver” route, one of the key links in the BC Ferries system connecting the provincial capital with its largest city.
The ferry operator said the problem had already been identified and that repair work would continue while the vessel remained docked at Swartz Bay. This is an important detail: it indicates that the issue has been isolated and is unlikely to require the ferry to be taken out of service for an extended period. However, even a brief breakdown of one vessel on such a heavily used route can trigger a chain reaction—schedule changes, overcrowding on neighbouring sailings and delays for passengers travelling for both personal and business reasons.
BC Ferries said the remaining sailings on the route were expected to operate on schedule. In particular, departures at 10 a.m. from Tsawwassen and 11 a.m. from both terminals were expected to run normally. Passengers whose bookings were affected by the cancellations were promised space on the next available sailing from either terminal—a standard company practice intended to minimize inconvenience. Even so, such transfers can often mean hours of waiting, especially during peak periods, and can seriously disrupt people’s plans.
Passengers were advised to monitor the latest sailing information through BC Ferries’ official channels, as the situation surrounding mechanical failures can change quickly. The advice underscores the importance of flexibility when planning trips across the Strait of Georgia—the body of water separating Vancouver Island from mainland British Columbia that ferries have crossed for decades.
Several points help put the incident into context. The steering system is a critical mechanism that allows a vessel to change course; a failure makes ferry operations unsafe and requires immediate attention from technical crews. The route between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen is one of the busiest in the BC Ferries network, so disruptions there are felt particularly strongly because alternative routes between Victoria and Vancouver are limited and also depend on ferries or air travel, leaving motorists and walk-on passengers especially vulnerable.
This incident is not an isolated case, but another reminder of the age and wear affecting the province’s ferry fleet, as well as the continuing pressure on infrastructure serving the region’s growing population. For BC Ferries, such technical failures mean not only operating costs and reputational risks, but also the need to accelerate vessel modernization. For passengers, they are a reminder that unexpected disruptions can occur even on a well-established route, making it increasingly sensible to allow extra time when planning trips across the strait.
Port of Vancouver Breaks Records as Grain and Oil Reshape Canadian Exports
The Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port on the country’s west coast, reported record cargo volumes for the first half of the year. Behind the dry statistics lies a much more significant story: Canada is rapidly redirecting its trade flows away from the traditional U.S. market toward Asia and other parts of the world. Driving this shift are Alberta oil and agricultural products from the Prairies.
According to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, cargo volumes in the six months ending June 30 rose three percent from the same period last year. More important, however, is the composition of that growth: it was driven by record shipments of crude oil and grain. Oil exports reached 12 million tonnes, up three percent, while bulk grain exports jumped 14 percent to a record 17.4 million tonnes. Port Authority president and CEO Peter Xotta spoke directly of the “degree of focus and urgency” surrounding efforts to move cargo, including fossil fuels, to countries outside North America and back.
The key shift concerns the geography of oil flows. The share of crude oil shipped through Vancouver to the United States fell to one-third, compared with one-fifth a year earlier, while the absolute volume of shipments also declined. At the same time, China and other Asian destinations are taking a growing share. Xotta said they play a “very significant role.” The shift was made possible by the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline: the twinned pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby, British Columbia, opened the way for Alberta oil shipments to China and South Korea in 2024. As the port’s head put it in a CBC interview, the Trans Mountain expansion “continues to be a much more dominant commodity through these gateways than we have historically seen.”
In addition to crude oil, aviation fuel volumes rose significantly—by 26 percent. The reason is partly forced: airlines are seeking jet fuel outside the Middle East, where the war between the United States and Iran has effectively reduced exports to a minimum. It is a striking example of how geopolitical conflicts in other parts of the world can redirect trade flows through Canadian ports.
Agriculture is showing equally impressive momentum. Bulk grain exports reached a record, and Xotta attributes the increase to good harvests over the past two years. China, Japan and South Korea remain the traditional largest buyers of Canadian grain, but containerized shipments of lentils, peas and pulses rose by almost two-thirds, driven by countries such as Bangladesh and India, which the port chief described as “emerging markets.” Europe and Mexico are also increasing their imports of canola seed.
Not everything is going smoothly, however. China imposed 100 percent tariffs on Canadian canola oil in March 2025 in response to Canadian levies on Chinese electric vehicles, and later added a 76 percent anti-dumping duty on canola seed. Beijing subsequently lowered the duty on seed to 15 percent but retained the 100 percent tariff on oil. This barrier explains the 14 percent decline in vegetable and animal oil exports through Vancouver. The detail matters: the trade dispute between Ottawa and Beijing has measurable consequences for specific industries, and port statistics serve as a sensitive barometer.
Automobiles are another part of the story. Vehicle volumes through the port rose 10 percent as manufacturers sought alternatives to the U.S. market. Against the backdrop of increasingly protectionist U.S. policy, Xotta has set an ambitious goal of helping Canada double its exports to non-U.S. markets within 10 years.
What do these figures mean in the broader sense? The Port of Vancouver is evolving from primarily a transit hub for trade with the United States into a full-fledged gateway for Canada to the Asia-Pacific region. This reflects several trends at once: the diversification of Canadian trade in response to Washington’s protectionism, the impact of Trans Mountain pipeline infrastructure and the influence of global conflicts on energy routes. The shift also has a vulnerability—dependence on relations with China, which remain complicated: agricultural export growth exists alongside trade barriers on canola. The term “containerized shipments” refers to cargo transported in standard metal containers, as opposed to bulk cargo carried loose and unpackaged, such as grain or oil. An anti-dumping duty is a tax imposed on imports sold at artificially low prices that harm domestic producers. Vancouver’s port record is therefore not simply a growth figure, but an indicator of a profound restructuring of Canadian foreign trade, with oil and grain opening new routes around the country’s traditional southern neighbour.
Victoria’s Family Hotel Business Acquired by Vancouver Group
The sale of a regional hotel empire built around family values is an event that rarely goes unnoticed in the local community. That is what happened in British Columbia when it became known that the Victoria-based owner of the Accent Inns and Hotel Zed chains had decided to transfer the business to Vancouver investment group Synvest Group of Companies. Behind the dry language of the press release lies the story of years of work by the Farmer family, as well as a sign that consolidation in the province’s hotel market is gaining momentum.
According to information published in a Times Colonist report, company CEO Mandy Farmer confirmed that the deal is expected to close at the end of November. Neither she nor Synvest representatives disclosed the financial terms, citing confidentiality. This is typical of hospitality transactions, where the value often depends on real estate, brand strength and long-term management contracts, and where the parties prefer not to give competitors unnecessary points of reference.
Accent Inns has five hotels in British Columbia, including a property on Blanshard Street in Victoria. The Hotel Zed chain, known for its retro style and unconventional design, has locations on Douglas Street in Victoria, as well as in Kelowna and Tofino. In total, the deal involves eight hotel properties and the ROAR restaurant. Both sides emphasized that the businesses would continue operating normally and that all bookings would remain valid. For guests and employees, this is an important sign of stability: the change in ownership will not bring immediate upheaval.
Synvest Group is an investment and hospitality organization that operates several properties in British Columbia through its management company, Roadside Hospitality. Its website lists assets including the Royal Scot Hotel and Suites near the legislature, the Bedford Regency on Government Street and the Port-O-Call Inn and Suites in Nanaimo, as well as hotels in the Okanagan region. Synvest therefore already has substantial experience in the province’s hotel industry. By acquiring Accent Inns and Hotel Zed, it is strengthening its presence in key tourism destinations—from the capital and Vancouver Island to the province’s Interior.
Mandy Farmer herself emphasized the emotional context of the deal. In a statement on Tuesday, she called it an “emotional day for me and our team” and declined an interview. She said it was “extremely important” to find a new owner who understood “what makes this company special.” Farmer noted that she and Synvest discovered shared values during the negotiations, “especially when it comes to caring for our people and our guests.” This is more than a routine phrase: in the hotel business, service culture and employee loyalty directly affect profitability, and preserving that culture during a change of ownership is strategically important.
Significantly, Accent Inns and Hotel Zed employees were informed of the sale before it was publicly announced. This suggests that management sought to preserve the team’s trust and avoid leaks that could destabilize hotel operations. Azim Virani, founder and head of Synvest Group, said he had “enormous respect for what the Farmer family has built” and expressed his willingness to work with the teams, welcome guests and continue the hospitality culture that made the brands special. Such language matters for continuity: the buyer is not simply acquiring assets, but also taking on responsibilities to the community and employees.
The company’s history began in 1986, when Terry Farmer founded Accent Inns and built five hotels before passing the business on to his daughter. Mandy Farmer became president and CEO in 2008, and six years later added the retro Hotel Zed chain to the portfolio. In 2018, Hotel Zed was named “Business of the Year” by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada—recognition that reflects not only commercial success but also an innovative approach to the hotel product. The sale of a family business to a major investment group marks both the end of a particular era and the beginning of a new stage in which the brands will likely retain their identity while developing within a larger corporate structure.
For British Columbia’s market, the deal could signal further consolidation. Independent family-run chains are increasingly attracting investment groups that see them as established brands with trained staff and a reliable flow of guests. The question is whether the “specialness” Farmer referred to can be preserved under corporate management. Time—and the way Synvest manages its new portfolio—will provide the answer.
