Final report - Integrated Land Management Bureau

Transportation Assessment of the Central & North Coast of BC
Food, supplies and fuel are transported to Wuikinuxv by barge from the Lower
Mainland or Campbell River, or by water taxi. There is a local school, and children
are not required to travel by ferry to school, although they must leave the
community to attend high school elsewhere. Transportation costs are significant
and rising, and most residents avoid air travel because of this.
As in the case of Klemtu, the community’s remoteness poses health concerns. The
first is diet. There is a high incidence of diabetes in Wuikinuxv as residents stray
from their traditional diet, and they cannot afford to bring in healthy fresh food
often enough. The second threat to health is dependency on air evacuation for
emergency treatment. Some critically ill residents have died while waiting for a
helicopter.
TABLE 2-17: TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, WUIKINUXV
Transportation Mode/
Infrastructure
Air Services &
Infrastructure
Description
• airstrip; heli landing site for emergency evac
• scheduled flights from Port Hardy on Pacific Coastal Airway, Mon
to Friday, as part of a regional ‘milk run’ through the Central Coast
• chartered flights – commercial and sportfishing
Ferry • no ferry service to Wuikinuxv
Port Facilities • govt dock at Rivers Inlet
• new village-owned dock being constructed
• dry land sort
Private/commercial vessel • some private water taxis; a few boats with capacity of 2-3,000 lbs
• fuel, food and supplies barged, or brought by water taxi from Pt.
Hardy
• charter boats for commercial, sportsfishing use
• small number of pleasure craft visit during summer months
• barges transport logs
Road • gravel road through reserve (5 km), and access to Owekeeno
Lake
• small number of trucks and vans in community
Communication • Telus wireless; broadband internet service
Chisholm Consulting 45