What BC Ferries Teaches Us About Public Service

Today, I took a ride on BC Ferries. It was one of those classic West Coast days blue skies, calm waters, and the familiar rhythm of the ferry as it carried us across the Salish Sea.

As usual, I made my way up to the cafeteria, ordered a Legendary Burger from White Spot, and grabbed a seat by the window. If you’ve ever had one onboard, you know, it hits different at sea.

Burger in hand, I couldn’t help but watch the crew work around me. Efficient. Friendly. Totally in sync. Everything from vehicle loading to safety announcements ran like clockwork. The staff didn’t just keep the ship running, they kept the experience smooth, calm, and even a little joyful.

It reminded me, this is what public service looks like when it’s done right.

The best of it often goes unnoticed and that’s kind of the point. Whether it’s ferry staff guiding hundreds of passengers safely to shore, a city rec team or a city staff helping a local café get its business license in time for opening weekend… it all matters.

We tend to focus on tools and systems (and yes, they’re important), but public service is powered by people. And when we build tech, whether for recreation programs or licensing platforms, it’s their experience we think about first.

Because when it all works, it feels like a ferry on a sunny day:

steady, human, and well run behind the scenes.