Island residents who use the Tofino Bus and Vancouver Island Connector will be scrambling to find a different way to travel for the next few months.

Service has been paused, effective after today, until May.

The company says it was a tough call, but they are looking to move toward a more seasonal service.

Ridership has not improved much since before the pandemic, which saw a 95% decline in ridership.

The company says having received all available government grants and subsidies, and amid continued rising costs and labour shortages, it had no other choice but to move into a May to October service.

An exact start date has not yet been determined.

The service says passengers who have pre-purchased tickets that will no longer be valid will be contacted.