Toronto Island ferry services

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Toronto Island ferry
Toronto Island ferry

The Toronto Islands lie in Lake Ontario, just offshore of the city of the Canadian city of Toronto. They are connected to the mainland by the Toronto Island ferry services, which provide access to the islands for recreational visitors, access to the mainland for island residents, and access to Toronto City Centre Airport, which is located at the western end of the island chain.

Contents

[edit] Services

Map of the islands, showing the four public ferry services.
Map of the islands, showing the four public ferry services.

Currently there are four public ferry services to the islands. Three of these ferry services are operated by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division of the City of Toronto, and provide links for passengers and service vehicles from a dock at the foot of Bay Street on the central Toronto waterfront to docks at Hanlan's Point, Centre Island Park and Ward's Island on the Toronto Islands. Service frequencies vary by time of year, with a two round trips an hour on each route in summer, but fewer sailings on fewer routes in winter.[1]

The fourth public ferry service is operated by the Toronto Port Authority and provides a vehicle and passenger connection from a dock at the foot of Bathurst Street to the Toronto City Centre Airport. The ferry makes the round trip across the 121 metres (400 ft) channel every 15 minutes during airport operating hours. There is no public access between the airport and the rest of the island chain.[2]

Beside the public ferry services, several yacht clubs and marinas located on the islands provide private ferry services for their members and guests.[3][4][5]

[edit] History

The first ferry to cross Toronto Harbour to what are now the Toronto Islands was in 1833, using a boat called Sir John of the Peninsular and operated by Michael O'Connor. At the time, the "islands" were in fact still a peninsula, connected to the mainland at their eastern end. Other ferries soon followed, including both the Toronto, a steamboat, and the Peninsular Packet, which was propelled by paddle wheels driven by a horse. A storm in 1858 split the islands from the mainland, and increased the need for ferries.[6]

Throughout the rest of the 19th century ferries proliferated, with most being paddle steamers operated by individual owners. Eventually two competing ferry companies came into being, the Turner Ferry Company and A.J. Tymon's Island Ferry Company. The assets of the Turner Ferry Company were subsequently bought by the John Doty Engine & Ferry Company, which in turn merged with A.J. Tymon's Island Ferry Company in 1892 to form the Toronto Ferry Company.[6][7]

The Toronto Ferry Company continued to operate the ferry services until 1926, when their services and fleet was purchased by the City of Toronto and transferred to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the body that operates the city's transit system. The three double ended, diesel engined and screw driven ferries that form the backbone of today's service to the islands were all built for the TTC, these being the William Inglis in 1935, the Sam McBride in 1939, and the Thomas Rennie in 1951.[8]

Maple City, one of the airport ferries
Maple City, one of the airport ferries

In 1938 the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) commenced operating a ferry service to the new Toronto Island Airport, then under construction. A scow was adapted for use as a cable ferry, with the intention that this ferry would operate for a five year period. However the scow remained in service for twenty-five years before being replaced by the ferry Maple City. The backup ferry Windmill Point was acquired in 1985 and a new replacement ferry, TCCA1, in 2006.[9]

In 1961 the ferry services operated by the TTC were transferred to Metro Toronto Parks and Culture, a department of the then Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto. In 1997 the metropolitan municipality was merged with its member municipalities, becoming the enlarged City of Toronto, and the park ferry services became the responsibility of city's Department of Parks and Recreation. In 2005 responsibility for these services was transferred to the city's Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, where it remains. The airport ferry remains the responsibility of the TPA.

[edit] Ferry fleet

List of ferries[10]
 Vessel   Operator†   Acquired   Retired   Notes 
Luella TuF/TFC/TTC 1882 1934 Single deck single ended paddle steamer, with a capacity of 122 passengers. Built by W. Armour & Company and John Doty Engine Company.
Mayflower JDE/TFC/TTC 1890 1938 Double deck double ended paddle steamer, with a capacity of 900-1000 passengers. Built by Bathurst Street Wharf. After retirement converted into a barge.
Primrose JDE/TFC/TTC 1890 1938 Double deck double ended paddle steamer, with a capacity of 900-1000 passengers. Sister ship to the Mayflower. Built by Bathurst Street Wharf. After retirement converted into a barge.
Ned Hanlan TFC/TTC/MPR 1902 1966 Harbour tug used to provide winter ferry service for island residents.
Bluebell TFC/TTC 1906 1955 Double deck double ended paddle steamer, with a capacity of 1450 passengers. Built by Polson Iron Works Limited.
Trillium TFC/TTC/MPC/TPR 1910 - Double deck double ended paddle steamer. Sister ship to the Bluebell. Built by Polson Iron Works Limited. Retired in 1957, but re-entered service in 1976. Original passenger capacity of 1450 reduced to 955.[11]
Miss York TFC/TTC 1918 1929
Miss Simcoe TFC/TTC 1918 1929
Clark Bros. TFC/TTC 1918 1927
John Hanlan TFC/TTC 1918 1927
T.J. Clark TFC/TTC/MPR 1918 1960 Wooden screw ferry with engines by Polson Iron Works.
Alymer TFC/TTC 1918 1929
Buttercup TFC/TTC 1918 1929
Jasmine TFC/TTC 1918 1929 Renamed Ojiboway.
William Inglis TTC/MPC/TPR 1935 - Double deck double ended diesel screw passenger ferry, with a passenger capacity of 400. Built by Toronto Drydock Company.[12]
Sam McBride TTC/MPC/TPR 1939 - Double deck double ended diesel screw passenger ferry, with a passenger capacity of 1000. Built by Toronto Drydock Company.[13]
Thomas Rennie TTC/MPC/TPR 1951 - Double deck double ended diesel screw passenger ferry, with a passenger capacity of 1000. Built by Toronto Drydock Company.[14]
Ongiara TTC/MPC/TPR 1960 - Single deck double ended diesel screw vehicle and passenger ferry. Capacity of 220 passengers, 10 cars or 8 trucks. Used to provide winter service and to carry service vehicles. Built by Russel Bros., Owen Sound, Ontario. Repowered in November 2006. [15]
Maple City TPA 1964 Single deck double ended diesel vehicle and passenger ferry. Capacity of 40 passengers and 6 cars. Operates to the City Centre Airport.[16]
Windmill Point TPA 1985 - Single deck double ended diesel passenger ferry, with a capacity of 207 passengers. Operates to the City Centre Airport.[17]
TCCA1 TPA 2006 - Double deck double ended diesel vehicle and passenger ferry. Operates to the City Centre Airport. Built by Hike Metal Products of Weatley, Ontario. Name is an acronym of Toronto City Centre Airport 1.[18]

†Operators: JDE=John Doty Engine & Ferry Company; MPC=Metro Toronto Parks and Culture; TFC=Toronto Ferry Company; TPA=Toronto Port Authority; TPR=City of Toronto Parks and Recreation; TTC=Toronto Transit Commission; TuF=Turner Ferry Company

[edit] Docks

Ward Island ferry at the dock
Ward Island ferry at the dock

With the exception of the Bay Street docks, all other docks are not enclosed and consist of a series of metal fences and ramps.

City or Bay Street Docks: This dock is located at the foot of Bay Street on the mainland and consists of four piers. They are located in the enclosed main docks, and the last pier is an open area to the east for the larger Trillium ferry boat.

Hanlan's Point Docks: This dock is located to the west next to the island airport and consists of three piers.

Centre Island Docks: This dock is located on Island Park and consists of two piers. There are washrooms and a snack bar nearby. There is no winter service from this dock.

Ward's Island Docks: This dock is located on Ward's Island to the east and consists of a single pier.

Western Gap: This dock is located at the foot of Bathurst Street and consists of a single pier. Parking is available for cars not crossing over to the Island on the ferry.

Island Airport Docks: This dock is located at the north end of the island airport and consists of a single pier/loading ramp.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Specific

  1. ^ Toronto Island Park. City of Toronto. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
  2. ^ Toronto City Centre Airport Facts. Toronto Port Authority. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
  3. ^ tender and schedules. Queen City Yacht Club. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  4. ^ Launch Schedule. Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  5. ^ Water Tender Schedule. Toronto Island Marina. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  6. ^ a b Partridge, Larry (1976-03). Toronto Island Ferry History: the Beginning. Retrieved on 2003-03-14.
  7. ^ Prominent Men of the Great Lakes - Capt. Andrew J. Tymon. The Globe, Toronto (1898-01-01). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  8. ^ Partridge, Larry (1976-03). Toronto Island Ferry History: Municipal Ownership. Retrieved on 2003-03-14.
  9. ^ Toronto City Centre Airport: A History. Toronto Port Authority. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  10. ^ Partridge, Larry (1976-03). Toronto Island Ferry History: Fleet List. Retrieved on 2003-03-14.
  11. ^ Trillium. Canadian Transportation Agency (2006-03-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  12. ^ William Inglis. Canadian Transportation Agency (2006-03-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  13. ^ Sam McBride. Canadian Transportation Agency (2006-03-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  14. ^ Thomas Rennie. Canadian Transportation Agency (2006-03-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  15. ^ Ongiara. Canadian Transportation Agency (2006-03-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  16. ^ Maple City. Canadian Transportation Agency (2006-03-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  17. ^ Windmill Point. Canadian Transportation Agency (2006-03-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  18. ^ Improved Access to the TCCA. Toronto Port Authority (2007-01-12). Retrieved on 2008-03-27.

General

  • Toronto Island Ferry History: the 1980s - Toronto Island Ferry
  • a Glimpse of Toronto's History - Opportunities for Commemoration of Lost Historical Sites City Planning Division, Urban Development Services - City of Toronto 2001, MPLS 076 and MPLS 068