Toronto Island Ferry Services
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Island Ferry connects the Toronto Islands
in Lake Ontario
to the mainland of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
. The ferry provides access to the islands for recreational visitors, access to the mainland for island residents, and access to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is located at the western end of the island chain.
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.
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 island airport. The ferry makes the round trip across the 121 metres (397 ft) channel every 15 minutes during airport operating hours. There is no public access between the airport and the rest of the island chain.
Beside the public ferry services, several yacht club
s and marina
s located on the islands provide private ferry services for their members and guests.
, 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 wheel
s driven by a horse
. A storm in 1858 split the islands from the mainland, and increased the need for ferries.
Throughout the rest of the 19th century ferries proliferated, with most being paddle steamer
s 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
.
In 1906 and 1910, the Toronto Ferry Company built two sister ships, both being double-decked double-ended paddle steamers, with a capacity of 1450 passengers. They were named Bluebell and Trillium. They were retired in 1955 and 1957 respectively, but Trillium survived and re-entered service in 1976. She is still in service and is operated by the Great Lakes Schooner Company for Corporate functions and Private Functions, as well as ferry runs throughout the summer. She is now 100 years old.
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 Transportation Commission
(TTC, later renamed the Toronto Transit Commission
), the body that operates the city's transit system. The three double ended, diesel engine
d 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.
In 1938 the Toronto Harbour Commission 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.
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.
With the exception of the Bay Street docks, no other docks are enclosed and consist merely of a series of metal fences and ramps.
The following docks belong to the city of Toronto:
The following docks are used by the Toronto Port Authority:
Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city centre, and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour...
in Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
to the mainland of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The ferry provides access to the islands for recreational visitors, access to the mainland for island residents, and access to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is located at the western end of the island chain.
Services
Tthere are four public ferryFerry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
services to the islands. Three of these ferry services are operated by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division
Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division
The City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division is the division of the Toronto municipal government responsible for city-owned parks, forests, and recreation centres...
of the City of Toronto, and provide links for passengers and service vehicles from a dock at the foot of Bay Street
Bay Street
Bay Street, originally known as Bear Street, is a major thoroughfare in Downtown Toronto. It is the centre of Toronto's Financial District and is often used by metonymy to refer to Canada's financial industry since succeeding Montreal's St. James Street in that role in the 1970s...
on the central Toronto waterfront
Toronto waterfront
The Toronto waterfront is the lakeshore of Lake Ontario in the City of Toronto, Ontario in Canada. It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west, and the Rouge River in the East. The entire lakeshore has been significantly altered from its natural glaciated state prior to...
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.
The fourth public ferry service is operated by the Toronto Port Authority
Toronto Port Authority
The Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
and provides a vehicle and passenger connection from a dock at the foot of Bathurst Street to the island airport. The ferry makes the round trip across the 121 metres (397 ft) channel every 15 minutes during airport operating hours. There is no public access between the airport and the rest of the island chain.
Beside the public ferry services, several yacht club
Yacht club
A yacht club is a sports club specifically related to sailing and yachting.-Description:Yacht Clubs are mostly located by the sea, although there are some that have been established at a lake or riverside locations...
s and marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
s located on the islands provide private ferry services for their members and guests.
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 still a peninsulaPeninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
, connected to the mainland at their eastern end. Other ferries soon followed, including both the Toronto, a steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, and the Peninsular Packet, which was propelled by paddle wheel
Paddle wheel
A paddle wheel is a waterwheel in which a number of scoops are set around the periphery of the wheel. It has several usages.* Very low lift water pumping, such as flooding paddy fields at no more than about height above the water source....
s driven by a horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
. A storm in 1858 split the islands from the mainland, and increased the need for ferries.
Throughout the rest of the 19th century ferries proliferated, with most being paddle steamer
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
s 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
Toronto Ferry Company
The Toronto Ferry Company was formed from the merge of John Doty Engine & Ferry Company with A.J. Tymon's Island Ferry Company, two of Toronto's early ferry operators to Toronto Islands in 1890. TFC was founded and headed by businessman Lol Solman. The company's ferry license and ships was later...
.
In 1906 and 1910, the Toronto Ferry Company built two sister ships, both being double-decked double-ended paddle steamers, with a capacity of 1450 passengers. They were named Bluebell and Trillium. They were retired in 1955 and 1957 respectively, but Trillium survived and re-entered service in 1976. She is still in service and is operated by the Great Lakes Schooner Company for Corporate functions and Private Functions, as well as ferry runs throughout the summer. She is now 100 years old.
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 Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
(TTC, later renamed the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
), the body that operates the city's transit system. The three double ended, diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
d and screw driven
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
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.
In 1938 the Toronto Harbour Commission commenced operating a ferry service to the new Toronto Island Airport, then under construction. A scow
Scow
A scow, in the original sense, is a flat-bottomed boat with a blunt bow, often used to haul bulk freight; cf. barge. The etymology of the word is from the Dutch schouwe, meaning such a boat.-Sailing scows:...
was adapted for use as a cable ferry
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
, 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.
In 1961 the ferry services operated by the TTC were transferred to Metro Toronto Parks and Culture
Metro Toronto Parks and Culture
Metro Toronto Parks and Culture was a department within the former Regional Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto .The department was responsible for maintaining major parks and cultural sites around Metro Toronto, Canada....
, 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.
Fleet
| Vessel | BuilderA | OperatorB | Acquired | Retired | Capacity | TypeC | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luella | WAC, JDE | TuF, TFC, TTC | 1880 | 1934 | 122 passengers | SESD paddle steamer | Accidentally scrapped 1934. |
| Mayflower | BSW | JDE, TFC, TTC | 1890 | 1938 | 900–1,000 passengers | DEDD paddle steamer | After retirement converted into a barge. Sister ship to Primrose. |
| Primrose | BSW | JDE, TFC, TTC | 1890 | 1938 | 900–1,000 passengers | DEDD paddle steamer | After retirement converted into a barge. Sister ship to Mayflower. |
| Ned Hanlan | TDC | TFC, TTC, MPR | 1902 | 1966 | Harbour tug | Rebuilt in 1932. Used to provide winter ferry service for island residents. Named for local rowing legend Ned Hanlan Ned Hanlan Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:... , brother-in-law of Lawrence Solman Lol Solman Lawrence "Lol" Solman was a prominent businessman in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Born in Toronto, Solman was educated in public schools and grew up in profile when compare to his later life... , owner of the Toronto Ferry Company. Now displayed beside Stanley Barracks at the Canadian National Exhibition Canadian National Exhibition Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest... . |
|
| Bluebell | PIW | TFC, TTC | 1906 | 1955 | 1,450 passengers | DEDD paddle steamer | Retired 1955 and stripped down and stored next to Island Water Filtration Plant in 1976, hull used as breakwall at Tommy Thompson Park near the Eastern Gap. Sister ship of Trillium. |
| Trillium | PIW | TFC, TTC, MPC, TPR | 1910 | (1957), active | Originally 1,450; reduced to 955 | DEDD paddle steamer | Sister ship to the Bluebell. Retired in 1957 and used by Metro Toronto Works Department as a garbage scow (barge), but re-entered service in 1976 after being refurbished. Sister ship of Bluebell. |
| Miss York | TFC, TTC | 1918 | 1929 | Burned 1929? | |||
| Miss Simcoe | TFC, TTC | 1918 | 1929 | Possibly named for Elizabeth Simcoe Elizabeth Simcoe Elizabeth Simcoe was an artist and diarist in colonial Canada. She was the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.-Biography:... , the wife of John Graves Simcoe John Graves Simcoe John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior... . Burned 1929. |
|||
| Clark Bros. | TFC, TTC | 1890 | 1927 | Named for Tom (T.J.) Clark; burned in 1930 at Sunnyside Park. | |||
| John Hanlan | Abbey | TFC, TTC | 1918 | 1927 | Named for Toronto Island hotel keeper John Hanlan, father of Ned Hanlan Ned Hanlan Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:... and father-in-law of Lawrence Solman Lol Solman Lawrence "Lol" Solman was a prominent businessman in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Born in Toronto, Solman was educated in public schools and grew up in profile when compare to his later life... , owner of the Toronto Ferry Company; burned 1929. |
||
| T.J. Clark | CL & PIW | TFC, TTC, MPR | 1911 | 1930 | Wooden screw ferry | Named for Tom "T.J." Clark, co-operator of wooden screw ferry that began service in 1890. Operated as ferry from 1911 to 1927; sold to City of Toronto and operator by the TTC. Decommissioned 1959 and sold to Toronto Drydock Company Ltd.; scrapped by 1961. | |
| Alymer | TFC, TTC | 1918 | 1929 | ||||
| Buttercup | TFC, TTC | 1918 | 1929 | ||||
| Jasmine | TFC, TTC | 1918 | 1929 | Renamed Ojiboway. Burned 1929. | |||
| William Inglis | TDC & JIC | TTC, MPC, TPR | 1935 | active | 400 passengers | DEDD diesel screw | Named after William Inglis, head of local appliance manufacturer John Inglis and Sons. |
| Sam McBride | TDC & JIC | TTC, MPC, TPR | 1939 | active | 1,000 passengers | DEDD diesel screw | Named after former Toronto Mayor and alderman Sam McBride. |
| Thomas Rennie | TDC & JIC | TTC, MPC, TPR | 1951 | active | 1,000 passengers | DEDD diesel screw | Named after former Toronto Harbour Commissioner Thomas Rennie. |
| Ongiara | RB | TTC, MPC, TPR | 1960 | active | 220 passengers, 10 cars or 8 trucks | DESD diesel screw | Used to provide winter service and to carry service vehicles. Repowered in November 2006. |
| Maple City | TPA | 1964 | active | 40 passengers and 6 cars | DESD diesel screw | Operates to the island airport. | |
| Windmill Point | KS | TPA | 1954 | active | 207 passengers | DESD diesel | Based out of Amherstburg, Ontario Amherstburg, Ontario Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S... , it operates to the island airport when Maple City is out of service. Purchased by the Toronto Harbour Commission Toronto Harbour Commission The Toronto Harbour Commission was a joint federal-municipal government agency based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The agency managed Toronto Harbour as well as being responsible for major works along the Toronto waterfront. It built the Toronto Island Airport in 1939... in 1985 and stored at Keating Channel when not in service. |
| David Hornell , formerly TCCA1 | HMP | TPA | 2006 | active | DEDD diesel | Operates to the island airport. Original name was an acronym of Toronto City Centre Airport 1. | |
| Marilyn Bell 1, formerly TCCA2 | HMP | TPA | 2009 | active | Operates to the island airport. Original name was an acronym of Toronto City Centre Airport 2. |
Docks
- City or Bay Street Docks: 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. Toronto Fire ServicesToronto Fire ServicesThe Toronto Fire Services is part of the Emergency Services that respond to 911 calls in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The Toronto Fire Services is responsible for responding to fires, rescue and assisting with medical situations within the City of Toronto...
fireboat William Lyon Mackenzie shares the dock spaces. During winter months the ferries (other than Trillium) are stored here with upper decks covered with a tarp. Trillium is stored at nearby Yonge Street Slip. The docks once was home the fireboat William Lyon Mackenzie. The original docks were located on the east side of the THC Building at Bay and Harbour Streets. When the infilling took place after 1918 the docks moved to Queen's Quay west of Bay Street (now site of Harbour Square condos) and finally shift over to the east to the current location.
The following docks belong to the city of Toronto:
- Hanlan's Point Docks: to the west next to the island airport; open boarding area consists of three piers.
- Centre Island Docks: on Island Park and consists of two piers. There are washrooms and a snack bar nearby. There is no winter service from this dock. Newly covered area was added to provide additional shelter space.
- Ward's Island Docks: on Ward's Island to the east; an open boarding area consists of a single pier.
The following docks are used by the Toronto Port Authority:
- Western Gap: at the foot of Bathurst Street and consists of a single pier. Parking is available for cars not crossing to the Island.
- Island Airport Docks: at the north end of the island airport and consists of a single pier and a loading ramp.
See also
- Toronto Ferry CompanyToronto Ferry CompanyThe Toronto Ferry Company was formed from the merge of John Doty Engine & Ferry Company with A.J. Tymon's Island Ferry Company, two of Toronto's early ferry operators to Toronto Islands in 1890. TFC was founded and headed by businessman Lol Solman. The company's ferry license and ships was later...
- Bay Ferries Great Lakes Limited
- Toronto water taxiToronto Water TaxiToronto water taxis operate in the Canadian city of Toronto as an alternate form of transportation to and from the Toronto Islands.-Operations and Restrictions:...
s