Toronto Island ferry services

Infobox Company
company_name = Toronto Ferry Company
company_
company_type = privately owned
foundation = 1892
location = Toronto
key_people =
industry = Ferry
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =
homepage =
footnotes = transferred to the TTC 1926

Infobox Company
company_name = Toronto Island Ferry
company_
company_type = public owned service
foundation = 1926
location = Toronto
key_people =
industry = Ferry
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto Transportation Commission
subsid =
homepage =
footnotes = turned over to Metro in 1961

Infobox Company
company_name = Toronto Port Authority ferry service
company_
company_type = operated for airport and port authority, a federal agency
foundation = 1938
location = Toronto
key_people =
industry = Ferry
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = Toronto Port Authority
subsid =
homepage =
footnotes =

Infobox Company
company_name = Toronto Island ferry service
company_
company_type = city owned service
foundation = 1961
location = Toronto
key_people =
industry = Ferry
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = City of Toronto 1998-present; Metro Toronto Parks 1961-1998
subsid = Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division
homepage =
footnotes =

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.

ervices

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.cite web | url = http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ | title = Toronto Island Park | publisher = City of Toronto | accessdate = 2008-03-13]

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 convert|121|m|ft channel every 15 minutes during airport operating hours. There is no public access between the airport and the rest of the island chain.cite web | url = http://www.torontoport.com/airport_facts.asp | title = Toronto City Centre Airport Facts | publisher = Toronto Port Authority | accessdate = 2008-03-13]

Beside the public ferry services, several yacht clubs and marinas located on the islands provide private ferry services for their members and guests. [cite web | url = http://www.qcyc.ca/club/tender.html | title = tender and schedules | publisher = Queen City Yacht Club | accessdate = 2008-03-18] [cite web | url = http://www.rcyc.ca/AboutRCYC/LaunchSchedule/tabid/82/Default.aspx | title = Launch Schedule | publisher = Royal Canadian Yacht Club | accessdate = 2008-03-18] [cite web | url = http://torontoislandmarina.com/tender_service.html | title = Water Tender Schedule | publisher = Toronto Island Marina | accessdate = 2008-03-18]

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.cite web | url = http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/history/islandbegin.html | title = Toronto Island Ferry History: the Beginning | first = Larry | last = Partridge | date = 1976-03 | accessdate = 2003-03-14]

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.cite web | url = http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/history/islandbegin.html | title = Toronto Island Ferry History: the Beginning | first = Larry | last = Partridge | date = 1976-03 | accessdate = 2003-03-14] cite web | title = Prominent Men of the Great Lakes - Capt. Andrew J. Tymon | url = http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/Documents/ProminentMen/default.asp?ID=c064 | publisher = The Globe, Toronto | date = 1898-01-01 | accessdate = 2008-03-14]

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.cite web | url = http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/history/islandmodern.html | title = Toronto Island Ferry History: The Modern Fleet: 1935 - 1960 | first = Larry | last = Partridge | date = 1976-03 | accessdate = 2003-03-14]

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.cite web | url = http://www.torontoport.com/airport_history.asp | title = Toronto City Centre Airport: A History | publisher = Toronto Port Authority | accessdate = 2008-03-14]

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.

Ferry fleet

^†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

Docks

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. Toronto Fire Services fireboat William Lyon Mackenzie shares the dock spaces.

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. Newly covered area was added to provide additional shelter space.

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.

ee also

* Bay Ferries Great Lakes Limited
* Toronto water taxis

References

Specific

General
* [http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/history/island1890.html 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