Toronto Island Ferry Services
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Ferry service to Toronto Islands is provided by the City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Department (formerly Metro Toronto Parks and Culture Department). It has been operating ferries since the 1960s. The TTC once operated ferry boats to Toronto Island and serviced by the streetcars.
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[edit] Fleet
Toronto's island ferries are double deck, double end ships. The upper decks are open and the lower decks enclosed. The current fleet uses diesel for fuel.
[edit] Historic list of ferries operated or are operating to Toronto Islands
[edit] Toronto Ferry Company
| Make/Model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
| * Mayflower - built by Bathurst Street Wharf for John Doty Engine & Ferry Company | ferry | 900-1000 | 1890 | 1938 | Later acquired from the Toronto Ferry Company by E.B. Osler (with acquisition of John Doty Engine & Ferry Company and Tymon's Island Ferry Company |
| Primrose built by Bathurst Street Wharf for John Doty Engine & Ferry Company | ferry | 900-1000 | 1890 | 1938 | sister ship to the Mayflower and later acquired from the Toronto Ferry Company |
| Bluebell - built by Polson Iron Works Limited for Toronto Ferry Company | ferry | N/A | 1906 | 1955 | |
| Trillium 1910-1957 - built by Polson Iron Works Limited for Toronto Ferry Company | ferry | N/A | 1910; 1976 | 1957 | re-enter service 1976 with Metro Parks |
| William Inglis - built by Toronto Drydock Company | ferry | 500 | 1935 | ||
| Sam McBride - built by Toronto Drydock Company | ferry | 1000 | 1939 |
[edit] Toronto Transit Commission
The TTC also a number of smaller ferries from private operators:
| Make/Model | Description | # Passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
| Miss York | ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1929 | |
| Miss Simcoe | ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1929 | |
| Clark Bros | ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1927 | |
| John Hanlan | ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1927 | |
| Luella - built by W. Armour & Company and John Doty Engine Company for Toronto Ferry Company | ferry | 122 | 1882 | 1934 | |
| Ned Hanlan | ferry | N/A | 1902 | 1966 | |
| T.J. Clark - engines by Polson Iron Works | wooden screw ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1960 | |
| Alymer | ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1929 | |
| Buttercup | ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1929 | |
| Jasmine | ferry | N/A | 1918 | 1929 |
[edit] City of Toronto/Metro Toronto
Here is a list of ferries operated by Toronto Parks:
| Make/Model | Description | Fleet size | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
| Thomas Rennie - built by Toronto Drydock Company | ferry | 1 | 1951. | ||
| Ongiara | island car ferry | 1 | 1963. Built by Russel Bros., Owen Sound, Ontario. Repowered in November 2006. | ||
| Maple City - Owned by Toronto Port Authority and operates to the City Centre Airport. NOT owned by Toronto Parks, recreation and Foresty Dept. | island car ferry | 1 | 1964 | ||
| Windmill Point Owned by Toronto Port Authority and operates to the City Centre Airport. NOT owned by Toronto Parks, recreation and Foresty Dept. | island car ferry | 1 | 1985 | ||
| TCCA1 - an acronym for Toronto City Centre Airport 1. Owned by Toronto Port Authority and operates to the City Centre Airport. NOT owned by Toronto Parks, recreation and Foresty Dept. | island car and passenger ferry - by Hike Metal Products of Weatley, Ontario | 1 | 2006 |
[edit] Docks
With the exception of the Bay Street docks, All other docks are not enclosed and consist of a series of metal fences and wooden ramps.
City or Bay Street Docks: Located at the foot of Bay Street on the mainland and consists of four piers. There are located in the enclosed main docks and the last pier is an open area to the east for the larger Trillium ferry boat. The dock shares facilities with the Toronto Fire Services fire boat William Lyon Mackenzie.
Hanlan's Point Docks: This dock is located to the west next to the island airport and consist of three piers.
Centre Island Docks: locate on Island Park and consist of two piers. There are washroom and snack bar near by. There is no winter service from this dock.
Ward's Island Docks: located on Ward's Island to the east and consists of a single pier.
Western Gap: 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: Located at the north end of the island airport and consists of a single pier/loading ramp.
[edit] Other services
The TTC relationship with the Toronto Island continues when bus services when ferry service is interrupted. The vehicles are loaned from the TTC, but they are operated by Parks and Recreation.
[edit] Other ships
Other ships to ply the waters off Toronto, Ontario:
| Make/Model | Description | Fleet size | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
| HMS Speedy | schooner | 1 | sank 1804 | ||
| Onondaga | |||||
| HMS Toronto | naval ship | 1 | John Dennis at shipyard at Humber River and Bloor Street and sank 1811 | ||
| HMS Sir Issac Brock | naval warship | 1 | incomplete and burned in 1813 | ||
| Peninsula Packet | 1 | ||||
| Tinning's Cigar Boat | 1 | ||||
| Monarch | 1 | ||||
| Provincial | 1 | ||||
| Bouqest | 1 | ||||
| Pacific | 1 | sank 1861 | |||
| Sir John of the Peninsula | 1 | 1833 | 1935 | built by John Dennis (1758-1832) | |
| William Lyon Mackenzie | fireboat and icebreaker | 1 | 1964 | Built by Russell Brothers Limited Docked next to the Toronto Island Ferry Services terminal at the foot of Bay Street and Queen's Quay |
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| Hiawartha | ferry boat - seats 90 | 1 | 1895; 2001 | built by Bertram Engine Company, Toronto for Royal Canadian Yacht Club with steam engine (replaced with diesel in 1950); sank 2000 and re-launched 2001 | |
| Kwasind | ferry boat | 1 | built for Royal Canadian Yacht Club | ||
| Spirit of Ontario I | Austal Ships Auto Express 86 Class - 774 passengers; 238 car-equivalents (or a maximum of 10 trucks and 150 cars) | 1 | 2004 | 2005 | Service cancelled and ship being sold |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- 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
