Comments on: The West Vancouver Ferry: Vancouver History Readers’ Choice

By: Gary Little

Gary Little — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:52:48 +0000

Just a reminder that this year is the 60th anniversary of Black Ball Ferry service to the Sunshine Coast from West Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay). Black Ball was acquired by the BC Government on November 30, 1961 to extend BC Ferries operations to Langdale, Nanaimo, Bowen Island, and also between Earls Cove and Saltery Bay.

See http://www.garylittle.ca/history/blackball.html

By: John Hayes

John Hayes — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:51:06 +0000

My father George Hayes was on the ferries from 1929 and the last run. Then was a mechanic on the Blue Buses until retirement. My fathers worse fears were when crossing the narrows to Prospect Point in the dense fog which we don’t see these days. Standing at the bow counting the seconds from when the fog horn on the ferry sounded till the echo returned to quest how far they were off shore. Also, my father was on the No.5 as mate with Captain Smith. When it was hit port side by the CPR Ferry. According to my father the woman was wedged in the corner of the bulkhead. The corner opened up she fell back and the corner closed and she couldn’t be saved. The only fatality in 38 years of service. In 1948 the ferries were called into service to transport people to Vancouver once more with the washout of the Capiliano Bridge.

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:57:38 +0000

Brilliant photos! I think it was the lions gate bridge that eventually put the West Vancouver Ferry out of business. Another commenter suggests 1947 was when it closed and I think that’s what the West Vancouver Historical Society suggests. What I’d love to find is a good picture of Jack ‘Navy’ Thomas who opened the very first ferry service in West Vancouver using his rowboat.

By: Nic

Nic — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:36:47 +0000

Thanks for posting about something that not many Vancouverites probably know about!
My grandma used to take that ferry to West Van from Vancouver, in the 30′s. That’s where her family used to rent a cabin for a week for summer vacation (my how things have changed).

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:53:44 +0000

They do have a ferry running from Coal harbour to Ambleside. Well there is plans for one anyway. Near the Ambleside beach area, there is a sign that talks about such a passenger ferry (like the False Creek Ferries). It would be cool and a lot of fun to put over there for a day trip! I would definitely pay $10 to take it from Coal Harbour to Ambleside area.

Thanks Rebecca for posting this! Robyn’s mum told us about the ferry a while ago and this helps fill in some of the blanks.

By: thetransitfan

thetransitfan — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:34:01 +0000

Nice photos!

The West Vancouver ferry actually continued running until 1947, 9 years after the Lions Gate Bridge opened. More info here:
http://archives.westvancouver.ca/destinationstimewalk/routes/ambleside/sites/ambEssay_wvFerries.html

Wouldn’t a Vancouver-West Vancouver SeaBus be great to have today? Perhaps it’s time to bring it back.

By: Uncle Martin

Uncle Martin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:35:11 +0000

Thanks for this article. My brother is a collector of all things BCF and really enjoyed the pictures. Looked a bit like the African Queen didn’t it!
You may have covered this already, but I met “The Mayor of Gastown” once, tipping his hat and chatting by the Steam Clock. Not the official Mayor, but an honorary title bestowed by locals. He was also a close friend of a newspaper man and often “worked” together, on editorials and articles. He was also a ww2 veteran and was very knowledgable about local events. Since his death, years ago, I’ve not seen him mentioned anywhere, but he was an interesting feature of Gastown, and a real character that your readers may want to know more about. His sirname was Aasen.