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The Beginnings (1900-1910) /
Bridges or Not (1920-1935) /
World War II Boom (1936-1945)
Mid-Century Decline (1946-1958) /
Ferries Restored (1977-Present)
The Beginnings
The first regular service between the City of North Vancouver and Vancouver began in 1900 with the North Vancouver. Three years later, the North Vancouver Ferry and Power Company was created, taking over the North Vancouver and building the St. George. These two ferries were renamed North Vancouver Ferry No. 1 (No. 1) and North Vancouver Ferry No. 2 (No. 2) respectively. The City of North Vancouver took over this service in 1908 to provide a more reliable ferry connection with Downtown Vancouver. The terminal in North Vancouver was located at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue and the one in Vancouver was at the foot of Columbia Street. North Vancouver Ferry No. 3 (No. 3) was built soon after in North Vancouver.
Bridges or Not
The Second Narrows Bridge was built in 1925, but as Captain James Barr, author of "Ferry Across the Harbour" points out, it had little deterrent on the ferry business. The bridge was out of the way, making it a long drive downtown, and it was more unreliable than the ferries were, having to open to let ships through and being heavily damaged several times (5,6). In the early 30's the Washington was leased until North Vancouver Ferry No. 4 (No. 4) was built and ready for service.
World War II Boom
In 1936, the No. 2 was retired and used as a logging camp on the west coast of Vancouver Island until it was destroyed by fire. In 1938, the Second Narrows Bridge (Lion's Gate Bridge) was completed and took further business away from the ferries. However, there was an increased demand with the onset of World War II because of the shipbuilding boom in North Vancouver. Because of this growth in business, the North Vancouver Ferry No. 5 was built in 1941 and the Crosline was leased from Washington. According to Capt. James Barr, 1943 was the busiest year that North Vancouver Ferries had, ferrying over 7 million passengers across the Inlet (63).
Mid-Century Decline
The end of the 1940's and the 1950's marked the decline and end of the ferries. In 1948 the No. 3 was taken off of regular service and was sold in 1953. The cost of operating the ferries reached the limit in 1958 and the last sailing took place on August 30th by the No. 4 ferry. The No. 4 was later sold to be used in Prince Rupert and the No. 5 was converted into the Seven Seas Restaurant at the foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver where it still remains.
Ferries Restored
The ferry service between Vancouver and the North Shore had not died however. Just under 19 years after the last crossing by the No. 4 ferry, BC Transit began operating a passenger ferry called the SeaBus. The Burrard Otter and the Burrard Beaver were launched in 1977 and began to operate between Lonsdale Quay and the CPR Building in downtown Vancouver. These 400-passenger catamarans continue to make the crossing over 50 times each every weekday and less frequently on weekends.
Main Sources:
Barr, Capt. James. Ferry Across the Harbour - The Story of the North Vancouver Ferries. Vancouver: Mitchell Press Ltd, 1969.
North Vancouver History by ICI real estate information company.
Page/Photos by John Hammersmark.
This page was created on May 28, 2002.