Beryl Wilson saw it coming:
From an editorial in an early issue of The Creek, dated September 1982:
“Venice has its gondolas, Holland has its flat bottom barges, and Hong Kong has its san-pans. Where is our water transport?”
Exactly.
The editorial continues: “With traffic congestion being at its peak in False Creek, surely making more use of the water would alleviate it a little. For instance, how nice it would be for the residents of False Creek to be able to travel by water to do their shopping with a regular ferry service from Stamp’s Landing to the Market, stopping at various points down the line.”
Right on, Beryl!
So what was happening on the Creek in the autumn of 1982? Remember that in 1982 the immense re-development of the north side of the Creek had yet to take place. According to Llowyn Ball at False Creek Ferries, that company began operation in that very same fall of 1982. They had picked up from a ferry run that began a year or so earlier, with False Creek Ferries buying first two, then two more of their “electric launchers” that ran between Granville Island and a dock on the opposite shore, long since demolished. The electric launchers were open-air boats that proved unsuitable. In 1984 The Spirit of False Creek 1 entered the False Creek Ferry fleet, leading off the string of little blue ferries that we see today. The dock at the Aquatic Centre was built in 1983. Expanded service to the Maritime Museum and Stamps Landing began in 1984. The Olympics of 2010 brought sightseeing ferries on board and a new dock at David Lam Park.
The Aquabus service started in 1985 in time for Expo 86, which brought the booming business to these ferries that continues to this day. Their larger Cyclebus ferries, good for children’s strollers and mobility challenges as well as bikes, came into service in 1995.
But back to Beryl’s vision. She had other plans:
“Must we look at the water and watch more marinas and boatels spring up? Let us also enjoy the water with perhaps riverboat dinner dances or cruises up and down the creek or even a swimming pool at the water’s edge with water slides.”
No swimming pool yet. Shall we petition the City?
– With thanks to Kathryn Woodward (Market Hill)