History
In
the years before the Ministry assumed responsibility for
ferry service on the Arrow Lakes, steam stern-wheelers of
the Columbia & Kootenay Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., and
its successor, the Canadian pacific Railway Company, provided
the north-south transportation link between the CPR's main
line and the railway lines in the southern part of the province.
At the height of its operation the CPR had seven stern-wheelers
in service from Arrowhead to West Robson, near Castlegar.
Over the years the CPR gradually withdrew its stern-wheelers
from the Arrow Lakes until 1942 only the MINTO remained.
By 1954 MINTO's operating costs exceeded revenue and the
Company laid up the vessel and abandoned the service. The
abandonment can be attributed to the building of highways
along the lakes, which allowed people and freight to move
between the settlements, not only more frequently and quickly,
but also at much less cost.
The Ministry first participated
in ferry service on Upper Arrow Lake in June, 1916 when it
provided a subsidy to a ferry operator, after the CPR was
approached and expressed no interest in a extending its steamer
service from Arrowhead to Beaton on the North East Arm of
Upper Arrow Lake. Initially the successful tenderer, James
C. Fitzsimmons of Nelson, chartered the CPR's tug COLUMBIA
to provide the service. A short time and placed this craft
on the route carrying passengers and mail. By 1921 the settlers
in the Galena Bay area were included in the ferry's route.
During 1928 the charter passed to the Beaton Boat Company
who used their new steam tug BEATON. During 1944 the Beaton
Navigation Company acquired the assets of the Beaton Boat
Company and continued to operate the ferry until 1953 when
it sold out to the Arrow Lake Transportation Co. Ltd. The
following year the Ministry cancelled the subsidy as a result
of changed travel conditions.
Aware of the CPR's intention
to abandon its Arrow Lakes' steamer service, in April, 1954,
and since there was no road link from Nakusp to the Galena
Bay and the Beaton area, the Ministry called tenders for the
provision of a ferry service between these points. The successful
tenderer was the Interior Tug & Transport Co. Ltd.
For the new ferry route,
which served the settlements of Beaton, Arrowhead, Nakusp
and Castlegar, the Company converted one of their steel barges
into the 13-car diesel powered ARROW PARK. Under terms of
the contract the company had to make three return trips a
week.
During 1956 the Ministry
bought the ARROW PARK and took over the route. To avoid confusion
with the cable ferry in use at Arrow Park, the ferry was renamed
LARDEAU. By 1964 a road had been completed between Nakusp
and Galena Bay, as a consequence LARDEAU was moved to Galena
Bay.
With the raising of the Arrow
Lakes and the flooding of the Columbia River as far north
as Revelstoke, by the Columbia River Project's Hugh L. Keenleyside
Dam, at Castlegar, it was necessary to relocate the highway,
south of Revelstoke, on the westerly side of the River. As
a result the ferry terminal was moved from Arrowhead to Shelter
Bay. The change in the highway location also eliminated the
need for two ferries on the Columbia River. These were the
12 Mile and 24 Mile ferries.
Upon the completion of the
new highway from Revelstoke to Shelter Bay and from Galena
Bay to Nakusp (Highway 23) the larger ferry GALENA was placed
in service in 1969 in anticipation of increased traffic. During
1990 with a second ferry needed to carry the increased traffic
the Ministry moved the 28 car Ferry NEEDLES from the Fauquier-Needles
route on Highway 6 to Shelter Bay. At that time the ferry
was renamed SHELTER BAY.
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