Long before the bridges and highways of the Halifax Regional Municipality, it might seem like the logistics of going from Dartmouth to Halifax would prove to be quite the trek. In the 18th century, Halifax’s ferry service began as a means to transport lumber and labourers from Halifax to the sawmill in Dartmouth.
Today, the ferry runs as part of the Halifax Transit services with transfer connections between the boat and the bus in an effort to continue an easy passage to and from each side of the harbour.
The ferry became an official municipal service in 1752 making it the oldest saltwater ferry service in North America — and the second oldest in the world.
The boats themselves have seen many changes over the years and we just might see a new one very soon. This summer, city councilors released renderings of the proposed Bedford fast ferry Catamaran that is set to sail in 2027. This will bring a new ferry terminal to Mill cove with a public library and community space, this also means a brand new ferry terminal on the Halifax waterfront as well.
The city is still waiting on further funding before these projects can be implemented.
