Replica model of Lady of the Quays, Toronto’s new electric ferry.
TORONTO, ON – Toronto’s inner harbor won’t have a Boaty McBoatface shuttling passengers to and from the islands when the first new ferries in 60 years finally arrive at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. After a months-long naming process that drew nearly 18,000 public votes, the city’s new fully electric vessels have officially been dubbed Lady of the Quays and Toronto Islander.
On Thursday, Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York) unveiled two 1:50 scale replica models of the new ferries, celebrating a major milestone in modernizing the city’s aging waterfront fleet.
The two winners were selected from a shortlist of 13 names drafted by city staff and waterfront stakeholders to “reflect the city’s waterfront, natural environment and enduring connection to the Island,” per a city news release. The multilayered naming process also required approval from Transport Canada.
Winning the public ballot with 15 per cent of the vote, Lady of the Quays is a dual-purpose vessel that will carry both passengers and vehicles. At full capacity, it can handle 14 vehicles alongside 650 passengers — or 1,300 passengers without any vehicles.
Coming in second with 11 per cent of the vote, Toronto Islander is a dedicated passenger vessel that will carry up to 1,300 people per trip. Other naming contenders that didn’t quite make the cut included Cloudbreaker, Harbour Swan, Water Strider, and Island Chickadee.
The current ferry fleet is well past due for a replacement. About 1.4 million people visit the Toronto Islands each year, relying on workhorse vessels like the over 90-year-old William Inglis, which carries nearly 400 passengers, and the over 60-year-old Ongiara, which carries 216. Another ferry, the sidewheeler Trillium, laid up at Hamilton last year.
Built by the Dutch shipbuilder Damen at a facility in Romania, the new ferries are currently in their final stages of construction. Lady of the Quays is expected to be delivered in late 2026, while the Toronto Islander won’t be ready until 2027.
Even after the first ferry is delivered later this year, it won’t hit the water for public use immediately. The vessel must first undergo several months of rigorous lake testing and commissioning.
Though passengers will have to wait to step aboard the new ferries, Mayor Chow detailed a slate of shoreside upgrades rolling out this summer to improve the commuting experience. Visitors can finally ditch physical tickets and pay directly at the docks using Google Pay and Apple Pay, though officials still recommend paying online ahead of time to avoid longer lines.
The city is also installing new digital screens at the terminal to provide up to date, real-time information on when the next boat is arriving. To make the actual boarding process smoother, enhanced queueing systems and designated waiting areas are being added to improve the flow of foot traffic
Toronto Today
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