This Monday marked the 60th anniversary of B.C. Ferries.
On June 15, 1960, the first route from the newly built Tsawwassen terminal to Swartz Bay had its inaugural sailing.
The company began as a single route connecting Swartz Bay in Victoria to Tsawwassen on the mainland with two ships and 191 employees.
Over the years it grew to serve 25 routes throughout the province with 35 ships, 47 terminals and over 5,000 employees.
Social Credit MLA and minister of commercial transport Lyle Wicks getting tour of the engine room of the newly built Queen of Tsawwassen in June 1960. Wicks was defeated in the provincial election that year by future NDP premier Dave Barrett.
The Tsawwassen terminal has seen many expansions and modifications over the years to accommodate increased volume, additional routes and larger ships.
The Tsawwassen Quay Market was added in 2005.
The ferry corporation recently said that as traffic starts to return to the ferry system and B.C. slowly begins to relax COVID-19 restrictions, B.C. Ferries is reintroducing service across the system in response to demand “in a thoughtful and controlled way.”
A Delta Archives photo from June 1960 showing Gaglardi with a model of the Queen of Tsawwassen.
B.C. Ferries notes it continues to follow guidelines provided by provincial and federal officials and encourages customers to do the same.
B.C. Ferries also recommends passengers book ahead to make travel easier and guarantee their sailing of choice.
The ferry corporation says it will continue to monitor traffic levels on routes and will add more service over the summer months as demand requires.
