Coastal Connections: A History of British Columbia Ferries and Passenger Ships

Award-winning historian and photographer Derek Hayes examines the long and colourful history of ferries and ships linking the BC coast.

From early paddle-wheelers like the S.S. Beaver to the latest high-speed catamaran, ferries and passenger vessels have always been central to the lives and livelihoods of British Columbians, connecting Vancouver Island, hundreds of smaller islands and a rugged mainland coastline to the rest of the province. This history culminated in the creation of BC Ferries, whose vessels today serve every part of coastal BC.

In Coastal Connections, historian Derek Hayes describes early attempts to provide links between the Mainland and Vancouver Island as well as the upper mainland coast. There was Canadian Pacific, with its fleet of Pacific Princesses; Canadian National, with its counterbalancing fleet of Prince ships serving the new city at the end of its northern line, Prince Rupert; and Union Steamships, which provided service to small BC Coast settlements for over 70 years. Then came BC Ferries. Starting in 1960 with just two ships, it has grown to become one of the world’s largest ferry fleets, with 35 ships carrying over 22 million passengers and nearly 10 million vehicles a year over more than 25 routes.

Illustrated with hundreds of archival and modern photographs, artworks and ephemera, the book is a visual treat for anyone interested in the coastal history of British Columbia, the BC Ferries fleet and its operations.