What should Toronto name its two new electric ferries?
Sadly, Boaty McBoatface didn’t make the city’s shortlist
When millennial speak was hitting its apex in 2016, the UK let the internet vote on the name of a new polar research ship. Much to the government’s chagrin, the perpetually online banded together to crown “Boaty McBoatface” the runaway winner. Officials overruled the result in favour of a more dignified name—the RRS Sir David Attenborough—and ever since, those overseeing public boat namings tend to draft shortlists.
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This month, Toronto is dipping its toe in similar waters. With two new electric ferries set to join the harbour fleet later this year, the city has opened a public naming poll of its own. Avoiding the tricky business of honouring people, Toronto’s shortlist features 13 names that pay homage to the natural world, including Cloudbreaker, Great Lake Dancer and Island Willow. My personal favourite, Harbour Swan, also evokes the joys of an inflatable pool float.
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Dutch shipbuilder Damen landed the $90-million contract to build the two fully electric ferries that will connect the city to the Toronto Islands. The boats will carry more than three times as many passengers as the vessels they’re replacing—one of which is 61 years old, the other 114. One new ferry is designed to handle icy waters and carry vehicles if needed; the other is seasonal and meant only for passengers.
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Mayor Olivia Chow has framed the ferries as an infrastructure upgrade and proof of her commitment to climate policy. “These new electric ferries represent a historic investment in Toronto’s waterfront and a major step forward in building a cleaner, greener city,” she wrote in a statement. “As the first new ferries in more than 60 years, they will help modernize this vital service while supporting our commitment to net-zero emissions.”
Torontonians can cast their votes for names until April 6.
Lindsey King is a Toronto-based writer and editor whose work can be found in Toronto Life, Maclean’s, Canada’s 100 Best and more. She is interested in arts and culture, food and drink, architecture, design, and real estate stories
