Ferry captain Kevin Phippard
Amid wailing seagulls fighting for scraps of hotdog buns, come summer, Torontonians pile onto ferries bound for the island. Kevin Phippard, the city’s longestserving captain, has been steering Torontonians safely ashore since 1981. He’s now the senior management captain, overseeing the fleet, captains and crew. We caught up with him on the Sam McBride ferry to Centre Island.
Q: Have you always wanted to work on the water?
A: No. I studied English and political philosophy at university and then trained as a high school teacher. I’d been working seasonally on the boats, and when I had to choose, I felt a tug towards working here. Years later, I found out my paternal history traces to Newfoundland. Q: How old is the fleet? A: It ranges: The Trillium is the oldest; it was built in 1902, the same year as the Titanic. The Ongiara is the baby of the fleet; it dates back to 1960. Q: How fast do the ferries go? A: We go eight knots, which is about 15 kilometres per hour. And that’s fast enough for me.
Q: What’s the best time of year to ride the ferry?
A: Well, every season has its charms, but the best is probably mid-winter, on a day that’s not too cold. Come down here and ride the Ongiara. You can hear it chunking through the ice; there’s a magic to it.
Q: Any tales of adventure on the high seas?
A: This ferry, the Sam McBride, has an interesting history. It’s over 70 years old, and during World War II , when the Norwegian air force was using the Island airport for training, one of the Norwegian planes crashed into the ferry.
Q: Do you know the regulars who live on the island?
A: Yes, although the relationship has changed over the years. Back when the city was trying to expropriate Ward’s Island and turn it into parkland, it was like we were the front line of enemy troops. But after they reached a settlement, things got much friendlier. Q: Ever had a man overboard? A: Not personally, but we train for emergencies every two weeks. We do a boat drill and a fire drill. There’s an old Chinese curse: “May you live in exciting times.” We don’t want exciting.
Q: What’s the most satisfying part of the job?
A: It’s really great to talk to an older person and they’ll say, “I remember riding the boat when I was a kid, and it’s been years since I’ve been on the ferry, and now I’m bringing my grandchild.” It’s like a living historical memory of the city and it’s an extremely special thing. People love the ferry boat ride. Because getting there is half the fun.