The Ships of British Columbia: An Illustrated History of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation

Description

176 pages
Contains Illustrations, Index
$29.95
ISBN 0-88839-188-9

Publisher

Year

1985

Contributor

Reviewed by Joan McGrath

Joan McGrath is a Toronto Board of Education library consultant.

Review

The Dogwood Fleet, named for the provincial flower of British Columbia, has “the capacity to simultaneously take a small city to sea: a crew of 600 could transport over 21,000 people and more than 4,500 cars at any given moment.” This astonishing fleet of 16 capital ships and nine smaller vessels is the pride of a proud province, and the means by which the islands and the mainland of B.C. are kept in close connection.

This most attractive salute to the service details the history of the fleet and introduces some of the colourful personalities who built it into the exemplary service it is today, as well as recounting some of the countless anecdotes, both funny and sad, that give life to the impressive lists of facts and figures. There is a wealth of gorgeous colour plates, as well as black-and-white photographs culled from records of the past. Every ship of the present fleet is included in the closing Table of Ships, and both bibliography and index are provided. A handsome and informative volume, in which it is mentioned in passing that at some time during Expo 86, British Columbia Ferries will transport their 200 millionth passenger.

Citation

Bannerman, Gary, and Patricia Bannerman, “The Ships of British Columbia: An Illustrated History of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed November 4, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/36543.