Originally built in 1910 to handle passenger loads that overwhelmed the smaller ferries of the time, the Trillium, after 103 years of rich history, finds itself still serving her original purpose... handling high passenger loads on weekends that overwhelm the smaller, faster ferries normally in use.
| Location | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfront | ||||||
| (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) | ||||||
| Built | Status | Difficulty | ||||
| 1910 | Active (Tour Event) | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ | ||||
| Hazards Risk | Security Risk | AUE Rating | ||||
| ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ | ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ | ||||
| Hazard Observations | Security Observations | |||||
| None Specified | Active Vessel | |||||
The Trillium was based on her sister ship, the Bluebell, which was a smaller ferry used to shuttle passengers between the waterfront and the islands. Serving alongside them were also the ferries Mayflower and Primrose. All four ferries were steam-powered, paddle-wheel propelled vessels.
The Trillium was built for the owner of the Maple Leafs baseball club, which originally had a stadium located on the islands. Due to some unscrupulous behaviour by said owner, the city took over control of the fleet of ferries in 1927, handing it over to the Toronto Transportation Commission (the precursor to the TTC).
Serving until 1957, when she was replaced by faster, diesel-powered ferries, the Trillium was moved to an island lagoon and scuttled, falling to the destructive powers of time. Until 1974, that is, when the Commissioner of Metro Toronto Parks (who, by now had taken ownership of the ferries from the TTC), ordered the three diesel ferries and the Trillium retrofitted and restored.
The Trillium saw herself restored back to her original 1910 condition, and reactivated in 1910. While significantly slower crossing the harbour than the three other ferries, she still continues to attract visitors who want to enjoy a voyage on the historic vessel.
