Connecting The Kootenays is the history of a century of ferry service across Kootenay Lake. It follows the service from its genesis in 1921, when it first linked the East and West Kootenays together as part of the visionary Southern Trans-Provincial highway, right up until its 100th anniversary in 2020, when the existing two-ferry operation is on the verge of turning another page with the introduction of a new ‘electric ready’ ferry with state-of-the-art technology. The story starts with coal-fired CPR sternwheelers - graceful and luxurious in their accommodations - carrying automobiles between Kuskanook and Nelson and then progresses to a ferry service owned and operated by the Provincial Government. From 1931 until 1947, the ferry ran between Fraser’s Landing and Gray Creek. In the post-War boom, the route was shortened to what it is today. For the next 73 years, Kootenay Lake ferries have crossed between Balfour and Kootenay Bay, always ready to provide a safe, convenient, sometimes vital year-round link to the communities they serve, regardless of how bad the weather is.
The 330 page book chronicles the changes that have taken place over the century, from transformations in ferry designs and docking facilities, improvements in navigation techniques, evolution in crew uniforms and safety, to privatization of operations, revised scheduling and, not to forget, the removal of the ferry tolls in 1963. Over the years, the operation has altered course to keep pace with the changes in public taste, ranging from demands for shorter routes and less congestion, improved on board and terminal conveniences, to changes in automobile styling, including the advent of RV’s and larger commercial trucks.
A lifelong resident of the West Kootenays, Michael Cone has spent over 5 decades documenting the maritime and industrial heritage of Kootenay Lake. His work combines meticulous archival research with oral histories from the people who lived the story.
