THE WAY WE WERE: Marilyn, the Bell and the boat

Published Apr 28, 2018 • 2 minute read

For many years, access to and from the new airport that had been built on the sandbar at the west end of Toronto Island (and had initially been called Port George VI Island Airport in anticipation of the Monarch’s visit to Toronto in 1939) was via this modified barge. The date of the photo is unknown as are the identities of the fellows crossing the Western Channel. Are they members of the Island’s volunteer fire department? Anyone recognize anyone?

In last week’s column, I described the fascinating history about one of the most historic vessels to have ever called Toronto home port.

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The passenger steamer Chicora was built in an English shipyard in 1864. Soon after launching she sailed to Charleston, SC, where her career began as a “blockade runner,” carrying bales of cotton, avoiding ships that had been that had been set up by the union forces to prevent the confederacy from shipping much-needed cotton to mills in Great Britain.

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Then, came years as a passenger ferry on the Great Lakes before Chicora’s illustrious career came to an end when, having been converted to a barge, she sank and was eventually cut up for scrap. Truly a sad ending for such a historic vessel.

Following the use of the barge that was hauled across the channel using the âancientâ rope and winch technique, two âusedâ double-end passenger ferries were introduced. The first was the Maple City, then the Windmill Point. As passenger traffic in and out of the island airport (now known as Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport) continued to increase, the authority ordered a new ferry and in Oct. 2006 the TCCA1 (Toronto City Centre Airport 1) began carrying passengers the 94.4 m. between the mainland and airport docks. Four years later, another new and larger ferry arrived and entered service as TCCA2. A contest was held to rename the pair. TCCA1 now recognizes Toronto-born and Mimico-educated WW2 RCAF pilot and Victoria Cross winner David Hornell while the former TCCA2 now honours Toronto-born marathon swimmer Marilyn Bell.

After discussing one of the oldest vessels to be seen on the waters of Toronto bay, I now move into the present but still on the waterfront. Earlier this week, my wife and I found ourselves on board one of the newest and while we were not actually on the bay we were pretty close as we crossed the Western Channel on our way to the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport over on the Island.

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David Hornell VC was the name chosen for the Toronto Port Authorityâs new Island airport ferry. The vessel was built by Hike Metals at its Wheatley, Ont. shipyard and entered service on Oct. 11, 2006. The Hornell story is a fascinating one and can be found online at torontoplaques.com/Pages/Flight_Lieutenant_David_Ernest_Hornell.html

There, we would meet and greet a special visitor to our city, Marilyn Bell DiLascio. Marilyn was a 16-year-old schoolgirl when she became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. That historic 20 hour-and-57 minute event took place on Sept. 8 and 9, 1954.

Marilyn was in town to participate in several swim-related events — the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper’s (waterkeeper.ca) fundraising gala, a Solo Swims of Ontario meeting and to participate in the Toronto Sport Hall of Honour 2018 induction ceremony during which, Marilyn’s submission, the late Cindy Nicholas, would be honoured posthumously.

At Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, members of PortsTorontoâs staff, Gene Cabral (right), Jen Brailsford and Michael MacWilliam, welcome the âLady of the Lakeâ back to Marilynâs home town, Apr. 25, 2018.

While it was anticipated that the three of us would return to the mainland on “Marilyn’s boat,” as fate would have it, Marilyn was in for servicing (the boat, not the swimmer) and we made the 91.4 metre (300-foot) trip in 90 seconds on board the standby craft David Hornell VC.

Welcome home, Marilyn.

mfiley@postmedia.com

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