News release

Students Help Name New Englishtown Ferry

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Oct. 2007 - Feb. 2021)

Thanks to input from area students, the new ferry constructed for Englishtown will be known as the Torquil MacLean.

Torquil MacLean operated the ferry in Englishtown for 50 years and members of the MacLean family were involved in the ferry's operation for more than 150 years.

Students at four local schools were asked to write essays stating which of the two names -- Torquil MacLean or Angus MacAskill II –- they favoured. Essays were submitted by 125 students from schools in Baddeck, Middle River, Cape Smokey and Boularderie. The schools forwarded the most representative essays to the department and a committee recommended the new name.

"The quality of the essays was first rate and I'm impressed with the number of students who took part," said Murray Scott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "In their essays, many students paid tribute to the rich heritage of the area and highlighted the contributions of both the Giant MacAskill and Mr. MacLean."

The department sought input from the students after hearing from area residents that there was significant sentiment to rename the ferry.

Two winning student essays were chosen, one from the high school level and one from an elementary/junior high grade. The winners will receive their prize at a christening ceremony tentatively scheduled for early June.

The new ferry, the busiest provincially run ferry in Nova Scotia, is scheduled to be put into service in May.