Rideau Ferry Dock Opening Ceremony speeches

Rideau Ferry Dock #1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Rideau Ferry Dock opening speeches



Rideau Ferry Dock #2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Rideau Ferry Dock opening speeches part 2

Rideau Ferry, the bridge, Oliver's Landing, public docks = high traffic!

Rideau Ferry

There has been much talk about Rideau Ferry at council. You see, the lovely restaurant [now CC's] on the right, owns the docks, on the right, on the spot where the Little Rideau

Shipwreck restaurant dockage
and the bridge

turns into the Big Rideau. They've had some trespassing, and vandalizing of their fence. That is about to change.

There is much traffic at the store, and tourists
aren't the most patient of humanity! Many, with long trailers behind, park strangely. IT is difficult to find parking when there are fishing tournaments. We've even had a helicopter park in the parking lot! I just happened to be there...

Behind the restaurant, is the Rideau Ferry General Store (medium blue). They are a great spot to shop, including an LCBO (liquor store), ice machines, a summer chip stand. You can buy eggs, frozen pizza, pop, juices, as well as gas and propane.

This is the spot where people can pick up their mail from the outdoor kiosk, too! In summer, the lake is a very busy spot.
This spot is everything cottagers want or need in a grocery emergency.



Between boaters, bridge jumpers, cars, trucks, contractors, there is much risk for incidents. People scream under the bridge in their boats and on jetskis. People will be in the area anyway, some passing through, some buying supplies. I just hope they can slow down.

Here are the new docks, beside the old footings.
 Someone has carved letters into the wet cement!

Many boaters on the Rideau

There was a pirate on these waters, but that is yet another story! Many pop in here, and in summer you'll meet contractors, tourists dragging large boats, hunters on their way to play, as well as full-time residents. It's incredibly busy.
Turns out, the spot hasn't had public docks in years. It was called Oliver's Landing (1816 -  1862).

A busy July day - many boaters

The old story goes that John Oliver had an Inn on the other side of the Rideau, which was true, and if it was too late for a ferry crossing, you could stay over for the night. The rumour was that he murdered and hid the bodies of his customers, stealing their goods. This has been shot down in recent research! (I wrote about it here.) This is a myth! He wasn't a very nice man. Nor was his son...
 It's a busy spot as speed boats scream by in summer and snow machines in winter.

There was much lobbying for public dockage. I just hope that the OPP will monitor it well. We have enough with easy access to the liquor store, despite our local MPP's claims!
[Hillier introduces Bill to allow beer and wine sales in stores]
He wants more access through local stores, including people: Driving at the speed of stupid!
This is a high traffic area, with people parking poorly, and much risk for traffic incidents. Many run in and out for booze. I shudder to think of what it will look like on a summer long weekend with public docks.

Cigarette boats, too!

Land Transfer Assists Public Dock Process

Council passed a bylaw (Sept. 28, 2012) to convey part of the former County Road #1, near the Rideau Ferry Bridge, to Drummond/North Elmsley Township. This includes pedestrian access from the dock to local businesses via the former County Road 1 lands (formerly Perth Street), which were created when the road was realigned to accommodate the construction of the new Rideau Ferry Bridge in 1968. 

Sometimes traffic is an issue!

Other partners in this project include the Rideau Ferry Yacht Club (Scott Cameron), Parks Canada, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the local First Nations representative. Access to an existing community mail box and to RVCA’s water gauge station were taken into account in planning for the docks, as well as future access to the bridge by the county for maintenance and rehabilitation.

RIDEAU FERRY - What's up dock?

The budget has been estimated up to $300,000, which makes room for any unforeseen factors, says Churchill.

Our tax dollars at work!

Rideau Ferry Public Docks | Canada's Economic Action Plan:

Public docks a step closer - Perth Community

Rideau Ferry, old bridge, restaurant

24 Nov 2011 – EMC News -  The proposed project is to create a new commercial-grade dock next to the original public docks, between the Rideau Ferry Bridge and the concrete abutment of the old bridge. 

Note the snowmobile tracks!

Here is the bridge in winter, looking out to the lake. 
The bridge is a place where young people jump into the lake in summer!

Young people bridge jumping
in summer.

This will be a busy spot in summer.
Beyond the docks: cottages.

Construction on the new docks

Love the signage

Last weekend it was frozen, with shards of ice

View from the top of the bridge

This bridge dates from 1968.
You can see the footings of the old one in some photos.

It's the shortest crossing, hence the ferry worked here
in the early 1800s.

The Rideau Canal waterway has much traffic.
Many are hoping to increase waning boat tourism.
Via dockage at Rideau Ferry (A)

Hopes are buoyant for proposed wharf in Rideau Ferry

There was much lobbying, and much press!

Lack of public docks source of frustration in Rideau Ferry

The lack of public docks in Rideau Ferry continues to create frustration for residents and cottagers. Dallas Kennedy, owner of The Shipwreck, cites problems.

These are photos I took as they were building!

Helicopter in Rideau Ferry from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The ice is still on Lower Rideau lake

Still ice on S. E. Ontario lakes, but the geese have come back. They perch on the edge of the ice.
Here are two pairs!

Also, I spotted a pair of mergansers. They like the cold, cold water!

Crespular clouds, with sun peeking through

It's a lovely spot for the Rideau Ferry General Store, and Shipwreck restaurant. The restaurant owns what were public docks. Some want dockage space, perhaps to visit the liquor store?
It's bad enough with the helicopter touching down there!

Helicopter landing in parking lot!

Public docks a step closer - News - By Amy Hogue Perth Community ...

Rideau Ferry, old bridge, restaurant

24 Nov 2011 – EMC News -  The proposed project is to create a new commercial-grade dock next to the original public docks, between the Rideau Ferry Bridge and the concrete abutment of the old bridge. 

Here is the new bridge, looking out to the lake. It'd be good for general store business, not for drinking driving laws!

Stakeholders: Lanark County, Parks Canada, Township of Drummond North Elmsley, First Nation Algonquin, Rideau Ferry Yacht Club, people who have post office boxes on the site; birds and wildlife.

There will be parking issues, traffic issues, with nothing but the general store and pub.

County, township hope for Rideau Ferry docks soon

Written by Ian Sutton

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Left, orange: shelter for mail boxes, cars parked by RF General Store, right, Shipwreck restaurant, who leases dockage in front. Those waiting for public docks to be accessible again at Rideau Ferry may see their hopes become reality later this spring. Lanark County and Drummond-North Elmsley Township are waiting for response from Parks Canada on an proposal to acquire land on both sides of the Rideau Ferry bridge to build public docks.

Helicopter landing as the 1% Occupy!

Rideau Ferry General Store
/AKA helicopter landing pad

 I hustled on down the road for supplies last night.
Rideau Ferry has a delightful little general store.

They have a snack bar, too!
Gas, french fries in summer, milk, snack food, LCBO, pop and eggs when we don't want to go into Perth. Apparently, this pilot didn't want to drive into the store, either.

Lo, and behold, a helicopter landed while I was in the store.

The staff were not amused. Apparently he does this all the time. There were at least a half dozen cars coming and going. I asked him if he was worried about shooting gravel at the cars. "Nah," he said, "it doesn't raise that much dust!" Crikey.

Registration N744TP

He's fortunate that there are not power lines.

It was a bit scary and the other store patrons were look at each other and shaking their heads.

It was close to sunset.
He didn't think there was any problem
landing in the store parking lot.

Those of us parked in the Rideau Ferry General Store were a bit flummoxed!  (He's also parked in the restaurant parking lot, too lazy to hop on a bike, cross the bridge, and go to the store!)

People complained! Rather the reverse of Occupy, as he is one of the 1%!

I flicked on the camera, and the sound was a bit peculiar. It's not a full-sized helicopter. I was so shocked, I didn't believe it!

After I reported this situation to Transport Canada, I made a police report. An OPP constable came to me house and I gave full details.

If you spot dangerous flying in Canada, contact:

Civil Aviation Issues Reporting System

Transport Canada | Transports Canada

330, rue Sparks Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5

services@tc.gc.ca

Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

Helicopter in Rideau Ferry from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.