The

Rivière-du-Loup Rivière-du-Loup (; 2021 population 20,118) is a small city (Quebec), city on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. The city is the seat for the Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality and the Judicial districts of Quebec ...

– Saint-Siméon ferry service operates across the

Saint Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River (, ) is a large international river in the middle latitudes of North America connecting the Great Lakes to the North Atlantic Ocean. Its waters flow in a northeasterly direction from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawrenc ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, connecting the

Bas-Saint-Laurent The Bas-Saint-Laurent (, 'Lower Saint-Lawrence) is an administrative region of Quebec located along the south shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. The river widens at this place, later becoming a bay that discharges into the Atlan ...

and

Charlevoix Charlevoix ( , ) is a cultural and natural region in Quebec, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River as well as in the Laurentian Mountains area of the Canadian Shield. This dramatic landscape includes rolling terrain, fjords, headlands ...

regions. It is managed in partnership by La Traverse Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon Ltée and the

Société des traversiers du Québec The Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) is a ferry company which has operated some intra-provincial ferry services in Quebec since 1971. It is a crown corporation owned by the Government of Quebec. STQ operates the following services: ...

(STQ), which handles the terminal infrastructures. The crossing provides a crucial link for both tourists and local residents.

History

The origins of this ferry route date back to 1909 when the Trans-Saint-Laurent Company was founded by Malcolm Fraser, the mayor of Fraserville (now

), and J.-Camille Pouliot. The first ship, the SS ''Contest'', began service on June 24, 1909, connecting Rivière-du-Loup with Saint-Siméon and other municipalities on the north shore. Over the years, the ferry service expanded with new vessels such as the SS ''Mahone'' and the SS ''Rhoda''. In 1940, the service was officially named La Traverse Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon Ltée, after the company ceased operations to

Tadoussac Tadoussac () is a village municipality in La Haute-Côte-Nord RCM (Regional County Municipality), on the north shore of the maritime section of the estuary of St. Lawrence river, in Côte-Nord region, Quebec, Canada. Geography Tadoussac is ...

In 1963, the ferry was introduced to accommodate growing demand, capable of transporting 100 vehicles and 380 passengers per trip. The ferry remains in service.

Operations

The ferry covers a distance of , with an average crossing time of 65 minutes. It operates seasonally from April to January and is designated as an essential service by the

government of Quebec The Government of Quebec (, ) is the body responsible for the administration of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. The term is typically used to refer to the executive of the day (i.e. Minister of the Crown, mini ...

. The ferry crosses the

, often offering passengers views of marine wildlife, including

whale Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully Aquatic animal, aquatic placental mammal, placental marine mammals. As an informal and Colloquialism, colloquial grouping, they correspond to large members of the infraorder Cetacea ...

Modern developments

In 1993, the

ferry terminal A passenger terminal is a structure in a port which services passengers boarding and leaving water vessels such as ferry, ferries, cruise ships and ocean liners. Depending on the types of vessels serviced by the terminal, it may be named (for e ...

infrastructure came under the jurisdiction of the

, which now manages both terminals at Rivière-du-Loup and Saint-Siméon. The ferry service has seen multiple upgrades over the years, including dock renovations in 2010 and the construction of new facilities in 2011 to improve safety and efficiency. Recent years have also seen efforts to minimize the environmental impact of ferry operations, especially in areas affecting local whale populations.

Significance

The ferry service plays a vital role in regional tourism, linking the mountainous landscapes of Charlevoix with the scenic Bas-Saint-Laurent. By ferry, the crossing spans 27 kilometres and takes about 65 minutes, providing a much shorter and faster route compared to the drive on land, which can take up to five hours. The ferry offers a convenient route for tourists exploring both sides of the river, as well as a necessary passage for local residents. Each year, the ferry transports thousands of vehicles and passengers, contributing to the local economies of both regions.

Potential relocation debate

In recent years, discussions have emerged about relocating the Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon ferry to Gros-Cacouna due to significant cost differences. Studies from the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) indicate that maintaining the current terminal at Rivière-du-Loup could cost up to 700 million CAD, more than double the cost of relocating to Gros-Cacouna, where

dredging Dredging is the excavation of material from a water environment. Possible reasons for dredging include improving existing water features; reshaping land and water features to alter drainage, navigability, and commercial use; constructing d ...

would be less frequent. Mayor Mario Bastille of Rivière-du-Loup opposes the move due to economic and logistical concerns. In addition, many residents have mobilized to keep the ferry in Rivière-du-Loup, viewing it as essential to the community's identity and economy. A petition was launched, highlighting the ferry's historical and cultural significance, with the region relying on it for nearly 115 years. Environmental groups have also voiced concerns about Gros-Cacouna’s proximity to a beluga whale habitat, fearing the impact of increased maritime traffic and noise pollution. The ferry service will continue to operate from Rivière-du-Loup until January 2028. The STQ extended its contract with Clarke, ensuring operations until the end of the 2027 season. However, the Québec government has yet to decide whether the ferry's long-term port will remain in Rivière-du-Loup or move to Cacouna, with both locations facing logistical challenges, including dredging in Rivière-du-Loup and the need for new infrastructure in Cacouna.

References

{{reflist

External links

Official website of the Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon Ferry
Ferries of Quebec