Posted:
Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015 (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Transit is once again asking residents to submit suggestions to name its newest replacement harbour ferry, expected to go into service in 2016.
Earlier this year residents voted to name the fifth harbour ferry in the fleet “Craig Blake” in honour of the first Canadian sailor to be killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. He was part of an elite navy group that specialized in neutralizing bombs, underwater and on land. Blake was based at Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic in Halifax.
Beginning today, (Thursday) until Sunday, Dec. 13, residents can submit their name idea for the new vessel online at www.halifax.ca/surveys.
Halifax Transit and Corporate Communications staff will review all submissions and narrow it down to a short list based on appropriateness, originality, cultural significance and diversity. A selection committee comprised of Mayor Mike Savage and one member from each of the three community councils will then develop a final list of five names from which residents can vote for their favourite.
The name receiving the most votes will adorn the new ferry, subject to final approval by Transport Canada. The resident who submits the winning name will receive a one-year conventional transit pass courtesy of Halifax Transit and the municipality.
Residents are encouraged to submit as many name suggestions as they wish and to check www.halifax.ca over the coming weeks for the opportunity to vote for a winner.
In 2014 Regional Council approved the construction of two new harbour ferries to replace two aging vessels in the existing fleet, to bring more continuity and efficiency to Halifax Transit’s ferry services. This vessel is the second of those two replacement ferries.
The first ferry naming contest was held in 2014, resulting in “Christopher Stannix” being chosen to recognize a young soldier from Cole Harbour who was killed in 2007 while serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan. The Christopher Stannix was the first new vessel to be added to the Halifax Transit ferry fleet in more than 25 years.
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