A view from the Quyon Ferry dock (Quyon Ferry photo)
Business has been steady for the Quyon Ferry despite uncertain spring conditions along the Ottawa River.
Part-owner Ralph McColgan says the ferry has been running without issue since opening in late March, even as the water levels on the river remain high in the Ottawa Valley thanks to the spring thaw flowing downstream.
McColgan is confident that the current flooding being felt along the lower-lying areas of the river will not get bad enough to cause the ferry to close, so he’s more concerned about the nearby communities who stress over whether or not they have to protect their homes every year.
Conditions on the river don’t have to directly affect the ferry to have an impact; the 2019 floods spilled so much water into the Quyon fairgrounds that the municipality had to make a difficult decision.
The ability to stay open despite ongoing flood warnings is important for the many commuters and cottagers who rely on the ferry to save time and money, especially as similar services further downstream have had greater difficulty with the current conditions.
(written by Kasey Egan)
