YARMOUTH – Next year’s relaunch of a ferry between Maine and Yarmouth will feature on-board Nova Scotian musicians, local cuisine and even beer from Maritime microbreweries.
Officials from STM Quest Navigation, the company operating the new ferry, released the details Wednesday night at a town meeting in Yarmouth.
More than 400 residents crowded into the Mariner’s Centre for a large brainstorming session. Local officials tasked residents with pitching simple but effective ways to improve the town of Yarmouth ahead of the upcoming ferry relaunch.
Four years ago, the Nova Scotia government ceased subsidies for the Yarmouth ferry, effectively shutting it down.
Pam Mood, mayor of Yarmouth, said everyone has been hit hard by the ferry’s cancellation.
Get daily National news
“Each one of us here in some way is connected to somebody whose lost a job, who has lost a business, whose home is on the brink of disaster, and whose families have had to go west because of the situation we find ourselves in,” she said.
Now, residents want to make sure they take advantage of this new opportunity.
“The ferry isn’t the answer to everything, but it’s certainly a big piece of the puzzle,” Mood said. “And we certainly need to do this right.”
Doing it right means simple improvements, like cleaning up garbage, repainting storefronts and gathering teams of volunteers to greet and direct visitors.
The ferry’s operators were blunt when they spoke to the residents gathered at the town meeting. Owen John, vice-president of sales and marketing for STM Quest Navigation, said the company will bring 100,000 new visitors to Nova Scotia next year.
“Ultimately, the success of the ferry doesn’t rest on us alone,” John said. “It’s also up to you to do everything you can to provide the best possible guest experience for passengers when they land.”
The first ferry crossing from Maine is expected to arrive May 1, 2014.
Comments