Christian Island celebrates arrival of new ferry to replace 70-year-old vessel

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After more than 70 years of service, the Sandy Graham ferry connecting Christian Island to the mainland is getting a long-awaited replacement.

On Wednesday, residents and visitors took a ride to the island to celebrate the arrival of the new vessel, the Niigaan Enaazhek, which means ‘shining forward.’

“It’s very nice,” said resident Duncan Copegog. “It’s going to make a big difference I’ll tell ya. It’s worth every cent they paid for it. It’s beautiful.”

The new ferry’s design allows it to move in any direction - sideways, backwards, or forwards - and even spin around ‘on a dime,’ making it highly maneuverable.

Beausoleil First Nation Chief Joanne Sandy called the upgrade is overdue and said it would be a “game-changer” for the roughly 1,000 full-time residents and the cottagers who spend summers on the island.

“It means a little bit better freedom for the people of the community,” Sandy said. “It’s very vital transportation back and forth from the community to the mainland.”

The ferry, built in 2024, can carry up to 36 vehicles and doubles as an icebreaker, allowing for year-round service.

“It’s important to our day-to-day operations to get our materials over when we are building houses and to even get hydro here to assist us when we need hydro upgrades,” Sandy added.

Resident Clay King said the change would make a big difference in every day life. “It’s going to be a big change for the reserve. There’s going to be no more bouncing between boats. It’s going to make life here a lot better.”

The ferry’s larger size means drivers can now pull straight on, turn around, and drive straight off without reversing. It will also travel faster on the water.

The Niigaan Enaazhek is funded jointly by the federal government and Beausoleil First Nation and is expected to be in full operation by the end of the year.