 to build the St. Lawrence Seaway were announced, commercial usage of the harbour was already in decline. Previous infill on the eastern side created in the 1920s was used to build modern port facilities. In the 1970s, the northern shore was in decline and there was a new political initiative to rebuild the waterfront without industry in a manner seen in other cities. The Harbourfront project expropriated the lands west of York Street. Several facilities were renovated, such as the Terminal Warehouse, and others were demolished, creating space for recreational and cultural uses. The area around Yonge Street remained in private possession and a hotel and condominiums were built on the shoreline. The area east of Yonge Street remained in light industrial use under public possession. On the north side of the harbour, there are a few buildings left from the industrial period. Some are in use, such as the Redpath Sugar Refinery. Others have been demolished or are slated for demolition, including grain storage elevators at the east and west end of the harbours.
Starting in 1972, the Government of Canada spent $10 million to dredge and widen the Eastern Gap, making it the primary entrance to the harbour for commercial boats. The 10 billion cubic yards of material was used to build the aquatic park on the Outer Harbour headland.
The original area of the harbour in 1834 was estimated to be about 2,150 acres (870 ha). With infilling, the area has declined to an area of 1,210 acres (490 ha) in size.
Rochester ferry service
In June 2004, the company Canadian American Transportation Systems (CATS) began regular passenger/vehicle ferry service between Pier 52 and Rochester, New York using the vessel Spirit of Ontario I. The service used a marketing name called "The Breeze". While Rochester had a custom-built ferry terminal, the Toronto terminal was a temporary facility, near the end of Cherry Street for security and customs screening facilities while a permanent marine passenger terminal was still under consideration for construction. CATS discontinued the service after only 11 weeks; among the problems cited was the absence of a permanent marine passenger terminal in Toronto and little Canadian interest in the service. The vessel was sold in a bankruptcy sale in February 2005 to Rochester Ferry Company LLC, a subsidiary of the City of Rochester. In April 2005, Rochester Ferry Company LLC announced that the Rochester-Toronto ferry service using Spirit of Ontario I would return, operated by Bay Ferries Great Lakes Limited and using the marketing name The Cat. The Toronto Port Authority officially opened the International Marine Passenger Terminal on June 27, 2005, three days before ferry service resumed. Even with impressive passenger numbers by the winter of 2006 the ferry service lost funding from the City of Rochester and announced that it would no longer be in business. The terminal building was later used for filming the CBC crime drama The Border.
Wharves and piers
Wharves existed along Toronto's waterfront in the 19th Century, but they have since been replaced by quays. Most of the former wharves disappeared when the waterfront was filled in along with the now "missing" Creeks of Toronto.
A list of former wharves along the central waterfront:
- Dufferin Street Wharf
- Queen's Wharf - Bathurst Street
- Conner's Wharf - York Street
- Millous Wharf - Yonge Street
- Hamilton Wharf - Church Street
- Sylvester Brothers and Hickman's Wharf - Church Street
- Northern Railway Wharf and Elevator - Portland Street
- Taylor's Wharf - George Street
- Hogarty and Grussett Wharf and Elevator - Simcoe Street
- Walsh and Love's Wharf - Simcoe Street
- Tinning's Wharf - York Street
- Higginbotham's Wharf - Yonge Street
- Manson's Wharf - Market Street
- Toronto and Northern Railway Wharf - Berkerley Street
- Gooderham's Wharf and Elevator - Don River
A list of current quays/slips along the waterfront:
- Bathurst Quay
- Maple Leaf Quay
- John Quay
- York Quay
- Queen's Quay
- Yonge Quay
- Rees St. Slip
- Simcoe St. Slip
Ships of Toronto Harbour
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