by Fred Morris
Spring 2021, updated September 2025
Ferry Road is named because the street connected with the Ferry that went across the Assiniboine River. It is a diverse street with business, residential, recreation and education. Prior to 1964, Ferry Road was a direct link from Portage Avenue to Airport Terminal.
The first St. James MLA Edwin Bourke (elected in 1874 and 1878) lived in a home near the south west corner of Ferry Road and Portage. In 1925, Edwin's son William Bourke opened a nine-hole golf course on the south west corner of Ferry and Portage. During the 1930s, one of Canada's first female golf professionals, Eve Rudd, worked at the course. In the early 1930s, the Municipality of St. James acquired the course. It closed permanently in 1949.
In September 1951, the partially finished St James Collegiate opened. In September 1954, the Annex, the first of several additions to the Collegiate, opened. In 1993, the Annex with a Ferry Road Address was renamed George Waters Middle School. The Bourkevale Community Club was formed in 1949. Under the strong leadership of Bob Pyne, an H Hut airport building was transported to the site at the end of Ferry Road. On 5 December 1952, St. James Mayor Reg Wightman officially opened the new clubhouse. In 1955, the St. James YMCA opened. In 1961, an indoor swimming pool was added. St. Stephens Lutheran Church rented the Y for services between 1955 and 1960. In 1993, the Y closed. The building was demolished and replaced by the Colorado Estates, a 55-Plus Co-op.
People who have lived on Ferry Road south of Portage include Harvey Nerbas, a street car operator and political activist, Manitoba Baseball Hall of Famer Jack Thompson, and former St. James Assiniboia School Board Trustee Roxanne Delbridge. Len Amey won three Grey Cups as the Equipment Manager for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Ernest (Brad) Bradshaw lived at Colorado Estates. He spent 30 years at TCA-Air Canada. Brad and Mona were married for 62 years. I remember seeing Brad almost every day when I was delivering to Second Cup Polo. Brad lived to 100.
Many memorable parades have passed through the intersection of Portage and Ferry. They include the 1939 Royal Visit, and the 1962 Winnipeg Blue Bomber Grey Cup victory parade. On 23 August 1963, a parade honouring Claudia McPherson went down Ferry Road to Portage. Claudia, aged 17, had just swam across the English Channel.
Ferry Road has always been a gathering place for St. James. The Chris Killeen Grocery Store, Safeway, Hull's and currently Family Foods have all been located at the northwest corner of Portage and Ferry. Ferry Road Grocery and now 7-11 have been located on the south west corner of Ness and Ferry. Coffee shops including In The Ding Dong Dell at 1863 Portage, the recently closed Robins Donuts at Ferry and Ness, and the current Tim Hortons at Portage and Ferry, have been gathering places.
Lloyd Berry, a Canadian actor and director, grew up on Ferry Road. His films included Jumanji, Aliens vs Predator - Requiem, and Scary Movie. In 2010, he wrote The Ferry Roaders. The book describes growing up in the 1930s and 1940s on Ferry Road. Edna Berry and Lil Isbister were the Ferry Road matriarchs of the street. Leonard Shakespeare lived on Ferry Road as a young adult. He became a St. Boniface police officer and tragically died in the line of duty. A Windsor Park street is named in his memory.
There has recently been some new infill houses constructed on Ferry Road just south of St. Matthews. Between St. Matthews and Ellice there is a commercial component. Killberry Industries, an agricultural manufacturing business founded by Tom Killberry, once had a Ferry Road location. Killberry Industries has evolved into Mac Don. Perimeter Air, which services northern Manitoba, is currently located at 626 Ferry.
I noticed in this story's feedback a mention of the building at the northeast corner of Ferry and Ness. I remember in the 1960s this building seemed to split into two. I definitely have more research to do on this story.
There are some Ferry Road addresses north of Ellice. A couple of businesses with Ferry Road addresses are located off a side street at the end of Ferry Road. A small stretch of Ferry Road runs off Sargent. A way should be found to eliminate this confusion. Ferry Road should stop at Ellice.
Mitchell Sharp was involved in Canadian public affairs in elected and non-elected positions for over 60 years. In 1968, he briefly entered the contest for Prime Minister. He lived on Ferry Road as a teenager and attended Linwood School and St. James Collegiate. He was awarded the Order of Canada.
Page revised: 24 October 2026