Aquabus is immediately recognizable for its cheerful, rainbow coloured passenger ferries. They provide frequent daily service to all destinations in False Creek, making them an ideal way to travel on the open water from Yaletown to Olympic Village or over to Granville Island. Aquabus offers not only convenient transportation, but also stunning views of Vancouver to tourists and locals alike. Plus, all routes are wheelchair, bicycle, pet, and stroller friendly. We spoke with Aquabus Manager, Jake Pratt, to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Aquabus Ferry Ltd. We are a passenger ferry service located in False Creek, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What made you want to do this work?
Aquabus has been a family business since it began in 1985, and more than 40 years later, our entire family is still involved. I feel incredibly lucky to work so closely with my family while being a part of a business that connects both visitors and locals throughout Vancouver. Some of my earliest memories are of climbing onto the captain’s seat at four years old, pretending to steer the boat, so in many ways, you could say I was born into this work.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
In the early 1990’s, we noticed a growing number of passengers travelling with bicycles and strollers, as well as riders with accessibility needs. We recognized that not everyone could easily access marine transportation at the time. In 1994, we built our first “Cyquaboat”, a platform-style vessel designed to meet the needs of this growing demographic. Since then, we have designed and fabricated 10 fully accessible vessels to help remove barriers to marine transit. Our goal has always been to ensure that passengers from all walks of life can ride with us comfortably and without limitations.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Aquabus welcomes passengers from all over the world aboard our little rainbow ferries. We serve a diverse mix of visitors exploring Vancouver for the first time, as well as locals who rely on us to get around False Creek.
We especially want to acknowledge and thank our regular riders; without their continued support, Aquabus wouldn’t be where it is today. All 17 of our vessels were made possible by the passengers who have supported us throughout the years. We’re extremely grateful for every single one of them.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Aquabus operates a network of eight docks throughout False Creek, with Granville Island being the main hub of activity. Passengers can board at any of our eight locations and purchase a ticket directly from the captain using cash, credit, debit, or tap. Our revenue comes primarily from these ticket sales. We also offer a day pass for riders who plan to explore multiple stops around Vancouver.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
Aquabus operates across eight stops throughout False Creek.
Our Locations are:
-Hornby Street Dock
-Granville Island
-David Lam Park
-Yaletown
-Stamp’s Landing
-Spyglass Place
-Plaza of Nations
-The Village (Main St, Science World)
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
The two questions we get asked the most are what separates us from comparable transit services and what it is like to be a captain at Aquabus? Beyond accessibility, it’s also about the experience. We operate little rainbow ferries right in the heart of False Creek, and there truly isn’t a better “office” to work from. It’s hard not to have a smile on your face when you’re out on the water, and we think our passengers feel that too.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part of working at Aquabus is being part of a company that has connected people in Vancouver for over 40 years. It’s amazing to see friendships and relationships form on our ferries; some have even blossomed into families! We’ve also had long-lasting careers start here, with drivers and deckhands moving on to larger operations such as the coast guard and BC Ferries, to name a few. The worst part has to be shovelling snow off the docks in the winter, but luckily, we don’t see as much snow as other parts of Canada 🙂
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
They say there is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow……we just call it a gastank! 🙂
Where can we follow you?
People can follow @aquabus on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or check out routes, fares and general info on our website.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
We are lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing locally owned and operated businesses on Granville Island. It’s hard to choose because they’re all fantastic, but a few of our personal favourites are Longliner Seafoods, Oyama Sausage, Market Grill, La Tortilleria, Blue Parrot Coffee, and Sen Pad Thai. Truly, every business on Granville Island brings something special to the community; these are just the ones we find ourselves visiting most often.
