Moncton 
Campobello Island residents will have a longer ferry season this year after the New Brunswick government extended service between Deer Island and Campobello Island through Thanksgiving weekend.
Credit: Matt Hewitson/Tourism New Brunswick
Under a contract with East Coast Ferries Ltd., the ferry began operating today and will continue running seven days a week, weather permitting, until Oct. 12.
The move keeps a domestic connection in place for both the Victoria Day and Thanksgiving holiday weekends, offering residents and visitors an alternative to travelling through the United States.
Though the island is connected year-round by the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge, it is not directly linked to the rest of New Brunswick; it connects to Lubec, Maine. This means that travelling to another part of Canada typically requires crossing the U.S. border twice in each direction—a round trip of about 150 kilometres and four border crossings.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson said the province is continuing to subsidize the seasonal service to help maintain what he called an accessible and reliable transportation corridor within New Brunswick.
Campobello Island Mayor Harvey Matthews welcomed the extension, calling the ferry a vital mainland connection for the remote island community.
The ferry service has become especially significant for residents trying to avoid delays, border crossings and added travel costs associated with routing through Maine.
Ferries run hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. departing from Deer Island, and from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Campobello.
