MV Mallard facts for kids

The MV Mallard, later renamed Kaleden, was an important ferry boat that helped people travel across lakes in British Columbia, Canada. From 1908 to 1910, it connected the towns of Summerland and Naramata on Okanagan Lake. After that, it served Skaha Lake and the community of Kaleden, British Columbia, under its new name, Kaleden. This little boat played a big role in connecting early communities in the Okanagan Valley.

Building the Mallard Ferry

In late 1907, the government decided to help the growing communities by providing money for a regular ferry service. This was a response to a request from John Moore Robinson, a pioneer who helped start the town of Naramata. At that time, Naramata didn't have many ways to get around, except for a few Canadian Pacific Railway ships and Robinson's own boat.

The job of building and running the ferry went to C. Noel Higgin. He hired Avis Boat Works to build the Mallard. It was a 30-foot (9.1 m) long boat with a cabin, powered by gasoline. The Mallard was designed to carry up to 12 passengers and small items like light freight. For bigger things like heavy freight, farm animals, or vehicles, a separate flat-bottomed boat called a scow was towed alongside. The Mallard began its ferry service in March 1908, making travel much easier for the people living in these new towns.

Years of Service and New Adventures

The Mallard ferry made two trips every day, with Captain Charles Hatfield from Nova Scotia in charge. It had a bit of competition from Robinson's boat, the Maude-Moore, but both boats were quite similar in speed. In 1908, Higgin, Robinson, and Ned Bentley teamed up to create the Okanagan Lake Boat Company. At this point, the Maude-Moore became the main official ferry.

The Mallard and its scows were soon considered too small for the growing needs of the area. So, in 1910, the Mallard was sold to James Ritchie. He was the person who helped start the new community of Kaleden, British Columbia. Ritchie renamed the boat Kaleden after his new town. He then used it on Skaha Lake to serve Kaleden. The Kaleden was very important for the town, even towing scows filled with materials like wood pipes and cement needed for building. It was the first boat specifically serving Kaleden and helped the town grow and develop.

The Final Journey of the Kaleden

Eventually, the Kaleden was sold again, this time to a new group called the South Okanagan Transportation Company. This company soon replaced the Kaleden with a newer, bigger ferry called the MV Cygnet after only two years.

The Kaleden was then sold to a Mr. McCallum in Summerland. He bought the boat mainly because he wanted its engine. However, he found that the engine was stuck very firmly in concrete and couldn't be removed! So, he sold the boat to Matt Wilson, who owned Paradise Ranch. Matt Wilson used the Kaleden for a while until it sadly sank. The Kaleden now rests at the bottom of the lake, off the old Canadian National Railway wharf in Summerland.