Winnipeg Waterways launches river rivalry New water taxi, tour operator enters space long held by Splash Dash By: Gabrielle Piché Posted: 6:02 PM CDT Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2024

A new business restarting Winnipeg water bus service and continuing boat tours along the Red and Assiniboine rivers will soon set sail.

The company has already received hopeful praise from The Forks and anger from the site’s former operator — and possibly future competitor — Splash Dash Boat Tours.

For now, Winnipeg Waterways is anticipating the arrival of five Quebec-made boats before its May 18 start date.

“We hope to make Winnipeggers proud,” co-owner Will Belford said Wednesday.

He and Griffin Hewitt, a childhood friend from the Fort Garry neighbourhood, eyed a boat tour service after Splash Dash Boat Tours was listed for sale.

The 31-year-old company ferried up to 80,000 passengers through the Red and Assiniboine rivers annually for tours and taxi trips. It stationed itself at The Forks.

Splash Dash owner Gord Cartwright, 64, listed the entire business — staff and all — for $599,900 last year, as retirement drew nearer.

Belford and Hewitt entered negotiations with Cartwright. However, they chose to start their own venture, inking a deal with The Forks.

“We really wanted to start from scratch, build something that was wholly our own,” said Belford, 39.

And so, the pontoon boats — to fit 11 people each — have been ordered. Winnipeg Waterways has hired some 30 staff and is extending tour lengths to roughly 45 minutes (from Splash Dash’s half-hour).

Winnipeg Waterways is starting with one tour, but it’s open to creating different variations. “There’s history going back thousands and thousands of years, which we’re keen to share,” Belford said.

“We really wanted to start from scratch, build something that was wholly our own.”–Will Belford

The former Peg City Car Co-op fleet manager hopes to “bring culture back” to Winnipeg’s riverbanks. He’d like to see more boats on the water and more people on the shoreline for recreation and business.

Meanwhile, Cartwright is “very upset” with the new boat tour’s plans.

“I feel sad about the whole situation,” the long-time entrepreneur said. “I’m not going to get the retirement I was hoping to. I’ve got to downsize my plans.”

He alleged his business was “crippled” by The Forks in early 2023, when he was told to move his on-site office and storage area, and again when The Forks removed the security gate near his boats.

Splash Dash didn’t run its water bus last year because of the security gate removal, Cartwright said, adding he didn’t have adequate infrastructure or protection. He sent a letter to Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham and The Forks North Portage Partnership’s board of directors at the time about his concerns.

Cartwright alleges The Forks and Winnipeg Waterways made a deal where they wouldn’t include Splash Dash.

Both parties strongly deny they entered such an agreement.

Belford said negotiations halted because he and Hewitt weren’t prepared to buy the boats Cartwright was offering. Splash Dash had nine boats when it was listed for sale.

“I feel sad about the whole situation … I’m not going to get the retirement I was hoping to. I’ve got to downsize my plans.”–Gord Cartwright

“It was sort of all or nothing,” Belford added. “We have a lot of respect for what Splash Dash has done over the years… It just didn’t work out with us.”

The Forks was renting the area Splash Dash had used for storage; the landlord needed the space and everybody moved, according to spokeswoman Larissa Peck. Further, the security gate was removed for pedestrian access, she added.

“Truly, The Forks values the partnerships it has with its tenants,” Peck stated. “At the end of the day, we’re all here to serve our community.”

Cartwright had expected to sell his company and mentor the tour’s new operator in 2024. Instead, he’s searching for a location to operate Splash Dash.

He still has his boats and 20 staff, he said. However, a couple have switched to Winnipeg Waterways. “I’m… going to try to operate this year somewhere along the (river) walkway, if I can.”

River tour operators can request access to the City of Winnipeg’s boat launches and docks, but no permits are required aside from regular business licences, noted Kalen Qually, communications officer.

Transport Canada regulates boat activities on the water.

Belford said he welcomes more businesses on the rivers.

“We’re a river city, and this is an asset, not an obstacle,” the Winnipeg Waterways co-owner stated. “We’re staunch advocates for Winnipeg.”

Operating boat tours at The Forks, to Belford, is equivalent to being enmeshed in Winnipeg’s culture.

He called Hewitt an “expert on all things boats.” Hewitt is a field biologist who’s been a diver and has set up tourism plans.

The pair expect to host boat tours daily during the summer, from roughly 10 a.m. to dusk. A water bus schedule will be posted on Winnipeg Waterways’ website.

Boat tour tickets are $15 for youth and $20 for adults, with discounts for seniors. Pre-booking will be available online; $6 covers a water bus ticket, with discounts for day and multi-trip passes.

“We’re really excited about the proposal that was put forward by Waterways,” said Peck from The Forks. “We know it’s a big endeavour to outfit this type of operation and get it up and running.”

Many of Winnipeg Waterways’ values align with The Forks, Peck continued — both see “tremendous opportunity” for more connections on the river and for tour possibilities.

However, The Forks anticipates the upcoming year to be a “learning curve” for Winnipeg Waterways, she noted. The new company has fewer boats than Splash Dash operated.

Cartwright said there was more demand than he could meet with his full fleet.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com