SIMON: In 2003, Toronto has suffered a slump in tourism, due to the SARS outbreak in the city. As the outbreak had subsided, the city’s tourism authority began an aggressive tourism campaign on bring the people that the city is safe once again. There was one company back in 2004 who wanted to provide a fast ferry service from Toronto to Rochester, New York as an alternative of driving down the QEW and then crossing the bridge to the United States. However, the new fast ferry did not surprise everyone during its inauguration. Here’s reporter Maurice Roussieaux with that story.

[Cut to Fast Ferry vessel leaving the dock]

MAURICE: The Spirit of Ontario also known as “The Breeze” sets sail as it leaves the port of Rochester, New York for its maiden voyage to Toronto, Ontario. CATS or Canadian American Transportation Systems actively promoted the service in local newspapers in Toronto and in Rochester. [Cut to view of people walking along the deck of the vessel]  We decided to go out on a test drive to test out the new fast ferry and how it compares on driving the traditional way. Many passengers were quite anxious on the inaugural trip across Lake Ontario.

[Cut to passenger interviewed by reporter]

PASSENGER 1: I have some relatives in Toronto and they told me that their city suffered a massive slump in tourism. They told me that they survived the SARS outbreak, West Nile Virus, Mad Cow Disease, the Blackout; it’s just endless for the city. Hopefully, this new fast ferry service will promote tourism in that city.

PASSENGER 2: It’s a great alternative to the freeway. You have to drive on the New York State Thruway and pay the toll and then cross over Canada to drive on their roads. I can easily go from Rochester to Toronto at a fraction of the time.

[Various shots of the inside amenities on the vessel]

MAURICE: CATS claimed that the new fast ferry service will cut travel time in half as opposed on traveling by road. Customs/Immigration is done before boarding and after boarding on both sides of the country. The vessel is built by an Australian company called Austal Ships and it has a lot of amenities on board. They include a cafeteria, a play room for the kids, two movie theatres, two bars, a video game arcade and for those of you who regularly visit either Toronto or Rochester for a business trip, there’s a satellite broadband connection on board, as well as television service for those of you sports fans. [Cut to reporter talking to president of the company]

CATS president Cornel Martin told NewsWatch that the company has some problems on starting the service up, but reassures that everything is working out.

CORNEL MARTIN: We have some problems with the new permanent ferry terminal back in Toronto and we have to repair a hull that was damaged in New York City. We were planning to have the service ready for May, but we have to delay for one of those reasons.

MAURICE: Are you also addressing the crossing issues with the Canadian government?

CORNEL:  Yes, security for all of our patrons for using the service is one of our top priorities. We have to overcome those obstacles to make sure that our service remains an alternative of crossing the border by land.

[Cut to fans walking across the deck]

MAURICE (Voice Over): There were some drawbacks to the new fast ferry service. Originally it was planned to be in operation back in May until there were a series of delays. First a hull was damaged back in April and problems with the engine affected the service’s launch date. Secondly, dispute with the Canadian government on providing Customs services at a payment. Finally, construction of the ongoing ferry terminal in Toronto also affected the service’s ability to launch. Despite those issues, the new ferry service attracted many people in its first inauguration.

CORNEL: We hope that we can reach a record attendance for our new service. We had many trips that are a sell out and I hope the trend is continuing for many weeks to come as the summer travel season swings into full force.

[Cut to cars exiting the ferry terminal, with people inside the cars honking to the cameraman]

MAURICE: After a brief delay and customs checks in Toronto, we managed to arrive with great flair – with less time of course as compared on traveling by land! Many passengers really enjoyed the experience. We managed to catch up to them.

PASSENGER #1 (in car): When I used to live in British Columbia, we have a great ferry service from the mainland of Vancouver to Vancouver Island. Now by riding this particular ferry, it feels like I’m home again!

PASSENGER #2: Great spectacular views of the lake. Good amenities and the people were very knowledgeable of answering our questions and concerns. 

MAURICE: Maurice Roussieaux, Newswatch, Toronto.

SIMON: Well unfortunately, since that story had aired, the service ran for only three months. CATS later filed for bankruptcy on September 7^th, 2004 due to financial difficulties. The vessel was parked at the Rochester ferry terminal throughout the winter of 2005. A new company based in Prince Edward Island was selected to manage the entire ferry service and the vessel was rebranded from “The Breeze” to “The Cat”. The service was relaunched on June 30^th, 2005 until it suspended temporarily six months later. The newly elected mayor of Rochester later discontinued the service on January 2006 and four months later, the Spirit of Ontario I was up for sale. The vessel is now sold to a German-based company to provide service from Spain to Morocco. The permanent ferry terminal in Toronto located on Unwin Ave., off Cherry St. which has since been abandoned however, still remains to this day.  Next time on Flashback, punk rockers hang out for a great at the Vans Warped Tour.

2004 – Wakestock

SIMON: Recently, a devastating fire has rocked Wasaga Beach, a very popular tourist attraction. But in the picturesque town’s better days, Wasaga Beach was home to a very controversial event attracting many people from over Ontario, and the United States. As we report from our own Stacey Patton with that story in 2004.

[Cut to a wakeboarder doing a trick on a lake]

Stacey Patton: The excitement was building as the 2004 Wakestock was held in Wasaga Beach today. Fans all the way from as far as Toronto and as far as Detroit came to see the festival filled with music and extreme sports.

[Cut to a fan wearing a baseball cap]

FAN #1: I drove all the way from Orangeville, just to see a few rock bands perform.

STACEY: This three-day festival features a wakeboarding competition and a music festival, all in one package. [Cut to a scene of the performers on the stage] Among the performers who performed at the festival include Moneen, Alexisonfire and The Ataris. Those bands were a few of the 16 bands performed at Wakestock. [An FMXer performs a stunt to the spectators] For those of you FMXers out there, the FMX Expression session is the place to be. The top 8 motocross jumpers set their new heights and special tricks. [Cut to a kiteboarder on a lake] If you like Kiteboarding, then Canada’s top kiteboarders took special heights of the great waves of Georgian Bay with reasonable winds. [Cut to reporter talking to the organizer of the event] Larry McCrae, organizer of the event told us that the event had provided an economic boost for the community.

LARRY McCRAE: The people of Wasaga Beach really loved us, the local businesses and council enjoyed our hospitality and as long as everyone is being co-operative, we should get along each other.

[Cut to two retirees at their place]

STACEY: But the residents of Wasaga Beach believe that the festival is causing some severe nuisance to their way of life. 67 year-old Harry Bonham, a retired CN conductor who currently resides in Wasaga Beach along with her wife 68 year-old Laurie Bonham, a retired hospital nurse believes that the event is disturbing the peace.

[Cut to male senior citizen]

HARRY BONHAM: There were lots of kids slept in our front lawn. There’s lots of litter piling up everywhere! The bad smell of human waste is awful. Lots of violent fights broke out and many people feel intoxicated.

[Cut to female senior citizen]

LAURIE BONHAM: We tried to call the police many times and they eventually tell the crowds to move along, but that’s not enough to stop the occurrence.

[Cut to a mosh pit of the crowd]

STACEY: Police constable James Henderson of the Wasaga Beach OPP detachment said that they received numerous calls and complaints about the incidents surrounding the festival.

[Cut to police officer]

P.C. JAMES HENDERSON: We have to deal with the issues seriously as our citizens requested and we eventually arrested the people involved in those incidents. We were also informed that a citizen filed a noise complaint with the town council to let the organizers know that they have to keep their noise levels down.

[Cut to reporter]

STACEY: The OPP has asked the organizers to step up their procedures and protocols regarding today’s events and the organizers must comply with those guidelines set by the OPP or face legal action. [Cut to a shot of cheering fans] As for the people who attended the event, they simply just want to have fun. For Newswatch, I’m Stacey Patton reporting from Wasaga Beach.

SIMON: Eventually, Wasaga Beach town council decided in a 4-3 decision against the return of Wakestock. At least 45,000 people attended the event at Wasaga Beach which council deemed too big for the community. Organizers spent much of 2005 finding where the event will take place, but in the end, The Toronto Islands is finally (and will be) the new home of Wakestock. As for Wasaga Beach, a smaller, but more family oriented wakeboarding event have taken over the shadows recently called “The Canadian Wake Championships” took place last summer on August 2007.The only difference is the number of attendance, only 3,000 people attended that event. The big Wakestock event at Wasaga might be gone, but those memories will be never to forget. Next week on flashback, Toronto tries to secure a place to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

2004 – Hostage Situation

SIMON: Every day, thousands of people flock to and from Toronto’s busy Union Station by GO train, subway and intercity train. But things had grinded to halt as a hostage situation is ongoing, leaving many commuters unaware. This report dates back on August 2004 as our Maurice Roussieaux reports; the crowd has thought that a Hollywood action flick is filming in their doorsteps.

[Cut to officer telling the public to stay away]

POLICE OFFICER: Everyone please stay away from the area, this is a very dangerous situation!

POLICE OFFICER 2: You are in the line of fire, get off the road!

[Cut to a scene of the suspect holding a hostage with gun]

MAURICE ROUSSIEAUX: Streets were shut down, all doors locked, parameters were set up and police surrounded a male suspect holding a gun pointing at a hostage at Toronto’s Union Station. Police had tried to tell the hostage to surrender successfully or they will open fire. The hostage refuses and told the public to stay away or else the suspect will open fire. [Cut to an aerial scene of the station] This view as filmed in our helicopter showed a birds-eye view as the hostage stands quietly against the hostage taker. [Cut to a closed circuit surveillance camera video] Initial reports show that the suspect has attacked inside a food court inside an underground mall and fired shots at her, but the woman managed to evade any action. The shooter however was able to pistol whip at the woman and then the shooter managed to flee the scene. The wife however, had survived. [Cut back to ground view of Hostage and suspect] Back outside the station, the shooter identified as 45 year old Sugstan Anthony Brookes holds a raffle at an innocent young woman identified as 20 year-old Nicole Regis. Police Constable Larry Wong tells Newswatch that this is the first time that he ever sees a situation like that.

P.C. LARRY WONG: We tried desperately to tell the hostage taker to surrender successfully, but we failed without any accounts. We told the general public that they must stay away from the situation and we have to plan a different strategy.

[Cut to a shot of the ETF officers]

MAURICE: That’s when the Emergency Task Force officers come in along with the sharp shooters.

COMMUTER #1: First when I got there I saw, “Oh, this is a movie. It appeared so surreal.” And oh boy, it was action definitely. You know see the police with real guns.

TOURIST: I came all the way from Australia and when I woke up in front of my hotel room this morning, I told my family members to have a look outside – I was telling to myself, “Is it a movie shoot or it something real?” When the automated broadcast told us to stay in our hotel rooms, I was kind of scared. I thought the hostage taker is going to take my kids [laughs].

[Cut to another view of the hostage and suspect]

MAURICE: The standoff continued for 40 minutes and police tried precariously to talk to the man, traffic rerouted and many horrific passengers saw the action unfolded.

[Cut to a female]

COMMUTER #2: At that time I was inside and I said to myself, “Thank god. I was inside.” The situation could happen to anyone, even me and my kids.

[Cut to a view of suspect]

MAURICE: All negotiations with the gunman had failed. But then appearing from nowhere – something strikes the suspect – [Cameraman vibrates as shots fired at suspect and the ETF officers rushed through the scene and rescues the hostage taker]. A strikeshooter out of view managed to kill the suspect freeing the hostage.

[Cut to another commuter]

COMMUTER #3: Next thing you hear was a shot and I saw him hit the pavement. It’s just a sack of potatoes just came down.

[Cut to a salesman]

MAURICE: Clarke Von Kok, a person who sold newspapers at the time of the shooting managed to barricade himself when the shooting broke out.

CLARKE VON KOK: The gunman didn’t say anything, but I heard a voice – which turned out to be a police officer and then I managed to take drastic action, when the big shot came I ducked and cover and after that an eerie silence came. I quietly got up and I saw that the shooter was dead.

[Cut to a shot of ETF officers surrounding the killed gunman and officers guide the hostage to a waiting ambulance]

MAURICE: The gunman was instantly killed by a police marksman and the hostage meanwhile, which turned out to be a student on her last day on her summer job, relieved and free. Paramedics were on hand to comfort the hostage. She was later examined at the hospital and later released. As for the wife of the hostage taker, she was taken into hospital for observation and was later released. [Cut to reporter outside the station] The suspect had a history of domestic violence and was told by local authorities to stay away from his family and was barred from possessing any weapons. Union station officials will review their security procedures following today’s events. For Newswatch, I’m Maurice Roussieaux reporting from Union Station.

SIMON: The incident had marked shockwaves all across the country and eventually the coverage was picked up by CNN discussing the situation. All public places shortly after the shooting immediately reviewed their security protocols to make sure that an incident like that from happening ever again. Next time on flashback, Wakestock’s last straw in Wasaga Beach and organizers were scrambling, where the event should take place?