When the Kootenay Lake ferry MV Anscomb was remodeled in 1972, after 25 years of faithful service, a few reminders of the old ferry managed to survive, the most impressive of which was her wooden wheelhouse and the captain’s quarters.

Acquired by a Balfour resident, it was taken ashore and for three decades used as a playhouse, chicken coop and storage shed. In 2008, the Balfour and District Business and Historical Association acquired it for $1. 

Thanks to a highly successful fund raising campaign, corporate donations, grants and hundreds of hours of painstaking work by volunteers, this unique and historically significant project was painstakingly restored. It was unveiled to the public at the Balfour ferry terminal on June 13, 2013.

The wheelhouse occupied its rightful spot at the landing’s rest area from that time until September 2019, when it was removed on the request of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure so that service work could begin on upgrading the ferry terminal.

The Balfour and District Business and Historical Association has now announced the historic wheelhouse will be returning to the Balfour ferry terminal in early July. Tourists are encouraged to visit the historic wooden structure, explore inside and read about the ship’s history on storyboards. During the summer, the association will be hosting a “wheelhouse interpreter” on site to answer questions about the wheelhouse and the Balfour area.