One Islander called it 'eerie', another compared it to an episode of the Twilight Zone and a third declared it a refreshing change from the usual tourist tornado that strikes in the hazy summer months.  

They were all referring to the deafening silence and almost ghost-town-like aura that has enveloped the Toronto Island since a civic employees' strike shut down ferry services, essentially cutting off the main lifeline to the lush and suddenly languid haven on Lake Ontario .

Of course, there are still options.  Smaller ferries are running, but they're 'resident-priority', won't accommodate bicycles, and support just a small fraction of the numbers once ushered to and fro on the full-sized fleets, which sit silently docked at the foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay. 

That leaves Water Taxis, quite possibly the only proprietors in the island equation to turn a profit from an otherwise unfortunate set of financial circumstances.   Ten bucks will get a one-way ride for those who want to take the trek despite the lack of amenities currently open on the other side.

Ralph McQuinn, who owns Toronto Harbour Water Taxi with his brother George, has been making a dizzying number of rides since workers walked off the job shortly after midnight on June 22nd.

His nephew, Alex, drives one of the taxis, and admits that business is booming despite the relatively few non-residents who are exploring the uneventful serenity of the Isle.

"Obviously there's a lot more traffic for us," he notes.  "We usually get the overflow from the ferries, so this is going to increase our business 100 percent.

"For us it's definitely been a benefit, it's obviously not too good for the city, but for us it's definitely helping."

Toronto Harbour Water Taxi Tour owner Ralph McQuinn

Gordon Chhor is uncomfortably nestled at the other end of the spectrum.

He owns Toronto Island Cycle Rental, and has seen business fall off dramatically.

"If it goes on till the end of July, we are done for the season," he admits while scanning dozens of bicycles, tandems, and quadricycles idly cluttering up his rental office on Centre Island .  "I'm very fearful that this will go on till the end of July and basically half of our season is over and the whole season is a wash."

"It's stressing me out, and my family, my workers are getting upset, none of them are getting any benefits or compensation from this. 

"We handle anywhere between 250 and 300 riders per hour in our peak times on a beautiful day...but not a single person is coming down."

Toronto Island Cycle Rental owner, Gordon Chhor

The amicable and opinionated businessman notes that hundreds of young people are out of jobs, and the entire local economy is suffering. 

"I think it's a shame for the whole city, not just us," he adds, his frustration growing.  "A lot of facilities are closed...the students will suffer, they have no recourse."

"Workers are losing their jobs as collateral damage to this situation."

Nowhere on the island is that more apparent than Centreville Amusement Park , a private company owned by Beasley Amusements Inc.  

More than 400 young employees are currently out of work as a result of the strike, and as spokesperson Shawnda Walker explains, the financial implications are staggering. 

"We're losing over $100,000 in sales a day," she admits.  "Canada Day alone is a half-a-million for us, so we're close to the $2-million mark right now.  It's a huge impact.  We only have 102 operating days."

"Our greatest concern is that people realize we are not supporting this strike, we are not part of this strike, we are victims.  And we're hoping people will come out and support us afterwards."

It's not the first time Centreville has been forced to close due to a strike.  In 2002, the park was shut for 16 days.

"The strike of 2002 put extreme financial pressure on us," recalls Bill Beasley, president of Beasley Amusements. "

Not far away on Ward's Island , the recently renovated Rectory Café is also suffering.

"I would say we are operating at roughly 10 percent of our average business if not a little less," reveals General Manager Adam Rotenberg.  "The restaurant is financially only feasible if we make money in the summer, and seeing that we are losing at this moment, the whole year is going to be a write off. "

"I don't think there is any chance we can make money this year. "

Rectory Cafe partner Sara Willinsky and General Manager Adam Rotenberg

Rotenberg also cites numerous problems with food delivery, and disgruntled employees, who have seen their hours slashed and as a result are starting to look for work elsewhere. 

"If too many of the staff take other jobs, even if the city comes back on, I'll have no staff left to operate with, so by the time I hire a new staff and get them trained the season is done anyways.

"I've lost 150-160 reservations so far in group parties, corporate events, things of that nature.

"The entire island is a dead zone."

michaelt@citytv.com