The Toronto Island Ferry Docks were renamed the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in 2013 to honour Jack Layton, who served as a Toronto city councillor, and was later leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and leader of the Official Opposition.

The main departure point from the city to the Island has been at the foot of Bay Street since the 19th century.

When the infilling of the harbour took place after 1918 the docks moved to Queen's Quay west of Bay Street.

[2] The new terminal was part of a planned 85 million dollar waterfront project started in 1964, and completed in the early 1970s at the cost of 250 million dollars[5] that would see the Bay Street shipping slip filled in and Harbour Castle Hilton and Harbour Square condos built.

[2] Metro Parks Commissioner Tommy Thompson would have liked to see the new terminal right at the foot of Bay Street, where the old one was, but it was placed where it was to be part of the condo-hotel complex.