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Keewatin group gets recognition from Tay, will keep pursuing provincial heritage designation

Perhaps the province could set a precedent by designating the Keewatin as heritage since shipwrecks and other partially submerged properties are under the Ontario Heritage Act, Keewatin proponent says
2021-03-02 ap
The SS Keewatin arrived with great fanfare upon its return to Georgian Bay in 2012. File photo

The Keep Keewatin Home campaign hopes the province will make an exception for the SS Keewatin to designate it as heritage, similar to shipwrecks and other partially submerged properties.

That's part of the case Daniel Travers, who launched the online petition to keep the Edwardian Era ship in Port McNicoll, is hoping to make to Lisa MacLeod, minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries.

As a step toward keeping Keewatin home, he and Fred Addis, curator for Friends of Keewatin, had approached Tay council last month requesting that the municipality designate the ship as heritage under the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA).

Staff came back with a report that the request may not be possible at the municipal level.

"Because the ship is a movable object and doesn't have a legal description, we can't designate it under the Ontario Heritage Act," said Steve Farquharson, general manager, protective and development services, manager of planning and development services.

"But we can look to recognize it. This doesn't provide the same protection as a designation, but it provides some recognition that the group can proceed with the province."

As recognition, he said the township will provide a plaque to be placed on the property where the Keewatin is docked, but didn't specify where the plaque would be placed.

"We haven't decided on where we would put it, but we would put it down in the general vicinity of where the Keewatin is right now," he said, in response to a question from Coun. Jeff Bumstead.

"Should the boat remain there, we think it would still be beneficial to have a plaque there. If the boat does leave the municipality, we would like to have something down there to recognize its contributions to the township."

John Todd, chair of the municipal heritage committee, who helped explore the option and bring forward the report, said he agreed with the decision to provide recognition.

"From 1912 til 1965, while she sailed from Port McNicoll, she was a source of employment for the young people in the area," he said. "And in several cases, (that) led to careers in sailing. It would be so important for us to keep Keewatin in the area in the future as an anchor for tourism to go along with Ste. Marie (Among the Hurons) and the (Martyrs') Shrine and other things in the area."

Skyline Investments, which owns the ship, is in talks with a museum in Kingston to move it to a dry dock there.

Todd said the SS Norgoma, which is anchored in Sault Ste. Marie, is also looking for a home.

"The Norgoma could fit their dry dock just as nicely," he said. "That would be a win-win situation for everybody."

Travers said the group was appreciative of the recognition, which places the Keewatin on the township's heritage registry.

He added that he and Addis are still in discussions with MacLeod's ministry for the designation option, which would provide protection for the ship under the Ontario Heritage Act.

"Council's unanimous decision is much appreciated by the now over 12,000 supporters in our fight to keep the Keewatin home," said Travers. "We are confident that with the continuing support of the Township we can keep the historic ship where it belongs, right here in Tay."

Their option now, he added, are to somehow convince MacLeod to consider the ship for designation.

"The Keewatin is, quite simply, the only Edwardian Steamship in existence in the world," said Travers. "Perhaps a precedent could be set given the enormous value of the vessel to provincial heritage."

He said he understand the Keewatin is no longer moveable on its own power.

"There is a precedent for submerged or partially submerged properties to be included in the OHA, including shipwrecks like the Edmund Fitzgerald," said Travers. "It seems odd that ships which are sunk are afforded more protection by the province than vessels still afloat, and ones which make a significant contribution to education and maritime heritage."

Travers' campaign is asking anyone who would like to display a sign to click here to download and print one or send an email ([email protected]) with an address for contact-less delivery to their doorstep.


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Mehreen Shahid

About the Author: Mehreen Shahid

Mehreen Shahid covers municipal issues in Cambridge
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