While other local tourist draws are gradually reopening as the province enters stage three, at least one will remain shuttered for the foreseeable future.
The SS Keewatin won’t be part of Friday’s move that saw fewer restrictions in place to allow area residents to visit places and people more freely.
“Given the lateness into the summer of the Stage 3 milestone, which albeit is very good news, and the work that would need to be done to ready the Keewatin for a COVID environment, it will remain closed for this season,” Skyline Investments CEO Blake Lyon told MidlandToday.
But the decision by Skyline, which owns the Edwardian-era vessel, doesn’t sit well with local residents involved with ensuring people get a chance to visit the ship that also remained closed to visitors last year.
Wayne Coombes serves as president of the RJ and Diane Peterson Keewatin Foundation, popularly known as Friends of Keewatin.
“We offered to request that our volunteers resume conducting tours of the ship in return for performing the maintenance necessary to prevent her deterioration, but her owner did not even bother to acknowledge receipt of the offer, let alone reply to it,” said Coombes, who has been involved with efforts to keep the ship at its home port rather than potentially moving to a maritime museum in Kingston.
Volunteers with the Friends charity worked to restore the ship when it returned in 2012 and operated it as an historical attraction for seven years.
“This is a blow to tourism in the region,” Coombes said, noting the Keewatin is a top-ranked attraction and has been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the last four seasons and boasts a Google Reviews rating of 4.6 out-of 5.
“We understand Keewatin ranks among cruise ship passengers’ most requested attractions and has the highest satisfaction level reported in post visit surveys conducted by cruise ship companies.”
Fred Addis, curator for the Friends of Keewatin, said they’re also concerned about the ship’s condition since they haven’t been able to board the ship after Skyline installed fencing around it last year.
“When Skyline fenced us out a year ago, they interrupted needed repairs to the upper deck at the bow, which had only been started,” Addis said.
“The seals around structures and doorways had been removed for replacement leaving the ship in the worst possible situation. The bow has undoubtedly been leaking through last year’s rains, winter’s snow and ice, and this spring’s numerous thunderstorms, into the rooms below.”
Built in Scotland, the vessel was launched on July 6, 1907, five years before the Titanic. It was retired in 1966 after spending almost 60 seasons transporting passengers.
Addis said ships like the Keewatin need continuous, knowledgeable attention “and at 114 years of age, as the only survivor, she certainly deserves it now.”
Coombes said they’re saddened that they won’t be able to show visitors what a “remarkable treasure” the Keewatin is while also telling the story of the CPR upper lake service and life in Port McNicoll at the time.
Added Coombes: “Instead, we’ll spend our summer telling visitors what is going on… and trying to figure-out why.”
