Felice in Kingston Harbour

Motor Vessel Felice was a freight, passenger and mail boat for Consolidated Paper Co. of Montreal. Launched May 30, 1955 at John McLean and Son Shipyard in Mahone Bay for service to Bonaventure Island near Perce Rock, and her port of registry was Montreal. Docked at Canadian Dredge & Dock (top photo) on September 21, 1966. (Queen's University Archives, George Lilley fonds, V25.5-43-112)

Here's Felice shortly after being launched in Mahone Bay, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Seven men  are on the deck, the Union Jack flies proudly. More work has yet to be done on her superstructure and rigging; she was wooden-hulled with twin Volvo diesel engines.

(DeBrisay Museum, u.240 via NovaMuse - above, and m.292 obverse with measurements - below)

Felice was seen in Kingston waters in the late-1960's, early-1970's. I haven't pieced together the puzzle of what brought the vessel from Quebec to Ontario, nor its use in Kingston. Certainly she was a capable vessel, suitable to a variety of light freight or passenger work, 68 feet in length. Consolidated Paper operated tourist and transportation services to islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence including Anticosti and Bonaventure Islands.

Leonard Poole kindly shared the above photo of Felice at the foot of Brock Street, captioned early 1970's. Owned by Ajax resident John Little, in use as a private yacht. Captain Brian Johnson also shared a photo, taken in 1971. It shows Brian in his car with Dave Hanna, their boat Jamie Lyn at left and Felice at right: 

A 1983 Canadian Dredge & Dock booklet included this undated photo of Felice and Radeli in the dry dock.

Captain Brian Johnson reported her sunk off the Duck Islands. A Whig-Standard clipping from November 1, 1971 tells the tale. High winds and possible overheating engine led to smoke below decks. The crew of three, including the owner, John Little of Ajax fired distress flares that were responded to by the Hall Corporation vessel Calgadoc. Diverting five miles off course, the Calgadoc and a responding RCMP patrol boat rescued the three, though the Felice sank during the rescue, about five miles north of Main Duck Island.

Thanks to Derek Redmond for sharing the Whig article. Derek worked a summer as one of two crew on the Felice, which was owned by John Little's son at the time of the sinking. 

Tom Rutledge kindly shared this nice colour profile photo of Felice, undated wintering at Portsmouth Harbour, courtesy Mr Ron Walsh: