Negotiations had been ongoing for some time, with the Keewatin being a floating road-block to the housing development plans of the property owner, Skyline Investments. A willing foster-home was sought, the number of which on the Great Lakes likely not exceeding the two masts on the subject ship's superstructure. My understanding of the Keewatin's Kingston connection is that it once sailed through our waters on the way to its cruising career on the Upper Lakes.
The Keewatin will take the place of another vessel formerly featured by the MMGLK, the coast guard cutter CCGS Alexander Henry. Built, working and now returned to Thunder Bay, her connection to Kingston was also tenuous. Except that Kingston's Marine Museum is of the Great Lakes.
As built, the Keewatin was too large for the St. Lawrence Canal locks. The vessel was reassembled at Buffalo, NY. Not only in package freight service, passengers disembarked at Port McNicoll for the 38-hour passage to Fort William. Sold by CP in 1966, the vessel went to Saugatuck, MI.
"The S.S. Keewatin is the last Edwardian-era (Titanic-era) steamliner formerly owned by CP Rail and built in Scotland in 1907.
CP Rail steamships such as ‘The Kee’ ferried tourists, settlers, and cargo throughout the Great Lakes from the early 20th century until their retirement in the 1960s. Of the some 3,800 similar ships built in the UK between 1900 and 1920, only the Keewatin survives. Following its transportation from Port McNicoll, ON this spring to a shipyard for much needed repairs and maintenance, this historic artifact will be integrated into the Museum's extensive transportation collection covering the last 200 years of Great Lakes history and offer a new cultural experience in Kingston. There have also been multiple books written about The Kee that cover its technical specifications and history. We look forward to sharing this information and our own research once the ship arrives in Kingston.
The ship was donated to the Museum by Skyline Investments. Skyline sought to give the Keewatin to a charity which was approved by Canadian Heritage, had the resources to care for the ship, and was qualified to ensure the long-term preservation of Canadian cultural property such as The Kee.
Following the announcement this morning, the ship will be prepared for transit. It will leave its current home in mid to late-April depending on weather. The ship requires significant repairs and is not expected in Kingston until the fall of 2023."
MARCH 2023 UPDATE: Of course this move was not going to go smoothly. The Whig published a story based on a complaint from the Keep Keewatin Home group. Then, the Museum sent out an email with talking points:
The first thing to know is that no group in Port McNicoll has been successful in raising the necessary funds for repairs and maintenance, obtaining the Canadian Heritage designation required to maintain this cultural property, and acquiring a new place in Port McNicoll to dock the ship.
To underscore those points, the ship cannot remain in Port McNicoll as there is no qualified or resourced organization to care for it and nowhere to park it. It cannot remain moored where it is due to planned developments by the new property owner. The previous owner of the Keewatin itself, Skyline Investments, tried for years to keep the ship in the Georgian Bay area and could not successfully find a new home. Multiple other communities along the Great Lakes turned this opportunity down.
Secondly, if the Keewatin wasn't coming to Kingston, it would be going somewhere else or would be scrapped. This is why we have been noting in our statements that we have the expertise and resources to care for the ship within our drydock – we are an ideal home.
Thirdly, The Museum was approached as a home for the Keewatin and responded as part of our mandate and responsibility for Canadian cultural heritage property relating to the Great Lakes. We have not “appropriated” the ship – we have accepted a donation after being approached as a potential home for the vessel.
In addition, to qualify to receive the Keewatin, we had to go through a gruelling review process by the Canadian Conservation Institute to demonstrate we had the expertise and resources to preserve the ship, a review process no one in the Port McNicoll area has successfully completed.
While the ship's hull is in good condition for a move, there’s much to do before the ship arrives in Kingston. We are spending this time collecting stories and documenting artifacts. We are also awaiting the melting of ice on Georgian Bay before moving the ship from Port McNicoll. The move to the shipyard will occur in late April or early May, with the ship arriving in Kingston this fall.
It remains to be seen if this timeline can be adhered to.
APRIL 2023 UPDATE: The Keewatin is being moved toward the Welland Canal with two tugs.
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