EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an open letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and is reprinted here at the writer’s request.
Hoping for an 11th hour reprieve for one of Ontario’s most historic vessels
Dear Premier Ford,
Please accept this communication as a formal request for your intervention to prevent scrapping of the Ontario heritage ship S.S. Norisle.
Norisle was the first passenger steamship built in Canada after the Second World War. She provided transportation services from Tobermory to South Baymouth from 1946 to 1974 when she was retired and replaced by the larger M.S. Chi-Cheemaun. Norisle was acquired by the Township of Assiginack in 1975 to serve as a static museum and tourist attraction.
In an effort to divest ownership of Norisle, the Township, in association with the S.S. Norisle Steamship Society, investigated options for her subsequent future. This responsible initiative was supported by a detailed year-long marketing and feasibility study that was funded by FedNor and private donations in order to determine the most effective future business opportunities that would support Norisle’s ongoing preservation and her benefits to Ontario. The study determined that Norisle’s refit to a 4 / 5 star Great Lakes cruise ship would provide Ontario with a unique self-supporting heritage business opportunity at a refit cost substantially less than required to build a new ship that would not possess the essential attributes of Norisle. In addition to Norisle’s financial stability, other strengths from the study included her silent vibration free propulsion system, significantly lower air pollution than diesel powered ships, the important marketing attraction of her classic marine architecture and broad economic support, cultural and social benefits to Ontario communities.
In an effort to cost effectively prepare Norisle for the proposed refit, over one million dollars was raised from provincial and federal grants and private donations. One of the most important projects was the total removal of all asbestos.
Norisle’s refit as a Great Lakes cruise ship complements your announcement last year expressing your interest to encourage and support the development of a Canadian flag Great Lakes cruise ship industry. Currently only foreign cruise ships serve the Great Lakes and S.S. Norisle could be Canada’s first to return.
Your announcement of a $ 3.7 million investment for Heddle Shipyards in support of apprenticeship & skills training for Ontario ship building and repair industries aligns with a proposal the S.S. Norisle Steamship Society had made to the Heddle shipyard at Hamilton prior to your announcement.
It was suggested that Norisle’s refit could be used by the Heddle shipyard as an apprentice training ship in conjunction with the engagement of regional colleges. Such a tripartate alliance would provide multiple gains including: a shipyard training platform for all technical trade groups necessary for the building and refitting of ships, a physical training asset beyond any available college resources, reduced refit costs for Norisle, ongoing annual winter training opportunities during Norisle’s future winter layup and maintenance periods and a mobile marketing statement in support of Ontario’s shipbuilding industry excellence that would be viewed by thousands of Norisle’s future passengers.
Regardless of the significant opportunities that Norisle would provide in support of Ontario’s future, efforts to raise the necessary financial support has been frustrated by an inability to attract suitable government support outside of regular northern programs.
Resulting from this, the Township proceeded to have Norisle scrapped and her towing to the scrap yard commenced October 4th at what should have been an unnecessary cost to a small community of approximately $ 1.2 million financed over a 10-15 year payment burden.
In a last-minute appeal, it is essential that you be aware of the pending and tragic loss of a unique and significant Ontario asset for Heritage, Business, Tourism, Education & Training and the Great Lakes cruise ship industry and I respectfully ask for your intervention to this process. I further request that her towing be diverted from the scrapyard and on to the Heddle Marine Shipyard in Hamilton where her refit plans can mature as supported by her comprehensive market feasibility business study.
S.S. Norisle is the last ship of her type and the unique and broad benefits she would provide Ontario must not be lost to our future generations.
Thank you for your valued time and consideration.
Rob Maguire
Manitowaning,
Manitoulin Island
