OWEN SOUND—By press time Monday night, the Chi-Cheemaun ferry had made her way from her home port of Owen Sound to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for the vessel’s five-year out-of-water inspection—a little check up before a winter’s worth of renovations.
The sailing season ended this past Sunday and it ended on a high note for the ferry, with a boost in traffic over last year’s numbers, this despite the season being three days shorter then last year.
Overall for 2016, the Chi-Cheemaun carried 79,191 vehicles, a 7.63 percent increase over last year, and 203,174 passengers, a 9.4 percent increase over last year.
“The last time we hit 200,000 was in 2008,” said Susan Schrempf, president and CEO of the Owen Sound Transportation Company, which operates the Chi-Cheemaun. “I’m pretty sure our advertising is paying off.”
This was the first full year of a new marketing campaign for the Chi-Cheemaun, with advertisements found on the TTC, Go Transit and selected, online-only marketing in the Great Lakes states. Ms. Schrempf said their marketing will not likely differ for 2017, but the OSTC intends to look at more Great Lakes states advertising as it appeared to pay off.
Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates will be happy to hear that more cyclists are also making the trip to Manitoulin via the ferry. In 2015, there were 4,199 racked (attached to a vehicle) bicycles aboard the ferry and 987 ridden aboard (a total of 5,186) while this year there were 4,425 racked and 1,078 ridden (a total of 5,503).
“Those numbers have been picking up each year,” Ms. Schrempf added.
The Chi-Cheemaun will have its hull sandblasted and painted this year, readying it for the colourful decal that will grace the bow come spring, finishing off this aspect of the rebranding that began last season with the funnel.
Back in Owen Sound, in approximately one month, the Chi-Cheemaun will undergo yet more renovations, this time in the forward lounge and information centre.
“Everything will be new,” she explained. “New furniture, a smaller bar, and we will be building a proper performance area for our entertainment—not a stage, as the ceiling height won’t allow for it—but with lights.”
A designer has been hired to re-envision the information centre, much of it coming from suggestions from the senior volunteers who run the booth.
“I can guarantee that it will be much better,” Ms. Schrempf laughed.
