ASSIGINACK—While a suggestion had been made for a resolution to be brought forward for the disposal of the SS Norisle from the Manitowaning harbour by an Assiginack councillor at a meeting last week, all options are still on the table as far as its future.
“We all received the email today from the (Norisle) Steamship Society,” said Mayor Brenda Reid at a council meeting last week. “They did not provide much in news. I’d like to report something has taken place, but we didn’t receive any news on that or a timetable when this will be provided. So, I am reporting that we are still looking at all options. We are having trouble getting in touch with a salvage company to find out what they can do. We will have to continue to look at all options.”
Councillor Dwayne Elliott noted the letter from the steamship society indicates they have $1 million in government grants.
“Do we know what the expected cost of this whole project would be?” asked Councillor Janice Bowerman.
“I will let that come from them,” said Councillor Rob Maguire. “I need to hear this from the horse’s mouth, but funding is accessible.”
“Anyone worth their salt in business knows there is going to have to be funding accessible and know the issues the Norisle has,” said Councillor Elliott. “I think it would be better to have an actual resolution in place for the disposal of the Norisle. And we need to get information on what this is going to cost. This conversation has been brought to the table numerous times. And we have no direction from the society. We need direction from the society and what the plans are. We have a letter, but it doesn’t tell us enough.”
Councillor Maguire said that “there is history behind all of this that council may not be aware of. Some items are sensitive issues and should be discussed in camera. I can share something in camera about this.”
It was noted by Councillor Bowerman that since 2007 the steamship society has received $1 million in grants, but they aren’t talking about any personal funds being put into the project. “We gave them a mandate to the end of April to come back with a proposal, and now this letter has come in at the eleventh hour. I would like to hear from them. My biggest concern is what the costs will be to dispose the ship?”
“I agree,” stated Councillor Jennifer Hooper. “We have no cost numbers and no concrete evidence of anything new taking place. Written letters will not save the Norisle. We need a set of financial numbers, and timelines. We can no longer discuss this. Council has been talking about this for 16 years.”
“Meanwhile the ship continues to deteriorate, and there will be an environmental disaster if we don’t get rid of the ship,” said Councillor Hooper. “I know you (Councillor Maguire) want to save the ship and how passionate you are about this, but we need numbers and actions not words.”
“My first commitment is to the township and council,” said Councillor Maguire. “However, I also believe in the Steamship Society and what they can do for the ship and Canadian heritage.”
In the letter to council dated May 2, Steamship Society members John Coulter and Wayne Fischer wrote, “as a courtesy to the Mayor and Council we provide the following short update on our progress with endeavouring to raise funds for the Norisle project. Since our privileged invitation by the town in 2007 to assess Norisle for a potential repurposed operating future we have worked diligently to evolve a future for your important Canadian Heritage Ship which is the last of her type in Canada.”
“As you are aware, our consideration that she would be a successful Great Lakes 4/5 star Canadian flag cruise ship was validated by a year-long independent study and to that end since 2007 we have received approximately one million dollars in government grants, industry support, and donations towards her preparation for drydocking and the required total repurpose refit. This has resulted in all of the preparation work being completed that will save such work and financial investment during the refit period,” the Steamship Society letter continues.
“Unfortunately, unlike many nations and particularly the United Kingdom and Europe, Canadian heritage preservation and particularly marine heritage does not have a similar history of respect and is therefore a challenge,” the letter continues. “Our success with the restoration of RMS Segwun which now has over 30 years of self-supporting operation and is a foundation support of the Muskoka tourism sector is a classic example of the success heritage steamships have had globally.”
“Although we have had positive and unfortunately negative events in our efforts to progress the Norisle initiative we are now engaged with developing industry and government discussions that we trust will provide a positive path forward. Such initiatives require prolonged negotiations and development that are usually between multiple parties and in most cases the timing is beyond our direct control and the three years of the pandemic was clearly a challenge to such endeavours,” the Steamship Society continued.
“We are not in a position of determining the eventual success of such initiatives, but we are encouraged by the renewed progress to date. We have made important advances in developing a relationship with a shipyard that has assisted us in providing 2023 costs and indicated a willingness to provide assistance with the project and to assist in our fundraising,” the letter explains. “In regard to timing we are not in control of an end point and although we cannot guarantee a level of success, we can assure you that our long-term faith in Norisle’s future and the thousands of personal hours and financial donations we have invested have been provided based on our belief in Norisle’s importance for future generations. We trust that this will provide a level of understanding of our ongoing efforts. Thank you for supporting your ship and Canadian marine heritage.”
Mayor Reid noted that council does not have all options in front of it. She asked council to think about all the options for the ship before a resolution on its future is passed. She told The Expositor after the meeting, “we received the letter from the Steamship Society, but there were no dates, costs, times or expectations outlined. And so far we haven’t been able to get a hold of a salvage company.”
“We’re getting into deep water as the ship continues to deteriorate,” said Mayor Reid. “We will continue to look at all options.” She said council members have been asked to consider this issue further and what they feel should be done with the ship before it comes back to the next regular council meeting.
