Popular Toronto party boat is moving permanently to Soo, ON
Sault Ste Marie, ON – A major new addition to Sault Ste. Marie’s waterfront is expected this summer. Two Sault businesspeople have signed an agreement to buy Miss Toronto, a popular party yacht that has served Toronto Harbourfront, Toronto Island and Lake Ontario for more than three decades.
When the deal closes on April 16, the new owners of the 100-passenger boat will be Sheila Purvis (known locally for her involvement with Purvis Marine and Beavertails) and Jeff Dicorpo (from Northern Powertrain and Northern Superior Brewing).
Subject to getting the necessary approvals from Transport Canada, Dicorpo expects to bring Miss Toronto to the Sault in late May, with charters and lock tours starting a rather late season sometime in late summer.
The 70-foot boat will be based beside the Beavertails kiosk, where the Canadian lock tour boat Chief Shingwauk used to dock. Purvis and Dicorpo have retained Capt. John Chomniak, former skipper of the Chief Shingwauk, to provide staff training.
It’s expected Miss Toronto will follow essentially the same route as Chief Shingwauk, but Dicorpo tells SooToday he wants to get more into charters for things like birthday parties, weddings and corporate events. He may also take Miss Toronto farther away to places like Bell’s Point.
Tourism Sault Ste. Marie agreed on Thursday to provide $200,000 to support acquisition of Miss Toronto. Purchase price of the boat wasn’t disclosed but it has been offered online recently for $500,000.
Neebish Islanders upset with ferry not operating since last week
Neebish Island, MI – Those living on Neebish Island have been without a ferry service since last Friday. Islanders are upset and worried about not having a ferry service for the foreseeable future as the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority claims ice conditions are what’s prohibiting the ferry from operating.
One Islander, Lori Miller, said the route it takes is a bit icy but it’s nothing the ferry shouldn’t be able to handle. “Shutting the ferry down right now, if it doesn’t need to be, the transportation says it’s going to be shut down until mid to late march, that takes us right up to spring break up so we really could be shut down without a ferry for six to seven weeks,” said Miller.
To cross the river for supplies and to talk to 9&10 News, Miller had to cross the ice bridge that connects Neebish Island and the town of Barbeau, something she’s uncomfortable with. “I just keep hearing the DNR in my mind ‘no ice is safe ice, no ice is safe ice’ and yet this is our only way off at this point,” she said.
Thick ice blocking the ferry has happened before, but the islanders think the transportation authority should be ready for when it happens. “This is an ongoing problem since the beginning of time. Why haven’t they come up with a solution for the problem so that this doesn’t happen,” said Marian Miller, another resident of Neebish Island.
Chippewa County Commissioner Erik Baron agrees. According to Baron, “EUPTA is a public service transportation authority and they need to have the equipment necessary to keep those ferries running.”
The ferry is expected to return to service by mid to late March.
Watch the 9&10 News report here: https://www.9and10news.com/2022/03/10/neebish-islanders-upset-with-ferry-not-operating-since-last-week/
Mariner’s Church Blessing of the Fleet is Sunday
Detroit, MI – On Sunday, March 13, the historic Mariners’ Church of Detroit will host its 58th annual spring “Blessing of the Fleet,” a special service that kicks off the boating season with a seafarers’ blessing and a reading of the names of the 61 sailors who died on the Great Lakes in 2021.
Founded in 1842 as a non-denominational, free place of worship for Great Lakes maritime travelers, Mariners’ Church current structure was built in 1849 and is the second-oldest church in the city.
This year’s event invites boaters from all over the Midwest to partake either in person or virtually, through the event’s livestream. The service will include the presentation of the Captain Lewis Ludington Award, which commemorates the work of the International Ship Master’s Association
The event begins at 3 p.m. and will be livestreamed on the Mariners’ Church’s YouTube channel.
“We’re always excited to celebrate the new boating season and to wish all of our seamen and women safe passage, calm waters and enjoyable journeys,” said Fr. Jeffrey Hubbard, pastor of Mariners’ Church. “The last few years have been challenging but Mariners’ has been a ‘house of prayer for all people,’ for 180 years and has weathered its share of challenges.
“We hope to have a large audience of in-person and on-line participants join the service, enjoy our incredible professional choir, and receive the blessing for themselves, their boats, crews, passengers and the boating season ahead,” he said.
