Chi-Cheemaun kicks off 50th season on the Georgian Bay
The Chi-Cheemaun ferry arrived at Manitoulin Island on Friday morning to kick off its 50th season on the Georgian Bay.
M.S. Chi-Cheemaun arrives in South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. May 3, 2024 (Ian Campbell/CTV Northern Ontario)
As they do every year, residents flocked to the shore of South Baymouth to watch the big ship come into harbour.
A celebration is being held on board the ship with exhibits, guest speakers and live entertainment during its maiden voyage of the season.
The Chi-Cheemaun has completed 24,000 voyages between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island since 1974, carrying 10 million passengers and three million vehicles, the Owen Sound Transportation Company said in a news release.
"This sailing season, the 'Sail Through Time Exhibit' will commemorate 50 years of the MS Chi-Cheemaun and her predecessors with authentic artifacts, posters, photographs and reproductions on loan from the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre in Owen Sound, the Collingwood Museum and the Grey Roots Museum & Archives," the company said.
"The exhibit is free to all passengers."
The ship will be making daily round trips between May 3 and Oct. 20.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
"Each voyage aboard the MS Chi-Cheemaun promises the excitement of the open water and spectacular views from the outdoor deck, as well as a licensed dining area and upper lounge featuring local craft beer and wine," the company said.
"The MS Chi-Cheemaun can accommodate a variety of vehicles – from cars to RVs to bicycles – safely and securely. Walk-on passengers are also welcome."
CTV News' Ian Campbell is taking a ride on the maiden voyage of the season and will have more throughout the day.
MS Chi-Cheemaun arrives in South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. May 3, 2024 (Ian Campbell/CTV Northern Ontario)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus survives vote calling for his ouster
Greg Fergus survived a vote to oust him as House of Commons Speaker on Tuesday, but with close to half of MPs expressing a loss of confidence in him, he faces a precarious path forward in maintaining order in Parliament.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
Teen dies after being hit by train in N.W. Calgary
A teenager has died after being hit by a train in northwest Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.
'It's his vacation too': Jimmy the baby goat joins 2-week road trip across Canada
After Jimmy the baby goat was shunned by his mother, a New Brunswick man took the kid on a two-week road trip across Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.