Chief Commanda should be in Lake Nipissing next week
Chief Commanda Captain Rich Stivrins is putting the final touches on the boat before it hits Lake Nipissing next week.
The boat has been docked in Callander since 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship did not sail last season.
"We have to go through our checklist of things to launch and get the right weather break," said Stivrins. "So, sometime next week we will be at the dock."
Stivrins said the Chief Commanda can welcome passengers again when the province enters stage 2 of the COVID-19 reopening plan. He’s hopeful that will be the first week of July.
"We’re licensed for 321 passengers and crew, effectively that’s around 300 passengers," he said. "This year we really have no idea what we’re going to end up with, which is a little bit nerve-wracking this close to the season."
They would be happy to operate at 30 per cent capacity, Stivrins said, which is about 100 people. But they could safely take more.
"We are confident that we can operate safely into the 50, 60 per cent numbers because we have 80,000 square feet between the three decks," he said.
For Tourism North Bay, attractions like the Chief Commanda have staff hopeful the city will be busier this summer than it was in 2020.
“So many people come from out of town to the city, so it’s good for the city, it’s good for the community,” said Steve Dreany.
“Anything we do or anything we promote is going to be in conjunction with the health unit guidelines. But we are hoping that there will be an increase in tourism, especially over last year.”
As for the Chief Commanda, passengers can expect to enjoy their experience a bit differently than in the past.
“A lot of Plexiglas shielding is up to space people out and to create barriers between tables," said Stivrins. "We anticipate masks will be a mandatory requirement when they come on.”
Stivrins said the current plan is to have the Chief Commanda sailing Lake Nipissing until Thanksgiving.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The root cause': Canada outlines national action plan to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Michael Cohen testified Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his ex-boss Donald Trump’s company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
'Next man up': Canucks coach, teammates bracing for Game 7 without Brock Boeser
Questions about how the team is going to handle the absence of star winger Brock Boeser from a do-or-die game seven dominated pre-game interviews with the Vancouver Canucks coach and players Monday morning.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.