North Bay cruise ship will soon be back on Lake Nipissing
The Chief Commanda in North Bay is typically in Lake Nipissing by the end of April, but this year due to some updates and renovations, the boat won’t be in the water for another week or so.
The final stages of updates are being and the boat’s captain said it’s the first time in 47 years the Chief has been renovated.
We’re putting in two brand new, more efficient diesel engines,” Rich Stivrins told CTV News.
“It’s an exciting project, but a big project -- it’s been about two and a half years to get from start to finish ... We also did more energy efficient lighting on board and we had to cut holes in the decks to get the old engines out and new engines in, so we’re redoing the flooring on the main deck.”
Stivrins said the updates will have many positive impacts and guests will immediately notice the changes once on board.
“With the environmental push happening right now, we wanted to do our part, too, so going from a tier 0 diesel to a tier 2 will significantly lower the amount of carbon that we’re putting out,” he said.
“It’s going to be a much quieter, cleaner ride and I think folks are really going to enjoy it.”
This will be Stivrins’ 20th year behind the wheel and he said the boat is still quite the tourism attraction, year in, year out.
“We bring a lot of folks to town,” he said.
“Either specifically coming up to this or they add it to their stay, and extend their time here. I might be a little biased but I think it’s the best way to get out and see the area.”
Stivrins said the chief will be in Lake Nipissing sailing with the boat full of people starting June 2.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.