Passenger ship unveils Killarney to tourists, boosts local economy
History was made recently in Killarney as the Viking Octantis made its maiden stop at the Georgian Bay community.
It marks a return to passenger ships in the area, something the port hasn't seen in more than 80 years.
Killarney is a community that for decades managed to stay off the beaten path, a tourist gem that was mostly spread through word of mouth. But that could be changing.
"The Octantis is, it's a new build, in terms of expedition ... it's just different, they have their own water toys on board," said Bruce O'Hare, of Lakeshore Excursions
"This is the biggest ship that will get into the St. Lawrence Seaway and through the locks."
The ship is an expedition-class ship built for adventure-seekers. It's expected to spend this summer and next cruising the Great Lakes, taking in what this community has to offer.
After years of work and planning behind the scenes, this is the maiden stop in Killarney for the Viking Octantis. So far, the investment appears to be paying off.
Cruising the Great Lakes has become more popular in recent years. It's a welcome boost for a town where the population easily doubles with Octantis' arrival.
"This is a great port of call for them I think, lots to do, lots of kayaking, hiking, fishing and canoeing so they're going to get a lot to experience today," said Holden Rhodes, Killarney Mountain Lodge owner.
Capt. Seann O'Donoughue, Octantis pilot, said more than 100 people leave the boat to take in what Killarney has to offer.
"The people on board are absolutely flabbergasted to come out and see this," O'Donoughue said.
"They've done the usual cruise ship things to see the cities like Toronto, Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, and so to come up here to see the nature -- this is what they wanted to see."
The locals here says it's a welcome economic driver.
"We have a warm community that likes people coming to visit in the summer," said Jim Rook, Killarney's deputy mayor.
"Tourism is our mainstay nowadays. It use to be fishing and lumber and 1,000 years ago it used to be the fur trade."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.