The Owen Sound Transportation Company celebrated its 100th birthday this week.
The company’s website says it was first established in 1921 by three Owen Sound businessmen and the North American bent Chair Company.
They say the Owen Sound Transportation Company operated the SS Michipicoten, shipping materials and furniture along the Lake Huron shoreline.
The steel-hulled steamer the Madjeska was purchased in 1926 as an excursion boat to Sault Ste. Marie that was later refurbished with staterooms for 150 passengers.
It was renamed the SS Manitoulin and made weekly excursions to Sault Ste. Marie, Killarney, Manitoulin Island and Michigan’s Mackinac Island.
In 1928, the company added the SS Manasoo, which was an excursion and cargo ship. Not long after it was purchased, the Manasoo was carrying a crew of 21, about a 100 head of cattle, and dozens of cargo on board, heading from Manitoulin Island to Owen Sound when it sank off Griffith Island near Wiarton.
Its wreck was found in 2018 by a trio of shipwreck hunters: Ken Merryman and Jerry Eliason, and Chris Kohl.
In 1931, the company launched the MS Normac, which ran as a seasonal ferry for 30 years between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island. It was retired in 1968 and later went on to become Captain John’s Harbour Boat Restaurant in Toronto for a while.
The company then merged with the Dominion Transportation Company, and began sailing the SS Norisle, which could carry 250 passengers and 50 vehicles, followed by the MS Norgoma, which was added in 1963. The Norgoma is now docked on private property owned by Algoma Steel and at last check, was for sale, with a group showing interest in buying it and bringing it to Tobermory back in 2020.
The Norisle sits in disrepair at the Assiginack Museum Complex on Manitoulin Island, though there is a group, Friends of the Norisle making efforts to save it.
The Chi-Cheemaun entered into operations after The Owen Sound Transportation Company was acquired by the Ontario Northland Transportation Company. The MS Chi Cheemaun began sailing in 1974. It can carry up to 638 passengers and 140 vehicles. It was Named by Donald Keeshig, from the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in a 1974 provincial competition to name the ferry. Chi-Cheemaun means ‘Big Canoe’ in Ojibway.
Today, the Owen Sound Transportation Company is an Agency of the Ministry of Transportation.
Over the past handful of years, the Chi-Cheemaun’s interior was renovated in stages, with millions of dollars put into the ship’s dining and canteen area, forward lounge and then the aft-lounge, stairways, crew quarters and hallways.
In 2016 and 2017, a colourful Anishinaabe artwork inspired wrap was added to the ship’s exterior and bright coloured Muskoka chairs were added to the outside observation deck.
In a normal year, the ferry hosts concerts by Canadian musicians, collaborations with authors and educational talks from
Parks Canada as well as cultural interpretation sessions with Wikwemikong Tourism which also offers tours on Manitoulin Island. There have been craft beer cruises, sunset dinner cruises and stargazing cruises.
The Chi-Cheemaun is currently moored in the Owen Sound Harbour.
The ferry is set to resume regular seasonal operation May 7th. You can book online or by phone starting March 17th.
There are changes and restrictions in place due to the pandemic and numerous safety measures have been put in place. You can find them on the Owen Sound Transportation Company’s website.
The company also runs the MV Niska 1 for the Ministry of Transportation to Pelee Island.
