Thanks for helping to Keep the Keewatin in Port McNicoll. We asked Tay Township to request that Simcoe County collaborate with us in an appeal to Canadian Heritage for review of our application for Category B designation, and that has happened: our new Curator, Fred Addis, has been working with the Curator of Simcoe County Museum to that end.

In addition, a guarantor has come forward to provide the financial “backstop” we will need to assure Canadian Heritage we have not only the competency, but also the ability, to operate and care-for the ship once we can re-open. Plus, we’ve been talking with the ship’s owner, Skyline Investments, and Keewatin Volunteers have recently been back on the ship preparing her for winter.

S.S. Keewatin is many things! She is a tangible representative of the Great Lakes shipping industry that helped forge North Simcoe. She is a remarkable Canadian artifact with a direct link to the cementing of Confederation. And she is The World’s Last Edwardian Passenger Steamship: of some 3800 were built (including Titanic) only Keewatin survives.

In recognition of her unique importance, the Royal Canadian Mint has struck a limited edition 2 oz Pure Silver Coin featuring stunning views of Keewatin’s bow and stern. It makes a wonderful gift or family heirloom. Net proceeds go to our charity, supporting the preservation of S.S. Keewatin in Port McNicoll. Available from our publisher, here:
http://www.keewatinbook.com/coin/

Wayne Coombes