Toronto Star

Canada must preserve its maritime heritage

-

What is going on with Canada’s Great Lakes? The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston was evicted from its waterfront site, its museum ship, the former CCGS Alexander Henry, sent packing. The mayor of Sault Ste. Marie is calling for the removal of the museum ship MS Norgoma. And, on Manitoulin Island, plans call for the SS Norisle to be scuttled as a dive site.

It seems almost systematic, this removal of Canadian maritime heritage. A culling of artifacts. A cleansing and gentrifica­tion of its waterfront.

For me, these vintage vessels, quirky museums and commercial fishing enterprise­s were the most interestin­g feature of the Canadian ports I visited when I was with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Who wants to see another marina of fibreglass yachts and second homes made of particlebo­ard?

Preserve your character. Sustain our reason for visiting. Conserve your maritime heritage. Steve Lindsey, former U.S. coastguard­sman on the USCGC Katmai Bay, Keene, N.H.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada