Theodore tugboat makes unexpected visit to Meteghan
An unexpected visitor was towed to the Meteghan wharf on Nov. 1 and his big, red hat could be seen from miles away.
The tugboat Theodore Too, the life-sized replica from the popular TV show Theodore the Tugboat, was on his way home to Halifax from his “summer vacation” in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Theodore’s captain felt the transmission wasn’t working properly.
The Coast Guard vessel Westport helped by towing Theodore to the wharf in Meteghan, Digby County, and employees from A.F Theriault and Son Ltd. were to look after his repairs.
“His trip home to Halifax has been delayed, but I’m sure he won’t mind taking a short vacation to Meteghan,” said Terri McCulloch, the communications director for the tugboat when contacted on Nov. 2.
A.F Theriault has worked on Theodore before, McCulloch said, so the Theodore team was confident they’ll take good care of him.
“He’s going to get diagnosed this afternoon and hopefully he’ll be on his way home soon,” said McCulloch.
Gilles Theriault, managing director of A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd., says they’ve done minor repairs to Theodore in the past and said the repairs this time around aren’t major either.
“He won’t come to the shipyard,” said Theriault, saying instead the intention was to carry out the work at the wharf in Meteghan. “We’re just doing minor repairs.”
Theodore Tugboat spent the 2018 summer tourism season in Saint John, New Brunswick, instead of his normal spot on Halifax’s waterfront. In the past the tugboat has spent part of the summer in Quebec and he’s also been on trips through the Great Lakes and along the eastern seaboard of the United States.
But Meteghan was a new stop for him. His arrival piqued the curiosity of fishermen at the wharf, who were surprised to see what was, without a doubt, the happiest vessel at the wharf. Theodore couldn’t stop smiling while visiting the wharf in this Acadian village.
A few fishermen climbed down to board the tugboat to see what it would be like to sail on Theodore.
This Theodore Too tugboat replica made his arrival in Halifax harbour in 2000 and has been entertaining the public ever since. The Canadian TV Show, where his claim to fame can be traced back to, aired on CBC and PBS from 1993-2001 and followed Theodore and friends as they explored feelings, fairness and friendships from the ocean.