The S.S Keewatin
Early History
She was constructed by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland, on December 22, 1906 and was launched from berth No. 6 and officially named Keewatin on July 6, 1907. After successfully completing her trials on September 12, 1907, the S.S Keewatin set sail from Scotland for Montreal, Canada, on September 14, 1907. [1]
In 1907, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) commissioned Fairfield Shipbuilding on Scotland’s River Clyde to construct the Keewatin and her sister ship, the SS Assiniboia. For a Great Lakes vessel, the Keewatin was quite large, measuring 102 meters in length, with a beam of 13.3 meters and a draft of seven meters. In fact, she had to be cut in half at Lévis, Quebec, to navigate the narrow canals of the St. Lawrence River and the Welland Canal. [2]
Stairway leading up to the sun deck
Gangway leading into the S.S Keewatin
Passenger cabin
Our First Visit
We were fortunate to visit while the vessel was docked at Port McNicoll on January 16th, 2021. This was her original home at the Canadian Pacific Railway terminal for 57 years and has been docked here since 2012 - 2023. When we visited Port McNicoll, the ship was closed off to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tours were operated by The Friends of Keewatin, a non-profit charity with local residents and volunteers. As we walked across the windy dock, we admired how well preserved the condition of the ship was on the outside. The lifeboats were on display near its portside on the dock, covered with heavy snow.
“Keewatin” is a word that originates from the Native North American Indian Cree language, meaning
“Blizzard from the North.”
Historian Dan Travers showing his support at the Keewatin Rally in which we were in attendance. Photo is from Keep Keewatin Home Facebook Group.
Photo post is from Keep Keewatin Home Facebook Group.
A New Journey
Despite our best efforts, the Kee bid farewell on April 24th, 2023, as she left for underwent partial restoration at Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton during the summer of 2023 before arriving in Kingston in the fall. Here she received a 2 million-worth of renovations and repairs before settling at the museum.
Her new home at the Great Lakes Museum will serve her well so that many generations can continue to learn about the Edwardian Era and the movement of people in the early to mid 1900s.
Lower deck - bulkheads
Two of the four coal-fired scotch boilers
The S.S Keewatin’s sole funnel
Bow of the S.S Keewatin
A Luxury
Passenger Ship
Measuring 350 feet from bow to stern, the S.S Keewatin could accommodate 288 passengers and a crew of 86. Her route included a three-day voyage across Lake Huron and Lake Superior, traveling from Port McNicoll to Port Arthur. Passengers certainly journeyed in style! [3] Soon after arriving in Canada, the S.S. Keewatin became a renowned luxury steamship, beginning operations from Port McNicoll, north of Barrie, in 1912. It offered exceptional service to all paying passengers as it sailed through Canada’s Great Lakes. The ship was equipped with electricity and hot water, a rare feature for vessels in the early 20th century. [4]
CPR steamships, including the SS Keewatin, transported tourists, settlers, and cargo across the Great Lakes until they were retired in the 1960s. With the introduction of strict fire codes and faster transportation alternatives, deemed wood-cabined vessels obsolete.
Restoration & Preservation Efforts
Skyline Investments donated the ship to the Great Lakes Museum to take advantage of Kingston's thriving tourism scene and ensure the Keewatin received proper care and maintenance. The ship underwent partial restoration at Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton during the summer of 2023 before arriving in Kingston in the fall. [5]
Written on: September 1st 2024
Last Updated: November 26th, 2024
The S.S Keewatin while in Port McNicoll
Community Support
We participated in the Keep Keewatin Home rally hosted by North Simcoe residents and the Friends of Keewatin organization. We signed a petition to Skyline Investments to donate the S.S Keewatin to the Port McNicoll. The ticketed event took place outside on the dock in front of the ship and the event was broadcasted on Rogers TV on August 28th, 2021.
Exploring
The Ship
Overall, we had a pleasant time exploring the restored parts of the ship. The tour was very in depth with historical facts, how the steam liner operated, and how the S.S Keewatin was built and assembled. As they restore more areas of the ship, the tour will expand to include these areas. We are looking forward to future tours and check in on their updates from the Great Lakes Museum website.
Guided Tours
Our tour guide brought us down below to learn more about the Engine Room and Boiler Room. The first half of our tour were first-class accommodations, desks, cabins, and about the steam generator that powered this historic Great Lakes steamship. As we strolled through the halls where the ship's firemen, oilers, and engineers once worked, we could imagine the experience of shoveling coal into furnaces for hours and how labour intensive it was to operate the ship. When the S.S. Keewatin was operational, the crew labored tirelessly in the sweltering conditions to keep her running smoothly.
View above the Floor-Pot lounge
[1] SS Keewatin Was Built in 1907 by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan Scotland as Hull No 435. ssmaritime.com/SS-Keewatin.htm.
[2] Bourrie, Mark. “The Magnificent Inland Voyage of an Edwardian-era Steamship.” canadiangeographic.ca, 17 June 2024, canadiangeographic.ca/articles/a-magnificent-inland-voyage-of-an-edwardian-era-steamship/#:~:text=For%20the%20Great%20Lakes%2C%20Keewatin,at%20the%20two%20new%20ships. Accessed 9 Sept. 2024.
[3] Dearsely, Bryan. “Historic Titanic-era SS Keewatin Finds New Home in Kingston.” LuxuryOntario, 3 July 2024, luxuryontario.ca/ss-keewatin.
[4] Kingston, Visit. “S.S. Keewatin: Visit The Last Remaining Edwardian-era Passenger Liner at Kingston’s Great Lakes Museum.” Visit Kingston - Fresh Made Daily, 29 May 2024, www.visitkingston.ca/s-s-keewatin-visit-the-last-remaining-edwardian-era-passenger-liner-at-kingstons-great-lakes-museum/#:~:text=Keewatin%20became%20a%20popular%20luxury,in%20the%20early%2020th%20century.
[5] Reporter, Michelle Dorey Forestell Local Journalism Initiative. “All Aboard! Keewatin Soon to Open to Kingston Public.” Kingstonist News - 100% Local, Independent News in Kingston, ON, 3 May 2024, www.kingstonist.com/news/all-aboard-keewatin-soon-to-open-to-kingston-public.