Kelp Harvesting Boat

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Katherine

A small open deck kelp harvesting boat unloading kelp

Posted in fishing boats 5, New Brunswick, ocean | Leave a comment

The Walter Gray

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Katherine

The small deck ferry Joshua Slocum was built in Halifax in 1973 by Halifax Metal Workers for the Minister of Highways. It entered service on the short run between East Ferry, and Tiverton, Nova Scotia.

Fitted with twin steerable props – one at each end, it could carry 15 cars. At each end of the run, it would shove its own ramp onto a shoreside ramp to load or unload. It was essentially double-ended, meaning it did not have to turn in the strong tidal currents running through Petite Passage. 

It operated on that run until 2004 when it was replaced by the Petite Princess, built by Halifax Shipyard. It was then purchased by Beaver Marine, and stopped off in Halifax en route to Point Tupper where it was laid up for a time. It was then sold for fish farming use, and renamed The Lost Joshua and later The Walter Gray.

Posted in A bit of Nova Scotia, fishing boats 5, Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Ferries, ocean, ships | Leave a comment

Letete-Deer Island Ferry

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Katherine

Deer Island, surrounded by the high tides of the Bay of Fundy and located at the mouth of Passamaquoddy Bay, sits about 4 km (3 mi.) from Letete, New Brunswick.

Coastal Transport Limited provides daily, no charge ferry rides to Deer Island from Letete. During the summer, seasonal ferries connect Deer Island with New Brunswick’s Campobello Island. 

Posted in New Brunswick, ocean, ships, video | Leave a comment

Presqu’ile Provincial Park Winter Ice

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Katherine

Ice formations on a winter day at Presqu’ile Provincial Park – Lake Ontario

Posted in lakes, Ontario, Provincial Park, video, winter | Leave a comment

Jet On A Stick

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Katherine

A nighttime look at the Canadair CF-5 RCAF Memorial in Trenton, Ontario

The Canadair CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) is a Canadian license-built Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. It is a light, supersonic, twin-engine, daylight air superiority fighter primarily for the Canadian Forces (as the CF-5) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (as the NF-5). The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service life in Canada.

Posted in airplanes, history, Ontario, RCAF | Leave a comment

Norampac Quinte West

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Katherine

The Hinde and Dauch Paper Mill opened in 1927 as one of two paper mills in Trenton, producing 30 tons of paper from oat and wheat straw. This method lasted until the 1950s, when they switched to the more convenient wood pulp. The factory used the standard kraft process to turn wood into pulp and then into paper. In 1959, the St. Lawrence Corporation, a major player in the North American pulp industry, took over the site. During the 1960s, the mill went through several ownership changes before Domtar Ltd., a tar and chemical company, became the primary owner. Afterward, it was renamed Norompac Domtar.

A long-exposure image at the Norampac mill

The paper mill gained prominence when Cascades, a major player in the paper products industry, took interest. In 1997, Cascades teamed up with the previous owners, Domtar Ltd., and the facility was renamed the Norampac Trenton Mill, jointly operated by both companies. The partnership was short-lived, as Cascades bought out Domtar entirely in 2006 for an impressive $560 million. At the time, the mill was churning out over 400 tonnes of paperboard daily and employed more than 150 people.

The plant closed entirely in January 2024, with Cascades citing aging technology and heightened operational costs as the primary reasons for the closure.

Demolition of the site began in May 2025, and a real estate listing for the land was put on the market, marking the end of Norompac’s 98 year history.

Posted in buildings, history, Ontario | Leave a comment

National Air Force Museum of Canada

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Katherine

The National Air Force Museum of Canada (NAFMC) is an aviation museum dedicated to preserving the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). It is located on the west side of CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario.

I was the first, and likely the last, person to be granted permission to explore the RCAF Memorial Airpark in the winter, when the grounds, paths, and aircraft are covered in snow. The snow was deep…

Posted in airplanes, CFB Trenton, museum, Ontario, RCAF, snow, video | Leave a comment

HMCS Haida

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Katherine

HMCS Haida is a Tribal class destroyer and National Historic Site located in Hamilton, Ontario.

Posted in museum, National Historic Site, Ontario, RCN, ships, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ocean Golf

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Katherine

The tug Ocean Golf, ex Helen M. McAllister in Hamilton, Ontario

Built in 1959, by P.K. Harris Limited of Appledore, England as the Stranton, the tug was not completed before it was acquired by McAllister Towing Limited.

In 1959, the incomplete hull was towed to Canada, where construction was completed at Sorel, Canada. Her hull was billed as the first “hydroconic” hull in the Western Hemisphere.

In 1959, the tug was completed by McAllister Towing Limited of Montreal of Montreal, Quebec. A subsidiary of the McAllister Brothers Towing Company of New York, New York. Where she was named as Helen M. McAllister.

McAllister Brothers Towing Company of New York had partnered with Sogemines of Belgium to assume towing operations in Montreal to coincide with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The company was in need new tugs as soon as possible.

In 1997, McAllister Towing Limited of Montreal was acquired by the Ocean Groupe Incorporated of Quebec, Canada. Where the tug was renamed as the Ocean Golf.

The tug underwent an extensive rebuild. She was fitted with a new wheelhouse that allowed for full 360 degree visibility. Originally a twin screw tug, rated at 1,200 horsepower. She was repowered with rebuilt, GM diesel engines. She is a twin screw tug, rated at 2,200 horsepower.

  • Vessel Name: HELEN M. McALLISTER
  • USCG Doc. No.: C311751
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • IMO Number: 5146354
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted Registry
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Ship Builder: Harris, P. K., Ltd.
  • Year Built: 1959
  • Length: 96.1
  • Hailing Port: MONTREAL
  • Hull Depth: 11.7
  • Hull Breadth: 25.9
  • Gross Tonnage: 159
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    Stranton, Helen M. McAllister
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    McAllister Towing of Montreal Ltd., McAllister Towing & Salvage Ltd.

Posted in Ontario, ships, tugs | Leave a comment

Molly M I

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Katherine

The tug Molly M I in Hamilton, Ontario

Length O.A.98’0”   28.87 m
Breadth O.A.26’10”   8.18 m
Depth Mld.12‘3”   3.72 m
Design Draft11’6”   3.50 m
Gross Tonnage207 t
Net Tonnage15 t
Power1,000 hp   946 kw
PropulsionSingle Screw
Bollard Pull19 t
Posted in Ontario, ships, tugs | Leave a comment