Tobermory celebrates 50 years of the Chi-Cheemaun

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The deep horn blast from the Chi-Cheemaun followed a 15-minute fireworks display over Tobermory’s Big Tub Harbour and encouraged a round of whoops and hollers from those aboard the ferry and those gathered on the shore.

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After 50 years, the “Big Canoe” is still the star of the show and the jewel of the town which feted it this past weekend with the 50th Annual Chi-Cheemaun Festival.

This year’s four-day celebration was jam-packed with events, but the J.P. Johnstone Memorial Slo-Pitch tournament keeps people coming back year after year and anchors the festivities.

Named after the late Bruce County warden, director of the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club, and area representative on the Niagara Escarpment Commission, J.P. Johnstone is credited with helping to start both the Chi-Cheemaun Festival and the slow-pitch tournament.

The tournament began with the Coast Guard playing local firefighters. Today, some of the players suiting up had grandfathers who played in the tournament.

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Meanwhile, the fish dinner put on by the Lion’s Head Hospital Auxiliary Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a cash bar by the Lion’s Head Rotary Club, sold out of its 250 tickets. The proceeds from the dinner will support the Brightshores Hospital site in Lion’s Head.

Sandra Walsh and Sue Hellyer said it was the hospital auxiliary’s first time putting on the fish dinner.

“It’s a great community event, people come from all over,” Walsh said.

The festival is one just of several commemorative events this year paying homage to the ferry that has been shuttling passengers and vehicles between Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island since 1974 when it replaced two ferries, the Norgoma and Norisle.

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Events spread out over the four days included a fashion show, parade, cardboard boat races, pancake breakfast, and beer gardens,

The big show fireworks show on Saturday night followed the Light Up the Night Chi-Cheemaun Festival Cruise.

A picture-perfect sunset provided the backdrop as the Chi-Cheemaun returned to the harbour area Saturday night and held just offshore to allow its guests to enjoy the fireworks from the water.

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The Owen Sound Transportation Company — the ship’s operator — commissioned local author and historian Richard Thomas to gather personal stories and photos reflecting people’s journeys aboard the vessel.

The book, titled The Jewel of Georgian Bay: Celebrating 50 Years of the Chi-Cheemaun, features over 80 of the Chi-Cheemaun’s builders, sailors, and travellers who have contributed their memories and photographs to the work.

The Jewel of Georgian Bay is published by The Ginger Press, a regional publisher of more than 150 books about the Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound region.

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