An iconic tugboat that was a fixture in Halifax Harbour for 21 years has partially sunk in Ontario.
Theodore Too, primarily based on the favored kids’s TV present “Theodore Tugboat,” moved three years in the past, travelling greater than 1,900 kilometres and stopping at 15 ports earlier than reaching its remaining vacation spot in Hamilton, Ont.
An announcement from Theodore’s new proprietor, Blair McKeil, reads, “Unfortunately, Theodore Too took on water while tied up at the dock at Ontario Shipyards. The vessel is now partially submerged and resting on bottom.”
McKeil says crews are actually engaged on a refloating plan.
“It’s a very unfortunate event, thankfully there were no people involved and no injuries,” reads the assertion.
An announcement from Theodore Too’s proprietor about it being partially submerged is pictured. (Supply: Fb)
Theodore Too is a totally operational 65-foot tugboat. It was constructed at Snyder’s Shipyard in Dayspring, N.S., in 2000 as a duplicate of the principle character of the kids’s present, which aired between 1993 and 2001.
In its early years, the tugboat spent summers on the Nice Lakes in Ontario and the jap seaboard of the US and Canada, selling tourism in Nova Scotia.
From the mid-2000s onward, the vessel hosted child-themed excursions of the Halifax harbour, with many passengers being former followers of the tv present.
“Theodore tugboat was a type of Halifax icons,” stated Halifax historian Blair Beed. “People remember when they were younger, their visit to Halifax because of Theodore.”
In March 2021, Theodore was sold to McKeil, who is the president and CEO of Breakwater Investments in Ontario.
Theodore Too is partially submerged at a dock in St. Catharines, Ont., in December 2024. (Courtesy: Bobby Davidson)
“It meant a lot to Halifax, and it connected to people here,” added Richard Loughery, who additionally lives in Halifax. “It brought out the kids along with it and we went on a couple of tours on it, during the summer.”
“Our children and grandchildren saw a lot of Theodore and they were disappointed when they moved away from Halifax,” stated Halifax resident Mel MacConnell.
Dennis Campbell used to personal Theodore Too, and after talking with the present proprietor, is assured the vessel may be saved.
“They’re engaged on it and they are going to get Theodore Too raised as much as the water and get it again in to prime form,” stated Campbell, who added it is unhappy to see tugboat on this state however is hopeful Theodore Too will quickly be repaired and seaworthy.
With recordsdata from CTV’s Paul Hollingsworth.
