Thunder Bay city council votes to scrap historic tugboat

Any hopes to see a century-old tugboat in Thunder Bay, Ont., preserved have sunk after city council voted Monday to scrap the James Whalen. 

The Transportation Museum of Thunder Bay has been advocating to preserve the Whalen. David Muir, vice-chairman and director of site and operations at the museum, made a deputation to council pitching the idea of keeping just the top part of the boat but to no avail. 

"I'm upset by it because we've invested so much time trying to make this work," said Muir. 

After the historic tugboat sank in 2022, the city awarded a nearly $800,000 contract to lift it out of the Kamanistiqua river. Council previously voted last fall to preserve parts of the tug and recycle the rest. It changed course after receiving higher-than-expected bids on the tender for preservation and recycling. 

Muir said preserving the top deck would add an extra $120,000 to the cost, but the museum would eventually pay back the difference to the city.

"We can make it a land-based attraction that the public tourists, of which we had 6,000 last year, visit and the various schools in Thunder Bay and region can actually get the feel of being on the Whalen," said Muir.

'Sad and unfortunate'

Current River Ward Coun. Andrew Foulds said many are unhappy the historic boat won't be preserved.

"I think it's very easy to point fingers and blame. I just think it's sad and unfortunate," said Foulds.

Foulds said he put forward a resolution to save and display up to $20,000 of provisional items recognizing the story of the Whalen, but it was defeated.

"There's the enormous cost to recycling it and there's not really that many options."

Dealing with the fate of the tugboat has been a frustration for council, he said. 

"I appreciate the situation and I know there is a lot of documenting and pictures being taken and you know, we're going to do the best that we can in protecting some of that legacy." 

The cost to recycle the boat is approximately $580,000.