Ten years ago the Government of Canada removed a long standing 25 per cent import duty on cargo vessels built in foreign yards and brought under Canadian flag. This duty  was becoming increasingly damaging to domestic shippers. More Canadian yards went into decline and bankruptcy. The duty remission combined with a high Canadian dollar proved the perfect environment for a long awaited Great Lakes fleet renewal program that ultimately translated into CSL’s Trillium Class boats.

These vessels were designed by the Canadian firm Cooke Naval Architect Consultants Inc. to be CSL’s newest generation of state-of-the-art bulk carriers focusing on maximum fuel efficiency, minimal environmental impact and providing overall operational efficiency while meeting evolving needs of customers on the Great Lakes. The naming scheme for the eventual four vessels follows in the footsteps of CSL’s famous ‘Bay Class’  shipss.

        The second of four nearly identical sister ships, Hull CX9302, was christened Thunder Bay on June 11, 2012. After successful sea trials, the new vessel was delivered on May 25, 2013 and departed China on May 29 to begin her delivery trip across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal and on to Montreal QC. She successfully arrived at Montreal on July 21, 2013.

        The name Thunder Bay has been associated with CSL since 1921. The first Thunder Bay was built by the Chicago Shipbuilding Co. in 1895 as the barge Malta for the Minnesota Steamship Co. She was acquired by CSL in 1921 and converted to a canal sized powered freighter . . .      - See more here . . . http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/thunderbay.htm

Thursday, May 16th - Students at St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg along with students at two additional separate schools in the area were asked to take part in a project sponsored by Rachel’s Kids International some 18 months ago. The students were invited to paint panels of material, interpretations of sharing, love, and happiness in their school environment. The panels would be transported to schools in Sri Lanka where they would be hung on the walls in an effort to encourage the disadvantaged students to work toward graduation. 

        Graduating primary school in Sri Lanka provides opportunities for students to take part in government funded education through secondary and university education. Primary education in Sri Lanka is not government funded, making the potential for failure in such a poor economy painfully obvious. Many of the students leave school by Grade 4, having to work to provide food for their families.

        Today, panels created by the students in Sri Lanka were displayed at St. Mary St. Cecilia, a gesture of thanks from that group. The strikingly colorful panels are slated to be auctioned at the annual Rachel’s Kids Garden Party, this year to be held at the Cornwall Golf and Country Club. The auction profits will be included to fund Sri Lanka school projects in the coming year.

       Rachel’s Kids, organized and headed by Cornwall dentist Dr. Rachel Navaneelan, hosted more than 500 supporters last year in Cornwall and raised more than $130,000. Those monies went toward a long list of personal and clothing items, school supplies and food essentials for some of the most needy families, construction improvements to education facilities and more, all in an effort to provide an education and a life opportunity to the young students in Sri Lanka. The support items are delivered to Sri Lankan by Dr. Navaneelan and a group of supporters each year, and handed over to some 740 fostered young people born into unfortunate circumstances. Dr. Navaneelan has personally funded the travel and delivery costs of her entourage each year, for the past 15 years.

Members of the Morrisburg and District Skating Club pose for a team photo at the close of the annual awards night held at the Morrisburg Legion on Tuesday evening . . .

Tuesday, May 14th - The Morrisburg and District Skating Club membership got together on Tuesday evening to celebrate another year of skating, with a dinner (prepared and served by members of the Ladies Auxiliary) and an awards night.  All of the skaters in attendance, announced test manager Isabella Jordan following dinner, had set goals and worked hard to achieve them. She said the club hosted a total of three high test days over the season, and testing throughout the year for the Star 1 - 5 skaters.  

        “Eighty-five tests were tried at the Star Skate level, and 69 tests at the higher levels. The numbers demonstrate the hard work and dedication to the Skate Canada testing system, which positively shows when club skaters take to the ice to compete across Ontario.” announced Jordan.        - See more notes with many great photos here . . .

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Wednesday, May 1st - Sidewalk and manhole repairs will be under progress on Ottawa Street in Morrisburg, between Fifth Street and Canada Way, beginning May 1st, 2019. Traffic, directed by flag people, will be reduced in this area for six to eight weeks.   The municipality will keep drivers up-to-date .

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