www.kiaos.ca KIA of Owen Sound 519-371-4447 Highway 26 East, across from Walmart 1-800-930-5616 Newsstand Price 95¢ (plus 5% tax) ears The g 25 Y tin bra Cele ruce eninsula ress B P P Since 1988 2013 Number Five April 30 to May 14, 2013 FERRY SERVICE CANCELLED UNTIL AT LEAST MAY 10. Service Will Resume When Water Rises to Chart Datum “Due to continued low water levels on Lake Huron, the Friday, May 3rd scheduled start to the Chi-Cheemaun ferry season has been postponed until at least Friday, May 10th. “Water levels have slowly increased over the last week, but are still below the minimum level required for the ferry to operate safely from the existing dock fenders at Tobermory and South Baymouth. “On May 2, 2013, the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC) will proceed with the sold out Annual Spring Repositioning Cruise event. Water levels have risen sufficiently to permit safe docking of the vessel in its light condition with passengers only. Passengers will disembark in Tobermory and travel back to Owen Sound by bus, as advertised.” (Press Release from Owen Sound Local Fire Department Receives Pet Oxygen Masks Transportation Company, at 1PM on Photo: Krista Tiernan (left) and Brent Richardson (middle) of the Tobermory and Lion’s Head Fire Departments April 29, 2012) receive a donation from Ray Sugar and canine companion Maddie (left) of Invisible Fence Brand for three pet-oxygen It looks like it’s going to be a tough masks. Read full story on page 8. year for the Chi-Cheemaun. Record low water levels in the fall and early winter raised concerns that the channel into South Baymouth might need to be dredged. A market study released in January noted that ridership on the ferry has been dropping steeply in recent years. More unsettling, the study predicted that the decline will continue unless the ferry service can make itself more popular and more fun. Then a Transport Canada safety report indicated that the fenders on the ferry docks at Tobermory and South Baymouth offer “marginal” safety when water levels fall below chart datum (176.0m above sea level). It looked like this problem at least, would solve itself as water levels rose steadily in winter and early spring. On April 20th, the water rose to only 8cm below Chart Datum, only to fall to 26cm below Chart Datum on the 23rd. Water levels have gone sideways since then so the service could not be started. Cancelling the first week or more of the season will further erode the ferry’s share of Manitoulin-bound traffic. Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin residents are furious with the delay. Ferry personnel are expecting to be laid off until the boat can run. Why couldn’t this problem have been anticipated and solved? The problem was anticipated, it turns out. Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC), the company that runs the Chi-Cheemaun, notified Transport Continued on page 2 $1.00 (includes tax) In This Issue: ISSN 1495-2696 The problem with the docks in Tobermory and South Baymouth is that • Hike for Hospice Page 8 the dock fenders in the harbours will not adjust down far enough for • BPTA Meet & Greet May 13th Page 9 current water levels. The rub rail on the Chi-Cheemaun, an extension • Sources of Knowledge May 3rd-5th Page 18 of the vessel’s vehicle deck is the point at which the hull is intended • MNBP Council Minutes Page 20 to take docking stresses. If the rub rail lodges underneath the fender, 9 771495 269609 it makes the vessel dangerously unstable. The Tobermory Press Hours - Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The deadline for our next issue (#6/13) is May 8, printing May 14 Serving & Supporting SERVING THE BRUCE McNair PENINSULA FOR YOUR... Our Community Since 1977 Ltd. • Custom Homes • Renovations Construction • Roofing • Siding • Decks WE DELIVER! QUALITY CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION SOLUTIONS and more BBB ACCREDITED Jim McNair 519-793-4353 BUSINESS www.doidgetimbrmarts.ca 519-795-7729 www.mcnairconstruction.ca • [email protected] • R.R.#1 Lion’s Head, Ontario N0H 1W0 The Bruce Peninsula Press # 5 April 30 to May 14, 2013 page 2 FERRY SERVICE CANCELLED - cont’d from previous page operation with water levels below chart datum.” Susan Schrempf points out that “We are not in the business of running a marginal operation.” Canada (which operates the docks that the ferry uses) in June of 2012 that there might be a problem in the fall, according to OSTC’s Susan Schrempf. She Schrempf blames Transport Canada. “We pay them $5,000 to $6,000 was concerned because the adjustable fenders in both ports were already per month on the understanding that we will have a place to dock.” at their lowest setting. “We alerted Transport Canada that the fenders OSTC Board Member Bill Caulfeild-Browne confirms that the fault were not providing the protection they should, with the expectation that lies with Transport Canada. “I have seen the contract between OSTC and dropping water levels would make it worse. To be fair, nobody can predict Transport Canada,” he says. “It was signed in 1972. In my opinion it water levels accurately but with the recent trend, we were hoping they clearly requires would be proactive...” Transport Transport Canada initiated a study in July, but that study did not Canada to report until January. make whatever changes are The study reported that the system of fenders on the docks at necessary to Tobermory and South Baymouth will not adjust low enough for current maintain safety.” water levels. They found the safety of the facilities was “...marginal for What does the future hold? There are various possibilities. If the water levels increase to chart datum in time, service would start on May 10. If not, the decision would be pushed back another week. And so on. In the longer term, (you would be permitted to roll your eyes at this point) there are discussions between Transport Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (which oversees OSTC). PHOTOS: With the fenders on the dock (above left) at their lowest setting, the Fire Department Gives A Big vessel’s rub rail (above right) was still in danger of getting stuck below it. (Note the abrasion marks at the bottom of the fender. The rub rail, an extension of Welcome To Sparky The Fire Dog the vessel’s car deck, is intended to absorb docking stresses. When the rub rail lodges below the fender it makes the vessel unstable and transfers the docking stresses to parts of the hull that were not designed to absorb them. Challenges of a Changing Lake: Sources Of Knowledge Forum May 3-5 The 2013 Sources of Knowledge Forum will be held on the May 3-5 weekend, with a full slate of speakers on Saturday the 4th. This year’s topic, Challenges of a Changing Lake, will be addressed from a variety of perspectives: geological, scientific, political, environmental. The first speaker, Stephen Riley of the US Geological Service, will deliver a “State of the Lake Address”. 598 Gould St. Wiarton, ON Submitted by Krista Tiernan Ten hours later, the after dinner CALL NOW FOR A TOUR Keynote Speaker, Jeff Gray, will talk The Northern Bruce Peninsula Fire Department would like to welcome its newest about “Turning a Marine Sanctuary into recruit to station #10 Tobermory and station # 20 Lion’s Head. Sparky the Fire Dog 519.534.3357 a Popular Brand”. In between the two will Competent caring staff • Administration of medication has moved his dog house to the Bruce Peninsula! be a full program of speakers, a hike and Sparky has been helping firefighters and children all across the globe for many a social hour and dinner • Help with baths • Home cooked meals years. He has been working hard teaching children and their families the importance • Laundry and housekeeping • Recreational activities See story on page 18 or visit www. • Short term stays available of fire safety. sourcesofknowledge.ca for more info. We are very proud and excited to have Sparky join our communities. He is looking forward to attending community events and meeting the residents within our communities and spreading his knowledge of fire safety. If anyone is interested in meeting with Sparky or having him make an appearance “THE PUB IN THE TUB” at a community event, you can catch him chasing his tail or playing fetch at his dog house located along Lindsay Road 5. Please contact our Acting Deputy Fire Chief Overlooking beautiful Little Tub Harbour at [email protected]. TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE Tobermory Youth Choir Hosted By Tobermory United Church Happy Mother’s Day …calling all young people who are interested in singing! Open Daily We invite you to join us any time for a weekly choir practice led by 12pm to close Professional Musician Lia Edgar …all ages are welcome (boys & girls) and it is free to join Practice is every Sunday @ 12 noon for one hour FRESH LOCAL WHITEFISH 8 ICE COLD BEERS ON TAP For more information contact Full Menu, Wings, Pizza, Burgers & Much More Lia @ 519-596-8289 or the church @ 519-596-2394 Open Daily 5 Brock Street, Tobermory ON 519.596.2575 www.crowsnestpub.ca The Bruce Peninsula Press # 5 April 30 to May 14, 2013 page 3 Brent Richardson Recognized For 45 Years As Volunteer Firefighter Trail Rehabilitation for Flowerpot Island When a barge, two work boats and an excavator showed up at Tobermory Harbour on April 25, it piqued the village’s curiosity.