Community Waterfront Heritage Centre (CWHC)

The bulk freighter Algoma Compass arrived in Owen Sound on January 19th for Winter layup. The Compass has been a common visitor to Owen Sound for winter layup, with recent stays in Owen Sound in 2021-22 and 2025. The freighter also tends to have its fair share of...

The CCGS Judy LaMarsh made an appearance in Owen Sound on January 18, making her the first vessel to enter the harbour in 2026! The Judy LaMarsh was called on to clear the path for the Algoma Compass. The Compass had been required to wait in the bay on its way to...

Owen Sound's last harbour visit of the 2025-2026 season came on December 22 when the Prentiss Brown and St. Marys Challenger arrived at the cement silos. Unlike the last few years where grain was the Saginaw was the most frequent visitor to the harbour, this tug and...

On December 4, after a morning of intense snowfall, the Saginaw slid into port with its third grain delivery to Owen Sound for the 2025-2026 shipping season. While the "Witch of November" and bad weather on the lakes meant the end of the season for most ships...

Owen Sound saw two visitors from the Canadian Coast Guard recently. On November 23rd, CCGS Limnos and the smaller Cove Isle came to Owen Sound. Their purpose wasn't immediately clear, but the Cove Isle's destination was listed as "NAVAIDS," suggesting that they may...

The Chi-Cheemaun ended its 51st season on October 26th, and took its repositioning cruise back to Owen Sound on October 27th. 450 people boarded the ferry in Tobermory and rode to the harbour where it will be spending the 2026-2027 winter. Along the way, passengers...

The Saginaw has returned! The ship entered the harbour with our second load of grain for the season just after midnight on October 15th. This grain shipment means that we have now received two shipments of each cargo that comes through the port: grain, cement, and salt.

An unusual visitor came to Owen Sound recently. October 3 saw the arrival of HMCS Margaret Brooke, a Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel designed to operate in Canada’s Arctic regions. The vessel arrived as part of a tour of Great Lakes ports which also included...

MV Oakglen was a feature of Owen Sound's waterfront for most of 2025. To the enjoyment of some and frustration of others, its winter layup, which began on New Years Eve in 2024, lasted over 8 months before ending on September 20. Like the John D. Leitch which spent a...

Owen Sound saw an interesting visitor recently when R/V Sturgeon pulled into the Harbour. The Sturgeon is a research vessel operated by the United States Geological Survey. It supports fisheries related science, including deepwater studies, restoration ecology, and...

Owen Sound saw the return of the Playfair on July 26th. The Playfair is an occasional visitor to the harbour and is notable for its “brigantine” rigging. Brigantine ships use square sails on the foremast and fore-and-aft sails on the mainmast. The Playfair is operated...