Thunder Bay city council to consider scrapping Whalen tug

Thunder Bay City Council is scheduled to debate the future of two historic vehicles on Monday.

City administration is recommending council approve the recycling of the James Whalen tug boat, with some pieces preserved for future display.

Administration is also recommending council approve the issuing of an expression of interest "regarding the VIA Train historical artifact to inform relocation and dispossession decisions regarding this asset." The train is currently sitting in Kam River Heritage Park.

The Whalen tug was moored at the park until September 2022, when it was found to be taking on water. The boat was then brought to a dry land storage site along the Kaministiquia River, where it's remained.

Cory Halvorsen, the city's manager of parks and open spaces, said the city looked at other options for the Whalen, including the creation of a shoreline installation, or sinking it for use as a diving attraction (returning the boat to the water is not recommended as a long-term solution, a report to council states, due to its age and overall condition).

"Unfortunately all of the options that involve moving the tug from the current stored location come with a pretty large price tag," he said.

Moving the boat, Halvorsen said, would require the use of a heavy-lift barge, which was also used to recover the Whalen when it was taking on water.

The report to council states moving the boat would cost between $700,000 and $900,000.

Creating a dive site or putting the vessel on display on land would cost from $1.4 million to $1.8 million, the report states.

"Our recommendation is to sort of begin the recycling process on-site and and save some select pieces for our future display," Halvorsen said.

That, the report states, would cost about $540,000.

The pieces to be preservedwould include the bridge, stack, and possibly some of the railings, he said, adding the city has identified a spot that could house a future James Whalen tug historical display.

Meanwhile, the city has faced challenges in maintaining and displaying the VIA train over the last few years, the report states.

"Considering the challenges the park has faced over the last number of years, combined with the removal of the James Whalen Tug and increasing encampment activities occurring on site, Administration recommends that the plan and service levels for Kam River Heritage Park be redefined to better meet the needs of the community," the report states. "As part of this process an expression of interest for the VIA Train historical artifact would be released to the public to inform relocation and dispossession decisions regarding that asset."

"Removal of the heritage assets from the park will allow Administration to focus on leveraging the natural privacy and connection to water that this site provides to serve the community in meaningful and effective ways."