THUNDER BAY – Canadian Coast Guard ship Alexander Henry is a retired light icebreaker, buoy tender and navigational aid ship that served on the Great Lakes from 1959 to 1985.
On Saturday, to commemorate the legacy of the CCGS Alexander Henry and celebrate Coast Guard Day, Parks Canada, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) and the Canadian Coast Guard unveiled an official commemorative plaque for the ship at Pool 6.
Patty Hajdu, member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, said the plaque signifies the contributions of the ship to Thunder Bay and the region.
Hajdu said this ship played an important role in economic development by making sure other ships could get through the ice to continue to supply people with goods along the north shore.
“This ship has come home to stay and will be here for people to enjoy and learn about for many, many years,” she said.
Hajdu said it is especially wonderful to know that a dedicated group of community members made this happen.
“The Thunder Bay Transportation Museum really were the lead in getting the ship back to Thunder Bay and to the port. They worked really closely with the city and other officials to have the port be able to moor here.
“And the work on restoring the ship has been largely volunteer driven. This is a really important monument for our community and it is community citizens that made it possible for it to come home.”
The more that we know about our past, the better off we are as people, Hajdu said.
“This region has a rich history. It's contributed greatly to Canada – in fact, to the world. Much of our goods have been shipped around the world – grain, wheat and many other products have come from Canada's shores.
"This is a way for all Canadians to stay connected to the history of Thunder Bay, the region and its importance to that shipping route,” she said.
Brian Weston, deputy marine superintendent for the Great Lakes Sector of the Coast Guard, said the Alexander Henry has played an important role in history.
“It's awesome to see such a great turnout for the local community. It gives us a chance to show off what the coast guard is here for,” he said.
Wally Peterson, chairman of the Thunder Bay Transportation Museum, said this plaque gives the ship official recognition for the important role it played over the years.
“The ship was built in Thunder Bay in 1958, in 1959 it was finished and turned over to what became the Coast Guard in 1962. It opened and closed the port from 1959 until 1985 when she was retired.
“The more awareness people have that we exist, of course, the more that we can get to do tours which support us and keeps us going.
“If we don't keep our history, we lose our history and then how do we know where we came from?”
