Thoughts.com

(Note: Originally posted on this blog in August 2008)

That’s a really good question and the best part about it is that there’s a really good answer. The Argyle II is an indelible part of Kenora’s history, just about everyone who lived or visited Kenora between 1936 and 1985 rode on it – at least once! There were the shuttles to Coney Island Beach, the ride out to Scotty’s Island, and many who stood on her decks are now long gone but the imprint of their footsteps were and still are, on the deck of the Argyle II.

So it’s a little about nostalgia but it is also about the important historical significance of this vessel. The Argyle II is of traditional wooden construction, carvel planking and all the other examples of craftsmanship that went in to building boats in this era. The vessel is one of the last surviving examples from the big wooden boat era on Lake of the Woods. For Kenora, the Argyle II is a central part of its history.

Our commerce was once dependent on these boats and so was transportation – especially leisure transportation - and the opportunity the Argyle II presented for everyone to get out and see the lake. Many people who lived in Kenora had no boat and the Argyle II was their only way to experience the grandeur of Lake of the Woods.

The Argyle II is perhaps, extra special because for 50 years, it was Kenora’s “water bus” and this is the reason just about everybody who lived here or who came here on their vacation during her hey day has taken a ride on her. If you think about it, preserving the Argyle II is preserving the memory and spirit of all who have been aboard her and a great celebration of a shared bond between the local citizens and those who visited Kenora during those years. Many in other regions of Northwestern Ontario, from Winnipeg and points west remember this old boat in the same way that the citizens of Kenora remember her.

What’s your story about riding on the Argyle II?

Has something like this been done before?

That’s another good question and the answer is yes, many times in communities across Canada and the United States. These are great examples to study and learn from and they prove restoring the Argyle II is well within the realm of the possible. The successes in other communities and the fact we have already achieved the goal of bringing the boat back to Kenora gives credibility to the local effort. These success stories will convince you that we can successfully restore the Argyle II if we work together!

What is the scope of the restoration effort?

The goal is to restore the boat to its original circa 1936 operational condition, with modifications to meet current safety regulations. This is a complete restoration from the keel up, with as much attention to detail to the original vessel as possible. The collective efforts of craftspeople and interested citizens and individuals will be the vehicle that gets the job done.

Who pays for it all?

If everyone gives just a little (of their money and their time) raising the necessary funds will be a cinch. The thrust behind rebuilding this grand old boat is to use mostly donated labour and materials – a complete community-based effort from the ground – or should we say the keel – up. Plans are of course, to raise money locally and from the many summertime residents who live on the lake, but this will hopefully be enhanced and supported by in-kind labour, materials and by grants from all levels of government.

The intent is to approach the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the Trillium Foundation and existing Federal Government programs that, for the right reasons, support this type of project.

What has been accomplished to date?

The short answer here is a lot! One of the first challenges faced by the group spearheading this effort was to save the boat from an impending date with the wrecker. This was achieved over four days from July 29-30, 2008 when Dominion Divers Ltd. out of Winnipeg were successful in patching and pumping the boat out and towing it safely to Kenora. We secured a site at Kuby’s Aircraft Ltd. and a big thanks to Kuby’s for coming through on the restoration site!

Who’s behind all this?

The names of the individuals involved don’t matter. The facts are a few people saw an opportunity to preserve an important part of Kenora’s history and took action. This group has now incorporated a not-for-profit organization called the Argyle II Historic Trust and have applied to Revenue Canada for charitable status. We want people to join our group to help make a successful project.

The Trust will be the pillars upon which the effort to rebuild the Argyle II will rest on. The main Board of Directors – consisting of community volunteers – will steer the ship (no pun intended) but there will be a need for sub-committees dedicated to achieving key goals in the areas of fundraising, materials acquisition, labour coordination and more.

What will the restored Argyle II not be used for?

It will not be operated as a cruise ship. The Objects of Incorporation for the Argyle II Historic Trust prohibit the boat’s use for commercial or “for profit” purposes.

It’s a big lake, there’s room for a few big boats.

Let’s restore her!

Just when you thought nothing was happening, the Argyle II Committee is pleased to announce we have adopted a Constitution that clearly outlines our mandate and objectives for this project. 
With the successful incorporation filing last fall, the committee became a legal not-for-profit entity which requires a more formal approach to things. 

A Constitution helps with that because it outlines the way the Committee will operate and the reasons (objects) for which it exists. The Argyle II Historic Trust - the formal incorporated name - is seeking charitable designation and as such, is required to follow objects that are legally recognized as "charitable" under Canada's Income Tax Act. This Act is quite clear as to what is a "charitable purpose" so with a good understanding in mind of these purposes, we found great synergies with the plans to restore the Argyle II. 

Here  are the Purposes and Objectives as found in section 3:

Section 3 - Purposes and Objectives

The Argyle II Historic Trust (“The Trust”) has been formed for the sole purpose of performing those functions and carrying out those purposes of the Trust, which are charitable and educational in nature. Those charitable and educational purposes are based upon the conviction that the preservation of historic structures, specifically the vessel the Argyle II, will contribute to improvement of instruction in schools, post-secondary institutions and the community at large, can be accomplished, at least in part, by the preservation and restoration of the vessel and its eventual operational use, to achieve and further achieve the objectives of the Trust.

These activities will further overall learning in the areas of Canadian history, of the wooden boat era on Lake of the Woods, of Kenora’s local history and during the restoration process, in the development of skills in areas such as building trades.

Within the above framework the purpose of the Trust, through the full restoration of the vessel Argyle II, will be to enlarge the body of knowledge available locally, provincially and nationally about the history of Kenora, the role of wooden boats in that history, and to encourage the dissemination of such knowledge.

Working with educational institutions, the Trust will be active in providing historical education as well as providing hands on experience in construction and eventually, training in navigational skills to interested and at-risk youth and young adults.

Educational Outreach programs to the general public are also planned using the Argyle II as the vehicle for these programs. Working with professionals and Government employees, the intent is to also advance education of the freshwater environment on Lake of the Woods and the need to protect it as a critical habitat for wildlife, fish and as a natural resource and recreational area.

The Trust shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other gains to the organization shall be used in promoting its objectives.


To this end the Argyle II Historic Trust will:

· Oversee and implement the complete restoration of the historic wooden boat the Argyle II as a pliable boat on Lake of the Woods.

· Operate and maintain the vessel once restored and use it for the sole purposes of achieving the objectives of the trust.

· During this process, provide an opportunity to youth and young adults to participate in the physical restoration of the boat, allowing them to acquire trade skills or to fulfill school community hour requirements or, for at-risk youth, to participate and fulfill requirements related to court–ordered community service hours.

· Develop a partnership with educational institutions and organizations to use the Argyle II for educational purposes geared to the following:
o To further the knowledge of the history of Kenora,
o To further the knowledge of wooden boats and their role in that history
o To further environmental education of the Lake of the Woods ecosystem and the environment in general.
o To make the Argyle II available to other charitable organizations, community groups and social service agencies to use in furthering their objects and purposes.
o To do all such other things as are incidental and ancillary to the attainment of the foregoing purposes and exercise of the powers of the Trust.

Next Steps

Te next steps involve getting the vision outlined in the Constitution known and accepted in the Community and amongst those with property on Lake of the Woods - especially summer residents. There is currently quite a bit of negativity among a few in Kenora and on the lake of the whole idea to restore the Argyle II.

The reason for this is not really well-known or understood. While some people have cited the sheer breadth of the task that lies ahead, other have pointed to fears of having another "cruise ship" on Lake of the Woods. This despite the proponents on the Trust have made it crystal clear there are no intentions of it being used for that purpose.

Now that we have posted the Objects of the Corporation, it should be abundantly clear that using the Argyle II as a cruise ship is prohibited by the Constitution, which states the ship must be used for the charitable purposes identified.

Fund-raising is another important next step. In addition to paying off a few outstanding debts ($1,700.00) for work done in rescuing her from the lake, we need to perform a full survey of the vessel so plans can be developed for her restoration. These could cost up to $40,000.00. We have put up a poll with this post as to possible fund raising ideas we could undertake. Please answer and let us know what you think.

One last comment about all that has been achieved to date. Really no one thought the boat could be successfully brought back to Kenora and it has. This was done with community support through donations and good will. Many thanks go out to volunteers who helped with that phase of the effort as well as the contracted salvage team - Dominion Divers from Winnipeg, CJ Edwards & Son Ltd. in Kenora, Kuby's Aircraft where the boat is sitting now, as well as other businesses in Kenora who gave us a small break on the cost of materials and equipment rentals. This was greatly appreciated.

Restoration of the Argyle II is a good idea for Kenora, especially as we move forward as a community that can no longer rely solely on forestry as an economic main stay. The Argyle II is an indelible part of Kenora's transportation history - almost everyone who lived or visited here between 1936 and 1985 rode on it. This can be a good news story, one where the skills of craftspeople, the generosity of the business community, and the involvement of young people in the restoration effort can lead to success.

If you would like to get involved or make a donation, please let us know. Call Gerry at 807-466-7181 or write the Argyle II Historic Trust, c/o Box 647, Kenora, ON, P9N 3X6.

Interested Citizens Wanted to Serve on Boat Restoration Committee

With the successful tow of the Argyle II into Kenora and the location of a storage of the boat at its restoration site at Kuby's Aircraft in Kenora, a major accomplishment was achieved. No one thought this phase could be completed and on July 29th, 2008 the Argyle proudly under tow, gracefully made her way back home to Kenora.

Several months have passed since and after a hiatus to gather our thoughts, current members of the RestorationCommittee are ready to gear up again for the next phase. We haven't been totally sitting back. The Argyle II Historic Trust has been officially incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under Ontario law and we are planing to apply to Revenue Canada for charitable status. This will be a long process and to ensure success, the now Board of Directors have been drafting a "Trust Document" and Constitution to govern the affairs of the Trust. Many thanks to Rod Schewchuk and his law firm for assistance in the Incorporation process.

We also have to thank C.J. Edwards and Sons, Kuby's Aircraft and the salvage team from Dominion Divers Ltd. out of Winnipeg. All did a great job and we are in the process of making sure all financial obligations to the contractors are satisfied in short order. Approximately $1,800.00 is outstanding in relation to the salvage operation. If you would like to donate to the Trust, you can by calling Gerry Cariou or going to the Scotiabank on Main Street in Kenora and depositing a donation into the "Argyle II Historic Trust's  account. All donations over $250.00 will receive a Limited Edition photograph of the Argyle II by photographer Tom Thomson. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME WITH THE TELLER SO WE CAN GET THE PHOTO TO YOU.

Many thanks to the many people who have already donated towards the first phase of the effort to restore this piece of Kenora's history. Your financial contribution made it possible to do the job and we couldn't have done it without your support!

As we move forward there is lots to do. If you think you are someone who might like to get involved on in the Trust and to serve as a Director we want to talk to you. Please note the effort going forward is to restore the Argyle II completely. The goal is to get the boat back to pliable condition as a vessel on Lake of the Woods and use it for charitable causes, education and other activities that will benefit Kenora. We are not planning on restoring it just as an exhibit. The goal is to see the Argyle II once again cruise the waters of Lake of the Woods.

If you are interested in getting involved please contact Gerry Cariou at (807) 466-7181 or gcariou@sunsetcountry.net

We're gonna need a lot of help so please come aboard - no pun intended.......

Well everybody, the Argyle II has been officially "rescued" from an impending scuttling and has successfully been floated and towed back home to Kenora, Ontario. Many people and companies need to be thanked for their assistance.  These include Les Alcock from Hugh Munroe Construction, the main salvage crew, Dominion Divers out of Winnipeg,  Kuby's Aircraft, our "tow crew" from Hilly Lake Construction Scott Gamage along with Henry our heavy equipment operator and Wray Edwards from C.J. Edwards and Sons Ltd. Without these individuals and companies, this whole thing would not have happened.  We also want to thank the McLaughlin family - the former owners of the boat - for their patience, encouragement and assistance.

Here are a couple of links to recent media coverage of our effort:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/4204981p-4797168c.html

www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1138552

Now, the fun starts! We have now incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation called the Argyle II Historic Trust. We are applying for full charitable status and await Revenue Canada's decision on our application. Once we get this status, all donations will be tax deductible (within Canada) and we'll be able to get a serious effort going at fundraising to pay for the restoration phase.

Do you want to get involved? We need people interested in sitting on our Board and others who may just want to lend a hand. If your a builder or craftsperson and want to work on the actual rebuild, contact us. If you would like to get on the fundraising committee, the materials acquisition committee or whatever your area of interest - contact us.

I am posting all kinds of photos from our historic effort so have a look at the new image uploads accompanying this post.

What is the Past Worth?

As an initial post to this blog, we want to convey the essential reasons we have as to why we want to save and restore this wooden boat. It all has to do with history really and our Committee's position that preserving something from the past is in itself, a worthwhile endeavor. With the rapid advances in technology over the past decade or so, it is very easy to forget about things from the past. This old wooden boat is one of those things and if you are from the Kenora area and were born prior to 1970, or if you have visited Kenora and Lake of the Woods over the past 50 years, it is likely you have some recollection of or saw this boat in its hey day on the lake. You may have even taken a ride on the vessel to spend day at Coney Beach with your friends or family.

The boat plied the waters of the lake beginning in 1936 and served the community as a "water bus" for almost five decades. People who were not well to do - those without a cottage on the lake and who owned their own boat - could get aboard the Argyle II and see what Lake of the Woods was all about. In this sense, the Argyle II was the great "equalizer" allowing people who didn't have the financial resources to get out on the lake.

The boat is also a beautiful piece of marine architecture and represents a bygone era of the region's wooden boat building industry. Our Committee's logo shows the boat right when it was launched in 1936 and we willl be working with the Lake of the Woods Museum over the next few months to obtain more photos of the boat and stories about her journeys on the lake for everyone who reads this blog to enjoy.  If you have any photos or want to post a comment about your time on the Argyle II, or you would like to share your memories of her, please do. If you have personal photos of the boat please email them to gcariou@sunsetcountry.net and we will ensure they get uploaded to the blog. If you have a particularly interesting story to tell about the Argyle II or your experiences restoring another similar boat, we would also like to put those up as main posts on this blog so you can email them to the same address and we'll share them with others to read and enjoy.

We are always looking for other folks in the community to sit on the committee so if you are interested please email us and we'll invite you to our next meeting. Our plans for the salvage of the boat from its current site on Channel Island are scheduled to be put into motion in early May of 2008. We are still in need of more donations to offset the cost of this phase of the operation so if you think this is a good cause, please donate what you can. Cheques can be made out to the Argyle II Restoration Fund and mailed to Argyle II Restoration Committee, c/o Box 647, Kenora, Ontario, Canada P9N 3X6. As a token of our appreciation, anyone making a donation of $250.00 or more will receive a limited edition, 16x20 inch signed print of the Argyle II taken by local photographer Tom Thomson.

So why not help us out?

Keep checking back for new posts to this blog, and again, send us your pictures and stories and we'll put them up here for others to enjoy.

                                                                                                                - David C McCullough -