SOUTH DUNDAS – A day later than originally planned, Theodore The Tugboat (Theodore Too) sailed through South Dundas on July 8, much to the thrill of the many crowds along the shoreline.
The tugboat began its journey from Halifax, NS to its new homeport of Hamilton, ON in early June.
Theodore Too left Cornwall early in the morning on July 8 en route to Prescott where it was to tie up for the evening.
Since entering the St. Lawrence River, the tugboat has only sailed in daylight hours.
The tugboat reached the shoreline of South Dundas around 10:45 a.m. with a crowd following the vessel’s progress up the river. By the time it reached Morrisburg, several hundred people were along the shoreline of the waterfront park, municipal dock and beach to greet Theodore Too.
Large crowds were also at Duncan Park in Mariatown, and Loyalist Park on Lakeshore Drive.
By the time the tugboat made it to the Iroquois Lock, over 1,000 people lined the fence of the lookout to see the replica children’s show character transit the lock. The crowd rivaled former Canada Day fireworks displays at the point, and the annual Golden Gears car show.
Theodore Too is continuing its tour along the Lake Ontario shoreline with planned stops in Kingston, Oshawa, and Toronto before arriving in Hamilton.
The tugboat is the new ambassador for Swim Drink Fish, a water advocacy group in the Great Lakes.
Theodore Too is a replica vessel from the popular early-2000s CBC Kids and PBS show.