On a very cold, windy and snowy night - the HMS Haida made the trek across Lake Ontario to Port Weller (via the Welland Canal) for a much-needed restoration. The legendary WWII tribal-class Canadian destroyer ship had been purchased by the City of Hamilton as a tourist exhibit, and had been towed by 3 massive tugboats to the dry dock facilities at Port Weller for the refit.
I was one of about 40-50 people that frosty night down at Lock 1 of the Welland Canal when the Haida first entered the canal and made its way through the lift-lock. And despite the worst conditions possible for photography that night (low light, slow-moving ship...snow and wind) - I managed to get a few shots. People in their cars along the canal turned on their vehicle headlights to help light the ship up.
The trip from Toronto (Ontario Place) had been delayed 5 hours due to additional dredging that had to be done in the channel to free the Haida from its longtime berth at Ontario Place.
So I'd waited in my truck (first pic) the entire 5 hours for the chance to get the homecoming shots.
When the ship reached the upper level of the lock, I stood with a group of people along the edge of the canal taking a few more pics - and as the great ship slowly passed by in the cold and snowy night air, everyone broke in to a spontaneous applause and someone shouted out, "Thanks for bringing her home!"
It made the entire 5-hour wait worth every minute.
A year or more later, after the rebuild was finished and the Haida towed to Hamilton, I drove my two daughters over to see the ship on opening day - and we were among the first aboard when they opened at noon.
While taking photos that day - I met an oldtimer standing alone near the big guns at the bow of the ship who was among the very first crew that sailed the North Atlantic on the Haida's maiden voyage after its launch. He'd driven up alone from Michigan that morning just to see his old ship again on opening day. I stood there captivated for a solid 20 minutes while he told me stories of what it was like standing watch on the open bridge during winter in the North Atlantic. I was so totally honoured and humbled to stand there listening to this vet share his experiences - a moment I'll never forget.
Some shots...
Haida approaches in the distance - I'd left my truck lights on hoping to light it up a little as it passed.
Haida is towed into the lock.
The ship emerges from the lock above. From here they took a sharp left turn and towed it in to the drydock area.
Opening Day (Hamilton, Ont.)
I was one of about 40-50 people that frosty night down at Lock 1 of the Welland Canal when the Haida first entered the canal and made its way through the lift-lock. And despite the worst conditions possible for photography that night (low light, slow-moving ship...snow and wind) - I managed to get a few shots. People in their cars along the canal turned on their vehicle headlights to help light the ship up.
The trip from Toronto (Ontario Place) had been delayed 5 hours due to additional dredging that had to be done in the channel to free the Haida from its longtime berth at Ontario Place.
So I'd waited in my truck (first pic) the entire 5 hours for the chance to get the homecoming shots.
When the ship reached the upper level of the lock, I stood with a group of people along the edge of the canal taking a few more pics - and as the great ship slowly passed by in the cold and snowy night air, everyone broke in to a spontaneous applause and someone shouted out, "Thanks for bringing her home!"
It made the entire 5-hour wait worth every minute.
A year or more later, after the rebuild was finished and the Haida towed to Hamilton, I drove my two daughters over to see the ship on opening day - and we were among the first aboard when they opened at noon.
While taking photos that day - I met an oldtimer standing alone near the big guns at the bow of the ship who was among the very first crew that sailed the North Atlantic on the Haida's maiden voyage after its launch. He'd driven up alone from Michigan that morning just to see his old ship again on opening day. I stood there captivated for a solid 20 minutes while he told me stories of what it was like standing watch on the open bridge during winter in the North Atlantic. I was so totally honoured and humbled to stand there listening to this vet share his experiences - a moment I'll never forget.
Some shots...
Haida approaches in the distance - I'd left my truck lights on hoping to light it up a little as it passed.
Haida is towed into the lock.
The ship emerges from the lock above. From here they took a sharp left turn and towed it in to the drydock area.
Opening Day (Hamilton, Ont.)
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