Port McNicoll Ontario - It's not that long ago in the grand scheme of things that the British provinces of Canada East, Canada West, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick confederated to create the new Dominion of Canada.
 
As we all know (or should know) that historic event came into effect 148 years ago, 1 Jul 1867.
 
It was on that very day that our nation was born.
 
It was also on that day that the first two jurisdictions adopted new titles, the Province of Quebec and the Province of Ontario.
 
One of the main reasons for Confederation was to better their collective chances of fending off what many perceived was the next step in the minds of the leaders south of the border, the invasion of this new land called Canada.
 
Now that their country had been successful in defeating the rebel southern states, a good way to give it to those powdered wigs back in England, a country that had backed those same rebel States throughout the five years of turmoil referred to as the American Civil War, was to conquer the Mother country's possessions in North America.
 
In doing so the United States of America would be simply continuing President James Madison's attempt back in 1812 to implement what many came to believe was that nation's "manifest destiny" or God-given right to expand and occupy the entire North American continent.
 
With the creation of this new Dominion of Canada 148 years ago it was obvious to the new federal government that to ensure the country stayed together while it was growing and prospering lots of new "citizens" would be needed and fast.
 
A massive and highly convincing marketing program (to use today's vernacular) was put in place and soon these new Canadians were arriving from Europe in the thousands entering their new country via the shipping ports at Halifax and Quebec City.
 
To ensure the vast regions west of Quebec and Ontario were more easily accessible, a number of large shipping companies established sailing routes to the distant ports of Fort William and Port Arthur.
 
Eventually new railway tracks would carry these eager homesteaders to what some described as the "new, best west."
 
One of the many combination passenger and freight vessels that was built specifically to operate between Canadian ports (initially from Owen Sound and later out of Port McNicoll), and a fast growing head of the Great Lakes destination now known as Thunder Bay, was the Canadian Pacific's SS Keewatin.
 
After a career spanning the years 1907 to her retirement in 1966 Keewatin transported hundreds of thousands of new Canadians and in her latter years huge numbers of tourists eager to explore the lakes, rivers, and mountains of a growing nation.
 
In 1966 Keewatin was saved from the wreckers when the historic vessel was given a new life as a floating museum in Saugatuck, Michigan, USA.
 
Then in 2012, and thanks to the amazing efforts of Skyline Investments' Gil Blutrich and history buff Eric Conroy, SS Keewatin was repatriated and returned to a new home in Port McNicoll, her Great Lakes easternmost port for many years.
 
Now, in an effort to help celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary and salute the impact this vessel has had in promoting the country's westward growth Tay Township and Skyline Developments and the people of Port McNicoll hope to celebrate the 150th year of Confederation by building a 1.65-hectare (4.07-acre) park around the popular tourist attraction and historic steamship.
 
That is if the Government of Canada thinks it is merited and given some of the Canada 150 funding now available.
 
An important part of the park will be beautiful gardens created to reflect the history of Port McNicoll and reminiscent of the gardens that the CPR created to welcome train and ship travellers.
 
The park will salute the people who came from all over the world and moved through Port McNicoll to create new homes in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, joining it to the rest of Canada.
 
It will also recognize the people who also came from all over the world to build and run the port and grain elevators at Port McNicoll and provide all of the services needed to have the complex run smoothly and efficiently.
 
The Keewatin will tell her part in the story of Confederation, along with her sister ships that began in 1882.
 
The cargo deck will have a series of static exhibits and multi-media displays that tell the story of Canada, how the country was built politically as a democracy after the war of 1812 right up to the proud nation it is today.
 
The Keewatin is a multicultural showcase in herself.
 
Built in Scotland and registered in Montreal, the ship's lounge features intricately carved wood panels depicting the various ethnic groups that came to Canada to forge a new life and work beside the French, First Nations, and Metis that were already here.
 
If you'd like to encourage the fulfilment of this fascinating concept please send Eric an e-mail ericconroy@rogers.com.

Mike Filey.