By Jacob Fehr
FANS of the famous tugboat Theodore TOO, a replica of the titular character from CBC’s Theodore Tugboat TV series, were dismayed last week upon discovering the beloved tug had partially submerged at a dock in Port Weller’s Ontario Shipyard.
Theodore TOO is owned by Blair McKeil, CEO of Breakwater Financial and former president of McKeil Marine. In a statement last Wednesday, Mr. McKeil said that “the cause of this unfortunate incident remains unclear,” but “we are committed to executing a safe and successful refloat of our beloved Theodore TOO.”
“People across the country hold this little tugboat dear, and we will do everything possible to keep everyone informed of our progress. Rest assured, measures have been taken to mitigate any potential environmental impact,” he said.
The statement indicated that the tug was “resting gently on the bottom of shallow water.” Photos of the partially submerged boat show its iconic cap and face just above the water’s surface at the Lake Ontario dock where the incident occurred.
On Thursday, Mr. McKeil announced in a statement that “Theodore TOO was safely righted and refloated.” He shared his gratitude for those who assisted in the process.
“We still have a lot of work to do, but with that being said, we want to thank Olous Boag and his team from Ontario Shipyards for their immediate assistance and expertise with the salvage and refloat operations.
“We would also like to acknowledge both Kevin Cameron of North American Marine and the ASI Group’s dive team for their immediate response and support as subcontractors to the Ontario Shipyards.
“Furthermore, we are thankful for the assistance provided by the Urgent Response Team at the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)—led by Greg Yizhou Yang. Their expertise, as well as assistance with additional equipment to mitigate any environmental concerns while refloating the vessel, was instrumental in our success thus far.”
Theodore TOO was built at Snyder’s Shipyard in Dayspring, Nova Scotia, in 2000. Mr. McKeil purchased the 65-foot tugboat in 2021. Since then, the tug has served “as a proud ambassador for the Maritimes and a champion of Canada’s marine industry.”
“His mission includes raising awareness about the diverse, inclusive employment opportunities that drive Canada’s marine sector… [and advocating] for clean water strategies, focusing on the restoration and protection of the country’s waterways and the Great Lakes,” said the statement released last Wednesday.
Over the past few years, Theodore TOO has been an attraction in port towns along Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and in the United States. He last visited Port Dover in fall 2023.
In a social media post last Wednesday, Theodore assured fans he was in good hands after having “a mishap.” He said his family in Ontario “assembled a team of experts” who were “working super hard to have me ship shape in time for the holidays,” and he promised to keep the public updated.
On Thursday, Theodore shared an update on social media that he was “back afloat.”
“I’m so grateful for all the amazing friends who lent a helping hand to get me back upright—what a team effort!” he said, adding they’re “all true marine heroes!”
He thanked his fans for all their concern and support during his misadventure.
“I am also so very grateful for all of the well wishes you have shared with me over the past two days. Your love and support mean the world to me—thank you from the bottom of my tugboat heart!
“Remember to keep sharing your love and kindness with those around you—it makes the harbour shine even brighter!
“Toot toot!”
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Originally published December 24, 2024
