Thunder Bay – Alexander Henry is permanently moored in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Lake Superior. It is a retired light icebreaker, buoy tender and navigational aid ship that served as the first Canadian government-owned icebreaker on the Great Lakes, from 1959 to 1985. Constructed in the former Port Arthur Shipyard in 1958 for the Department of Transport’s Marine Services fleet, the ship was one of 49 large vessels incorporated into the Canadian Coast Guard upon the agency’s inception in 1962.
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Superior North, commemorated the national historic significance of CCGS Alexander Henry with a special ceremony to unveil a plaque at the Marina Park in Thunder Bay. The announcement was made on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Steven Guilbeault.
The ship is a well-preserved example of the shipbuilding program of the era, embodying the government’s commitment to marine navigation through icebreaking, lighthouse supply, buoy maintenance, and search and rescue mission support. The ship was officially retired in 1985 and has since served as a museum ship in Kingston and Thunder Bay, where it is now owned and operated by the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society. Alexander Henry has been an exceptional educational tool to inform communities and members of the public about the history of the Canadian Coast Guard and the critical work it continues to do throughout Canadian waters.
Alexander Henry is part of a long history of government support for marine navigation. It is symbolic of the increase in industrial shipping activities and commerce on the Great Lakes in the second half of the 20th century.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. The designation process under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,240 designations have been made nationwide.
National historic designations illustrate the defining moments in the story of Canada. Together, they tell the stories of who we are and connect us to our past, enriching our understanding of ourselves, each other, and our country. Heritage places provide a wide range of cultural, social, economic, and environmental benefits to their communities.