This August, Friends of the St. Clair River (Ontario) was proud to sponsor Theodore TOO Tugboat’s visit to Mooretown and Sarnia. We had lots of questions for the captain and the crew! Over the next few months, we will be releasing a series of articles to share some “fun facts” and nostalgia with our readers.
The perfect ambassador for the Great Lakes must rely on the watershed and be based in the heart of the system. In this case, that is Hamilton, Ontario. As guardians and stewards of 20 percent of the world’s fresh water, there is an enormous accountability to ensure it is swimmable, drinkable and fishable. Building connections with the water is a critical step in engaging all as stewards. Here is what Theo the ambassador has to say,
“Theodore loves the water. He’s the perfect ambassador for our Great Lakes Guide which is focused on helping Canadians of all ages and backgrounds from urban cities to rural communities to get to the water’s edge.”
Working and living on a boat highlights the environmental footprint. Every piece of trash and recycling has to be stored until it can be correctly disposed. Fuel, water and food need to be replenished at specific ports which can accommodate the needs of the crew.
As the captain very clearly phrases it, “Your needs and impact are very visible.”
As for the physical structure of the tug, there are plans to improve its environmental footprint.
“The boat is in transition. While there many aspects of his operations which are sustainable —for example, grey waste, we are looking to make further enhancements. Converting him to bio diesel is among the first priorities when he dry docks this winter.”
As the ambassador for the “swimmable, drinkable, fishable” environmental theme, Theodore TOO’s presence at events becomes a partnership with local sponsors at each region of the Great Lakes. It’s a win-win collaborative. Most importantly everyone learns and has fun!
“Local sponsorship is extremely important! Not only do they provide the funding to keep this program running, but they also are the center of the communities that we want to bring our message to. They make sure that people are aware of us and help keep the message going after we have moved onto the next community. We couldn’t do this without them.”
Stay tuned for the 3rd and last article, Life on Board.