From Halifax to Pointe-au-Père: a moving saga
Anyone who has ever moved, if only once in their lifetime, knows what an ordeal it can be. So imagine relocating a 88.5 metre long submarine with a surface weight of 1,600 tons from Halifax to Rimouski! This herculean task was undertaken by the management of the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père when they acquired the submarine Onondaga to install her in Rimouski.
Safe haven at last!
Founded in Rimouski in 1980, the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père was originally known as the Musée de la mer. Its mission is to communicate the region’s maritime history and environment to visitors. It is home to the treasures of the Empress of Ireland pavilion, recalling the history of the famous passenger ship and displaying artefacts recovered from the wreck which it protects and disseminates. The museum also manages and operates the Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse national historic site, owned by Parks Canada, which is a major tourism player for the entire region. It draws more than 20,000 tourists annually, who are its main source of revenue.
It was with a view to diversifying the site’s maritime theme, giving it a new colour and significantly increasing attendance that the idea was born to complement its roster of attractions by bringing the Onondaga to Pointe-au-Père. The consensus was that such a “museum” would offer Canadian and international visitors a unique and varied experience in keeping with the region’s image.
It is important to emphasize that this bold move garnered the support of the whole community, who raised more than $600,000 for the project—proof positive of the population’s desire to see this undertaking come to fruition.
Facts and figures
The submarine Onondaga is the only submarine in Canada open to the public.
Some statistics:- commissioned on June 22, 1967, the Onondaga is the Canadian submarine with the longest active career in the history of the Canadian Navy; it was in service for 33 years;
- the Onondaga was decommissioned in 2000;
- the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père acquired the submarine in 2005 for…$4!
- 1,000 kilometres lie between Halifax (more specifically, Dartmouth Harbour where the submarine was located) and Rimouski;
- submerged, the Onondaga’s weighs 2,400 tons, or 4.8 million pounds, whereas surfaced, she weighs only 1,610 tons, or 3.2 million pounds;
- the Onondaga arrived in Rimouski on July 17, 2008, after a week of towing;
- it took three months to haul and install the submarine at its final destination;
- the epic transportation was featured in an episode of Monster Moves, a Discovery Channel documentary series. The French version, Ça bouge en grand!, was aired on Canal D in February 2010.
Canada Economic Development is very proud indeed to have been among those who believed in this project from the get-go and to have provided financial support to see it through to a successful conclusion.
On June 13, 2009, the Onondaga opened her doors to the first visitors. For over 40 days in a row, more than 1,000 people toured the submarine daily. By the end of the first year, the Onondaga had had 91,611 visitors, representing a 313% increase in site attendance, with more than $1 million in admissions. Not only has this increase in visitors benefited site activities as a whole but it has also bolstered economic vitality throughout the region. Tourists are extending their stays, much to the delight of merchants. There is even talk of an “Onondaga effect”! The direct and indirect economic spin-offs of this inaugural season, qualified as exceptional by the promoters, have been estimated at $15 million.
The Onondaga’s success in 2009 was such that site management had to expand the reception pavilion. This expansion, to which Canada Economic Development contributed, better meets client needs and provides quality facilities in which to welcome visitors for the 2010 season.
As Serge Guay, Director of the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père, noted: “Beyond the attendance statistics—which we are very pleased about—what is important for us is that the satisfaction rate is close to 100 percent, confirming the merits of this ambitious adventure.”
The importance of the submarine’s presence has garnered substantial recognition, including the 2009 “Innovative Project” award from the Rimouski-Neigette Chamber of Commerce and Industry and, more recently, the national Gold award in the Tourist Attraction – fewer than 100,000 Visitors category, at the national gala of the 2010 Quebec Tourism Awards (Grands Prix du Tourisme québécois).
Talk about a colossal success!
