Skip to content

'Stranded' boaters finally sailing through Trent-Severn Waterway

'We are going to make every effort today and tomorrow to get those who have been stranded through the Big Chute and on their way,' official says

Lock 44 in Big Chute is starting to clear a backlog from being closed over the past week due to staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stephanie Santeree, from Little Britain, is one of more than 20 boaters who had been stranded for four days before getting through the the lock July 4. After spending a few days on Georgian Bay, she and her family were informed they would be able to get back through if they returned by July 8.

“That didn’t happen on that Friday,” she said. “It didn’t happen on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, either.”

With three children, and a dog running out of food, the Santeree family headed for Starport Marina in Port Severn.

“We would have been stuck with no water and no hydro,” she said. “They happily let us stay for as long as we needed.”

Through social media, Santeree learned large vessels were finally getting through the Trent-Severn Waterway on Tuesday.

“We are the lucky ones,” she said. “Some people have been stuck since Tuesday last week.”

Santeree says a lack of communication from Parks Canada has been the most frustrating part of the entire experience. She says vague updates were provided only through social media

“To go day-to-day and not get an actual answer as to what is happening is frustrating,” she said. “Not all of us are retired on our boat. We have lives outside of this.” 

She says the experience has her and her husband wondering if they should refrain from buying a lock pass again next year.

“We’ve been boating for seven years now, and we’ve gone through many times,” she said. “We know things happen that are out of control, and if it’s staffing issues, that’s fine. We get it. But just let us know.”

Stephen Braham, associate director for Ontario Waterways, says staffing levels are improving af allowing for boaters to pass through at Big Chute.

“We have been getting a lot more of our staff members back today,” he said Tuesday. “We are moving some of the larger boats onto the cart and through the lock.”

He is hopeful most, if not all, larger boats will get through Tuesday.

“We are trying to move as many boats as we can,” he said. “We are going to make every effort today and tomorrow to get those who have been stranded through the Big Chute and on their way.”

On the less positive side, Braham says boaters can expect restrictions to be reimposed when staff shortages inevitably return.

“The training regimen at this site is unlike anything else that we have,” he said. “Relative to previous years, we happen to have a younger workforce, a less experienced workforce, and, due to a number of health-related issues, we’ve had staff shortages.”

Braham says the backlog has been frustrating for everybody involved, but most boaters have been staying patient, positive and supportive.


Reader Feedback

Tyler Evans

About the Author: Tyler Evans

Tyler Evans got his start in the news business when he was just 15-years-old and now serves as a video producer and reporter with OrilliaMatters
Read more