SOS Ottawa Chapter - 2005 Year End Report

“On the Deck”

By: Marg Barker

The Mission of Save Ontario Shipwrecks is the preservation and promotion of marine heritage through research, conservation and education.

On my back deck that is.  Let me start this year at the end of the season…almost.  On October 30 I awoke to find three buoys on my deck. I had been stressing about the removal of the SOS Ottawa buoys in our eastern region because they must be removed by boat and I am always concerned that one will not be available.  Fortunately Andy Fytche and Nancy Binnie came through again and they delivered the buoys to my home for storage.

We were surprised to see that one of the buoys was completely clean of any algae or other “green stuff”.  We pondered why that was but no solution was found. In the spring we may polish the buoys with car or floor wax of some sort to see if it inhibits the build up on the buoys over the summer.  I cleaned the buoys that day and they are comfortably stored for the winter.

The next concern was the big marker on the Eastcliffe Hall.  This is the custom 80-gallon drum that was built especially for that site due to the fast current and close proximity to the shipping channel. My concerns were allayed when I rounded the corner of the house only to smell the marker before I saw it.  Needless to say, this marker is comfortably stored outside for the winter.  It will need some major repairs over the winter but it has served us well.

The highlight of every year, for me, is the NAS I course that we are able to offer.  With the support and direction of Marc-André Bernier and Ryan Harris, Marine Archaeologists for Parks Canada, students were fascinated by the wealth of knowledge and experience shared by these Instructors.

The course was held in September with a full enrollment of 20 students.  I receive emails all the time from former students who tell me how much they enjoyed the NAS I course and I am sure this group was likewise pleased.  Divers finish this course with knowledge that will enhance the way they see the wrecks and sites that they dive for the rest of their diving career.  As well, the NAS I course is a stepping-stone to further education in marine heritage preservation.

On May 7, 2005 SOS (Ottawa) was fortunate to have the display at the DIVE CANADA Tech Conference held in Kanata. This opportunity was made possible through an invitation to attend by our Corporate Sponsor Farallon USA and Rudi Asseer.  SOS Ottawa volunteers covered the booth for the entire day.  It was a great opportunity for divers to share ideas and learn from each other.

With an invitation from the City of Ottawa, we also had the display at the Ottawa River Heritage Festival in August. This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the City of Ottawa and this festival was one of the events.  The event was well attended and thanks to the SOS Ottawa members who covered the booth for the two days.

Work on this survey of the The Pentland and The F. A. Georger continued this year.  I think the gods of weather looked more favourably on the project this year and progress was made on the survey.  Nancy Binnie is diligent each year in getting some survey work completed.  For those who may think that the project is taking a long time, you only have to visit the site to understand the magnitude of work to be done. This is an excellent project for newly certified NAS I students to “cut their teeth” on in trying their skills at a real survey.  With funds that we raise on the NAS I course, SOS Ottawa is able to support this project. More to come next year I am sure.

I have continued to work on the Board as Secretary/Treasurer and Member-at-large.  We have a great group of volunteers on the Board who are dedicated to the mission of SOS and some new faces were elected to the Board at the last AGM.   It is a pleasure to work with all of these people.  I also worked on a committee this year to review the SOS by-laws that were sorely in need of an overhaul.  Members will be asked to ratify the new by-law at the next AGM in 2006.  As well, SOS and SOS Ottawa were well represented at the Ministry of Culture’s consultations into the revisions to the Heritage Act held in Brockville in October of this year.

Last but certainly not least, to close out our season, SOS Ottawa was presented with a $200.00 from Northern Tech Diver in Kingston.  This money was some of the proceeds of the Limestone City Dive Show in October.  The show was promoted to raise funds for the Preserve Our Wrecks buoy program but SOS Ottawa also benefited through generosity of the organizers. It was an excellent program with a wide variety of speakers. Many thanks to Tom and Dan for their support.

Save Ontario Shipwrecks has made great strides in the past few years to be front and centre in the Province in promoting marine heritage preservation. Next year will be the 25th Anniversary of Save Ontario Shipwrecks.  Members of SOS Ottawa have approved expenditures for land plaques to celebrate this anniversary.  We have a few other projects on the go for next year.

As I ponder the year that is past in order to write my report, I always come back to the great group of people that I have the opportunity to work with through SOS.  They have also become my friends. Special thanks go to Gordon Dewis and Bruce Mitchell for their hard work in the past year as members of the SOS Ottawa Board.

Thank you for this opportunity to be the one to deliver our long list of accomplishments.