Thornbury Woman To Operate Boat Cruises Out of Collingwood Harbour
Lauren Matthews will be operating a 60-foot cruise boat out of the side launch slip in the harbour.
Council approved the proposal on Monday evening and as part of the plan, the municipality will receive $2,000 in fees. The contract is for one year, with an option to renew for four years. Matthews, a Thornbury resident, currently works as a deck hand with the Coast Guard and captain’s designation for the vessel. She said her father Dave Matthews builds steel tugboats in Port Dover and she’s been around boats all of her life.
“I was born and raised on the boats,” she said. “I used to work with charter boats and dive boats and things like that. It’s been a bit of a passion of mine.” She purchased one of the boats she used to work on and plans to use it for dinner cruises and sightseeing tours. “I just saw such an opportunity in that harbour,” she said. “I think it would be absolutely gorgeous down there for tourists and residents.”
She said the vessel can accommodate 70 passengers. She and her father will be working on the boat throughout the summer.
“I’m very excited about that,” she said.
Story originally by John Edwards of Simcoe.com
