Martyrs’ Shrine to Hold Second Annual Blessing of Boats and Waterways

Shrine

The Martyrs’ Shrine is setting sail again this summer as they host the second annual Blessing of Boats & Waterways at the Midland, Ontario town docks on Saturday, June 7th. A major celebration in many parts of the world, the blessing of fishermen and the fleet is a tradition going back centuries.  By blessing the waters that surround the Shrine and sanctifying the passage for those travelling on the water, this practice pays homage to the early Jesuit missionaries who travelled from the east coast to the interior of Canada over the St. Lawrence River, Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing, and French River until they reached Georgian Bay.

The Friday before the blessing, Parkbridge Marinas and the Martyrs’ Shrine will be hosting the second annual Commodores Dinner presented by the chefs of Restaurant Sainte Marie, paired with wines from Andrew Carleton-Smith from the famed Vintage Conservatory. A fundraising event in support of the Martyrs’ Shrine and the Georgian Bay Land Trust, the dinner will include a four course gourmet dinner featuring Colio and Stoney Ridge wines from Ontario. This year’s Commodore Frank Morneau will lead the celebration.

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More

Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More

Lifestyle