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CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Titan disaster: federal Fisheries Department was part of previous OceanGate mission
Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St. John's, N.L., on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly HALIFAX — The federal Fisheries Department is shedding new light on its relationship with OceanGate, the American company behind the deepsea Titan submersible that imploded south of Newfoundland in 2023, killing all five people aboard. The department confirmed Thursday that in the summer of 2021, a staff member boarded a vessel 'associated with OceanGate' to participate as an observer during a mission off Newfoundland. 'The purpose was to learn more about OceanGate,' the department said in an email sent to The Canadian Press. 'Upon conclusion of the mission, it was determined that (OceanGate's) priorities did not align with the department's scientific objectives, and a further relationship was not pursued.' No other details were provided about the trip. As well, the department did not respond to an email asking whether any federal employees raised safety concerns about OceanGate's expeditions to view the wreck of the Titanic. Earlier this week, the U.S. Coast Guard released a report that concluded the tragedy on June 18, 2023, could have been prevented had OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush heeded safety warnings and calls for independent inspections and certification of the submersible. Rush was among those killed when Titan split apart as it descended near the Titanic, about four kilometres below the surface of the North Atlantic. Safety procedures at OceanGate, a private company based in Washington state, were 'critically flawed' and there were 'glaring disparities' between safety protocols and actual practices, the coast guard's report said. The 300-page report also revealed that in May 2021, Canada's Fisheries Department had written a 'letter of support' to Rush, saying the department wanted to collaborate with his company to assess its submersibles for scientific research. Only portions of the letter were included in the coast guard report. The Fisheries Department sent a copy of the letter to The Canadian Press on Wednesday, along with a statement that suggested its initial discussions with OceanGate were routine. 'Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) routinely expresses interest in scientific collaboration with a wide variety of potential partners,' a spokesman said Wednesday in an email. 'In early 2021, DFO had a series of exploratory discussions with OceanGate. The (May 2021) letter was sent to summarize the discussions that took place and the potential for the department to work with the company, beginning in 2021, to determine the applicability of its marine research systems.' The letter, dated May 19, 2021, makes it clear that department officials were keen to work with Rush and his team. 'DFO Maritimes Region is pleased with the discussions with OceanGate, the offer to participate in 2021, and the unique opportunity being offered to Canadian scientists and conservation efforts.' The letter also mentions possible funding from Ottawa. The department spokesman also confirmed in the Wednesday email there were discussions about having a staff member board the submersible on an expedition to the Titanic, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland. But he said that never happened. The department did not explain why the relationship with OceanGate was eventually terminated or mention its collaboration on another vessel until pressed for details the next day. Besides DFO's letter of support in 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation found no evidence of any actual collaboration or funding. The submersible's implosion also killed French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. In June, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said the independent agency had completed its investigation report, which at the time was being reviewed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2025. By Michael MacDonald
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
'I was gutted': Swimmer in Sudbury, Ont., shares her concerns following a fatal boat crash
When she was younger, Jodie McConnell would swim a full kilometre across Sudbury's Lake Nepahwin to a beach on the Laurentian University campus. But now she sticks closer to shore, out of concern for her personal safety. "When I've tried to swim this summer I have not made it out of this harbour because of motorboats at fast speed and also Jet Skis," she said. On Friday, Aug. 1, a boat struck 52-year-old Sylvia Donato when she was out swimming in Lake Nepahwin. She died of her injuries the next day. Donato was a science teacher at Sudbury's Lockerby Composite School. "A talented science educator, Sylvia Donato's positive attitude inspired students to do their best each and every day, both in the classroom and beyond the classroom walls," the Rainbow District School Board said in a statement. McConnell didn't personally know Donato, but said she was well-known in Sudbury's swimming community, and was training to compete in the Beaton Classic race, which includes a one-kilometre swim section. She said she was "just gutted" when she heard Donato died in the hospital. "It's all I have thought about since learning about it," McConnell said. She said the beach has been unusually quiet since Donato's death. "I believe in my heart they are honouring the loss of life of this accomplished swimmer," she said. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, McConnell said she's noticed many more motorboats and personal watercraft on the small urban lake. She believes a lot of people with property on the lake saw boating as a fun family activity when many indoor activities weren't possible due to social distancing rules. But that has meant swimmers are sharing the lake with watercraft that can travel at fast speeds. "I just know that the boat is at the advantage," McConnell said. A 'pecking order' for boats Dawn Colquhoun, a manager with Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety, said there's a "pecking order" when it comes to watercraft. "Motorized boats must give way to boats that are not motorized. Of course, they must stay well away from swimmers," she said. "And as a boater, you must be aware of what is going on around you. It is required by law. You are required to maintain a 360-degree lookout." Colquhoun said motorized boats must also maintain speeds of 10 kilometres per hour or less when they are at least 30 metres from the shoreline. McConnell said she now always has her Swim Buddy, a brand of inflatable buoy that swimmers tie around their waist, when she's swimming in Lake Nepahwin. She said many open water swimmers use the colourful buoys to ensure they are visible to boaters. Beyond personal safety equipment, she said more needs to be done to ensure the lake is safe for everyone. Laurentian University's popular beach on the lake, for example, no longer has a lifeguard. McConnell said she would like to see that rectified. She also said boats should not be travelling at high speeds on the relatively small lake. "I know that boaters that enjoy this recreational activity with their families also are invested in safety for everyone," she said.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Experts say invasive plant in Lake Simcoe can injure swimmers, harm the environment
Experts are warning about the harmful impacts of an invasive aquatic plant in Lake Simcoe, nearly 100 kilometres north of Toronto. Water soldier is not new to the province, but it was spotted for the first time in Lake Simcoe last year. The perennial aquatic plant is prohibited under Ontario's Invasive Species Act. The plant has long, thin, serrated leaves that grow in a circular pattern, according to the Invasive Species Centre, a non-profit. The plant forms dense mats that crowd out other vegetation and may alter water chemistry, impacting native aquatic species. Water soldier can be submerged up to five metres under water but floats to the surface in the summer. "It will cut you up if you handle the plant or try to swim around the plant. So what we're trying to do is mitigate its spread," said Brook Schryer, an advisor for the Invading Species Awareness Program with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Foundation. Water soldier is used as an ornamental plant in water gardens, the likely source of its introduction to the province, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. "This plant is a severe risk to recreational activities and it's a threat to wildlife such as fishes, waterfowl and migratory birds," Schryer said, noting the potential impact to the economy as well. Members of the water soldier working group quickly mobilized to survey the area when it was first spotted. The group includes government officials, Indigenous organizations, conservation authorities, and other environmental groups. To date, surveys have shown the infestation to be limited to Cook's Bay, but the worry is that it will spread to other areas of Lake Simcoe. Right now the work being done is focused on evaluating the extent of this invasion, according to the province, and next steps will be managing plans for control and treatment. WATCH | Inside Canada's quiet war against invasive carp: DFO's Alex Price explains his team's mission 15 days ago Judy Dwyer's property backs onto the lake, and the plant is already impacting her. She said she will wear gloves and pull the plants that are nearby her dock, but they come back quickly. "I haven't swam this year. And I have grandchildren and I'd love for the kids to swim in the water, but I don't want them to now," Dwyer said. Schryer says there has been a lot of support from various government agencies, but he hopes to see more funding from the federal government to help tackle the issue. CBC Toronto has reached out to Fisheries and Oceans Canada for comment. "I've been working on aquatic invasive species for 10 years and you know, given the economy and user base of Lake Simcoe, this is probably of top priority," Schryer said. How residents can help In the few other areas of the province with water soldier, it's been extremely challenging to handle, says Colin Cassin, executive director of the Invasive Species Centre. "Just getting the boat in and out, a canoe, kayak, just swimming off the dock or off the sandy beach, it can really impede how we use our lakes," he said, adding that residents can also do their part to help. "It looks like the top of a pineapple or a household spider plant," Cassin said. "If you see something like that floating in the water, especially in Lake Simcoe, the best thing you can do is report it." EDDmapS website.
