‘Lasting impact': Remembering the former Paddlewheel captain
A captain who operated vessels on Winnipeg's waters for decades is being remembered for his impact on the lives of millions and his contribution to the province's maritime heritage.
Captain Steve Hawchuk, owner of Paddlewheel Riverboats, passed away earlier this month at the age of 87 after a 44-year career operating the Paddlewheel Queen and the Paddlewheel Princess.
From carrying celebrities such as former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, Col. Sanders and Burton Cummings, Hawchuk carried approximately 2.7 million passengers over 10,475 cruises, according to his wife, Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk.
Captain Steve Hawchuk steering the Paddlewheel Queen. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
Captain Steve Hawchuk steering the Paddlewheel Queen. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
'Graduations, weddings to corporate functions … and then we had royalty, special bookings and we even had all-star wrestling on the top deck,' said Nagtegaal-Hawchuk.
'Total leap of faith'
Hawchuk's first experience with the riverboat business began in 1969, when he and his half-brother Joe Slogan—a dentist and former MP for the now abolished riding of Springfield—partnered up and purchased the Paddlewheel Queen and the Paddlewheel Princess.
Both knew nothing about the boating or restaurant business, according to Nagtegaal-Hawchuk, adding that 'they just loved the boats' and were raised in the Interlake region.
'Total leap of faith,' said Nagtegaal-Hawchuk. 'And the rest, as they say, is history.'
Hawchuk told CTV News in 2022 that he 'was tired of being a bookkeeper' and began boating operations on July 26, 1969.
Commissioned by businessman Ray Senft, the Paddlewheel Queen and the Paddlewheel Princess were imitation sternwheelers equipped with a rear paddlewheel, with room for up to 400 and 200 passengers, respectively.
The Paddlewheel Queen going through the Bergen Cut-Off Bridge in Winnipeg. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
The Paddlewheel Queen going through the Bergen Cut-Off Bridge in Winnipeg. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
Hawchuk ran Paddlewheel Riverboats seven days a week, with cruises on the Red River and Assiniboine River from about May to October, according to Nagtegaal-Hawchuk.
'In the beginning, Steve would work like 18 hours a day. That was the norm for six months.'
Nagtegaal-Hawchuk, who was originally a captain for Paddlewheel Riverboats' competition, said the vessels offered dinner cruises, sightseeing, live music and dancing.
'He would hire at least 60 [staff members], at least every season,' she said.
'And he always used to joke he must have put, I don't know how many people through university.'
Passengers aboard the Paddlewheel Princess. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
Passengers aboard the Paddlewheel Princess. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
Throughout the decades, the riverboats would take various routes and operate from several docks, including the Redwood Dock, the Kildonan Park Dock and the Forks and Alexander Dock.
A stop at the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site also allowed passengers to tour the former fur trade post.
Read more: Former Paddlewheel captain pens book commemorating 44 years on the Red River
'He would bring in captains from the East Coast, West Coast, and then of course, the homegrown captains were the best, and most of them all came from Lake Winnipeg,' said Nagtegaal-Hawchuk.
By 1989, the third deck of the Paddlewheel Queen was removed to fit under more bridges in the city.
Passengers boarding the Paddlewheel Queen. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
Passengers walking up to the third deck on the Paddlewheel Queen. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
A joint operation with River Rouge Tours—once the competition—also saw Paddlewheel Riverboats operate the River Rouge ship during the 1990s and early 2000s.
During the winter months, the vessels were brought to rest in the Selkirk Slough—a protected inlet off the Red River—though Nagtegaal-Hawchuk said there were still full-time staff during the winter to assist with bookings.
By 2013, Hawchuk officially retired, having carried just over 7,000 passengers that season—down from the peak of around 80,000 passengers a year during the 1970s.
Col. Sanders (left) and Captain Steve Hawchuk
Col. Sanders (left) and Captain Steve Hawchuk aboard the Paddlewheel Queen. Col. Sanders was in Winnipeg then to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first KFC restaurant in the city. Uploaded July 25, 2025. (Esther Nagtegaal-Hawchuk)
In 2017, the Paddlewheel Princess was damaged beyond repair after vandals set the vessel on fire. Two years later, the Paddlewheel Queen was cut up for scrap metal after a plan to convert it into a barge fell through.
'Captain Hawchuk made a lasting impact on Manitoba's maritime heritage through his years operating the Paddlewheel Queen and Paddlewheel Princess,' reads a statement from the Marine Museum of Manitoba made to Facebook earlier this month.
'His commitment to river navigation and tourism helped keep the legacy of Manitoba's inland waterways alive for future generations.'
Nagtegaal-Hawchuk said after hanging up his captain's hat, he retired to their West St. Paul home, which backs right onto the Red River.
'As long as the Red River flows into Lake Winnipeg, I hope he's remembered.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
10 minutes ago
- CTV News
Albertans are the best in the country at saving money: Desjardins report
As economic conditions evolve and regional pressures shift, Canadians are saving more money, but the amount depends on which province you live in, according to a new report. As economic conditions evolve and regional pressures shift, Canadians are saving more money, but the amount depends on which province they live in, according to a new report. Desjardins' latest economic viewpoint found Albertans saved nearly nine per cent of their disposable income between 2020 and 2023, the highest in Canada, and well above the national average of under four per cent. Researchers found Albertans were able to save more as they had, on average, a household disposable income of over $110,000 while affordability in the province was among the best in the country. Savings rates are also high in Saskatchewan and Quebec with levels approaching 10 per cent of disposable income in 2024. The national average disposal household income in 2024 was $100,000. 'You have Alberta close to $120,000 household disposable income and Saskatchewan is a bit above average,' Sonny Scarfone, principal economist for Desjardins told in a Monday interview. 'I would say, for these two provinces, it's a mix of high disposable income and relatively affordable housing compared to B.C. and Ontario, especially. For Quebec, it's mostly on the spending side, just in absolute terms, spending less than other provinces.' Households in Ontario and British Columbia meanwhile are navigating higher debt levels, driven by housing costs, mortgage renewals, and slower income growth, all of which may weigh on future consumption and savings. Homeowners in the relatively more affordable Quebec housing market are less vulnerable to ongoing mortgage renewals than in other provinces. That however is starting to decline, Scarfone said. 'We do see affordability declining and more of a catching up. In absolute terms, prices have been increasing for housing, although on the relative basis that remains affordable compared to B.C. and Ontario,' he said . 'We do forecast that the Quebec savings rate will remain somewhat elevated, of course, depending on the commercial tariffs outcome there.' The average national savings rate, calculated as a percent of disposable income instead of spending, is expected to increase from 3.7 per cent in 2023 to six per cent in 2024 according to data from Statistics Canada and Desjardins Economic Studies. Alberta had a savings rate of 8.8 per cent in 2023, Quebec was at 7.8 per cent and Saskatchewan was not far behind at 7.5 per cent in 2023. Prince Edward Island was at 2.8 per cent, Ontario at 1.7 per cent, British Columbia at 0.6 per cent and Newfoundland and Labrador at 0.2 per cent. New Brunswick was down -1.6 and Nova Scotia was -3.7. Canadians expected to save more Desjardins predicts Canadians across the country will continue to save for the future despite ongoing income pressures. Albertans made over $115,000, British Columbians had $110,000 and Ontarians made $105,000 in 2024. Scarfone noted households saving more leads to higher resiliency especially in uncertain times such as U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war. 'One of the reasons we're interested in looking at saving behaviour is that in terms of uncertainty, saving for a rainy day can become self fulfilling in terms of uncertainty leads to households being more prudent in their spending,' said Scarfone. 'That prudence itself contributes to lower consumption, which is reflected by lower GDP. So that behaviour is interesting in the context that we're in today, and also it does help us in our forecast in terms of forward looking at who would be more financially resilientif a slowdown was to come.' In Quebec, the average household disposable income was just under $84,000 in 2024, comparable to New Brunswick and lower than all other provinces, yet they were one of the highest savers in the country. Changes to personal income tax Researchers expect national-level household disposable income growth to accelerate in 2025 in part supported by recent federal personal income tax changes. The government recently announced a plan to reduce the personal income tax rate from 15 per cent to 14 per cent as of July 1. It will also be the rate for most federal non-refundable tax credits. Desjardins noted Quebec and Alberta households are likely to face less pressure from mortgage renewals than households in British Columbia and Ontario. Households to spend less on luxury goods While researchers anticipate an increase in savings, they also expect a broad slowdown in consumer activity in the coming quarters, with the steepest declines in spending on luxury items. Households are likely to scale back on big-ticket purchases due to the combined impact of the ongoing trade war, through higher prices and increased uncertainty, and a soft housing market.
CTV News
10 minutes ago
- CTV News
e-scooters on Barrie's horizon?
Barrie residents are asked to voice their opinion on e-scooters in the community. Mon., July 28, 2025. PHOTO: CITY OF BARRIE E-scooters could be just around the next bend if residents agree. Barrie staff is considering permitting electric kick-style scooters (e-scooters) in participation with an initiative from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO). 'As Barrie continues to grow, we're exploring the role e-scooters could play as part of a broader range of transportation options to support mobility for all residents,' said Brett Gratrix, senior project manager of transportation and development services. 'Although they're not currently permitted in Barrie, we're seeing increasing interest and use, which is why we're consulting the public before determining next steps,' Gratrix said. E-scooters are currently not allowed to operate in Barrie on city property or within the public right-of-way, such as city streets, sidewalks or trails. The provincial pilot program allows participating municipalities to choose where and how e-scooters may be used. No decisions about permitting the scooters have been made yet and city staff are offering the public an opportunity to learn about e-scooters, ask questions, and complete a survey about whether to permit them in Barrie. Feedback from the public will be sent to city council which will offer recommendations on whether to opt in or out of the provincial pilot program. pilot program. About the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's (MTO) pilot program Ontario's e-scooter pilot program allows municipalities to choose where and how e-scooters may be used. The pilot is running from January 1, 2020 to November 27, 2029. The pilot program sets out requirements for: Helmets Minimum age for riders Weight and speed restrictions Municipalities that choose to allow e-scooters are responsible for:
National Post
10 minutes ago
- National Post
Trump's Golden Dome missile-defence push on Canada leaves Ottawa with few good options
Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump wants a Golden Dome of missile defence over the United States, and if you're thinking this sounds familiar, you'd be right. Back in the 1980s, Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, aka Star Wars, also aimed to develop a space-based and layered defence system to knock out any incoming strikes. Article content It didn't work out. Article content Article content Article content The space-based part proved elusive, but technology has now advanced enough to make more of it feasible, at least in theory. Trump envisions a system that includes space-based weaponry that can take out missiles — ballistic and hypersonic — and he wants Canada to help pay for building this defensive wall over North America. Article content Article content 'I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,' the president posted on social in May. Since then, the quoted price has gone up to US$71 billion. Article content Ottawa has acknowledged that discussions with the U.S. are underway, but they're happening against a backdrop of strained U.S.-Canada relations over defence spending and a trade war. With pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney to cool Washington's belligerence, the Golden Dome's feasibility as a technology may matter less than the symbolism of Canada's willingness to collaborate with the White House. And none of the options for Canada, whether it's spending tens of billions of dollars to buy into a risky initiative or spurning a testy and vindictive president, are painless. Article content Article content Article content Article content U.S. missile defense currently includes the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) in Alaska and California, which is designed to intercept ICBMs in space and has a 55 per cent test success rate. The Patriot system defends battlefield and critical sites against shorter-range missiles closer to their targets, and the mobile THAAD system (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) provides regional defence against various missile threats, also closer to their targets. The naval Aegis system, meanwhile, offers effective naval-based missile interception – and the Patriot, THAAD and Aegis all generally outperform GMD. Article content Golden Dome aims to integrate all of the above — the ground and sea-based technologies — while adding a new space-based layer of satellites equipped with sensors and interceptors to detect incoming threats and take them out at various stages of their trajectories. Article content This would improve U.S. missile defence beyond just dealing with potential ballistic missiles coming from rogue nations such as North Korea or Iran, said Patrycja Bazylczyk, a research associate with the Missile Defense Project at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies CSIS.
