92,000 Lego bricks later, this model of the Chi-Cheemaun was born in brick form

CBC23-05-2025

Longtime Owen Sound, Ont., resident Ken Reid's been looking at the MS Chi-Cheemaun since it was first put into the water in the city's harbour 51 years ago.
The Canadian-made vessel that ferries people 40 kilometres across Lake Huron to Manitoulin Island every summer caught his eye even then, and he made a model of it out of cereal boxes.
He was a teenager at that time, and his skills have since greatly improved. Today, Reid can boast having created the largest, and surely the most intricate, Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun.
"It's a nine foot long mini Chi-Cheemaun that has the full interior. It has 51 cars onboard because that's all I had. I like boats but it's really the Lego building that I love," Reid said.
He started working on the vessel three months ago using the Lego he buys in bulk, estimating some 92,000 pieces were needed to perfect the model.
Builder invited aboard for full tour
Building the hull was challenging, Reid said, but a special invitation onboard the ship helped him capture the finer details of the interior. He called the Chi-Cheemaun crew to let them know he was building a Lego model, and they wanted to help.
"[The ship steward] invited me on board to take as many pictures as I required. So I had a full tour and I ran my camera to its limits taking photographs," Reid said.
The Chi-Cheemaun was built in 1974 by Collingwood Shipbuilding, a short drive from where it's docked in Owen Sound during the winter. The ship's name translates to "big canoe" in Ojibwe. Last year, when it marked its 50th anniversary, it transported approximately 150,000 people and 60,000 vehicles from Tobermory to South Baymouth.
Reid said he's had a lot of interest in his Lego version, with local museums and summer festivals in the area inquiring about displaying it.
Right now, the Lego ship is on his living room floor with the occasional neighbour popping over to take a look.
"I've been told many times from people that I should have a YouTube channel," Reid said. "But then it would become work, and I like this as a hobby."

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Oilers not limping into this Stanley Cup Final against Panthers

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Oilers not limping into this Stanley Cup Final against Panthers

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch yells from the bench during the first period of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Dallas. Connor McDavid is fine, and coach Kris Knoblauch expects the best hockey player in the world to be good to go for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. That is the most important thing for Edmonton gearing up for another championship series against the Florida Panthers. Also, acknowledging the notable absence of injured forward Zach Hyman, the Oilers are much closer to full strength in the rematch than they were a year ago and are not limping into the final this time around. 'We're very confident in the group that we have and the players that are available,' defenseman Darnell Nurse said Monday after a day off the ice for players. 'There's been guys that have stepped up in huge moments so far over the course of the playoffs, and I'm sure over the course of the series we'll need more of that.' A smoother journey through the playoffs helps. Edmonton won each of its past two series in five games apiece, and that has allowed for some much-needed rest along the way. 'Are we 100% healthy? No, not quite, obviously with Hyman being out, which will be a huge loss,' Knoblauch said Monday. 'But overall I would say we're in a little bit better position physically.' Reinforcements have also arrived just in time. Winger Evander Kane returned for Game 2 of the first round against Los Angeles after missing the entire regular season recovering from multiple surgeries to repair injuries that knocked him out of the Cup final a year ago when he needed injections just to be able to walk. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm got back in the lineup for the clinching game of the Western Conference final against Dallas after thinking several weeks earlier he wouldn't be able to play again until October. 'When doctors tell you something, they're usually right,' Ekholm said. 'Most people didn't think I was going to be in this position, so to be able to be part of this group, to be part of things on the ice and help this team win has been the goal the whole time and now that it's reality is awesome for me.' The Oilers did not win last year when they faced the Panthers, losing three in a row to start the series and clawing back to force a Game 7 only to experiencing a gut-wrenching defeat. They didn't have Kane healthy then to offset Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Florida's hard-nosed pressure. Now they do, with Kane and Corey Perry being counted on to make up for Hyman being out. 'We can play a physical brand of hockey,' Kane said. 'We can play an in-your-face brand of hockey. Whatever game you want, we can give you. We're going to play our game, and we're looking forward to that challenge.' The Panthers are also nearly 100% after some injury scares in the East final against Carolina to clutch scorer Sam Reinhart and vastly improved defenseman Niko Mikkola. Only depth forward A.J. Greer's status is any kind of a question going in. McDavid provided some intrigue over the weekend by leaving practice after five minutes and a chat with trainers. Knoblauch brushed that off, saying the three-time league MVP and reigning playoff MVP was fine and said McDavid would practice Tuesday in the final preparation for the series. Connor Brown is also expected to be back for Game 1 Wednesday night in Edmonton after missing the conclusion of the West final. 'He adds a lot of elements to our team,' Knoblauch said. 'Obviously on the penalty kill we need him a lot, his speed, his checking. He's scored and provided some nice offense throughout the season.' Having gotten at least a goal from 19 different players during this run, the Oilers also seem mentally sharper than last year, when they were new to this stage of the playoffs going up against an opponent that had been there before. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should keep driving the bus, but they don't need to do it all. 'This time around we have a lot more depth throughout the entirety of our lineup,' Kane said. 'If we need scoring, we have scoring. If we need some guys that can be a little bit more physical, we can be more physical. Unfortunately, we're going to have to use that depth and we're going to have to get the job done with it.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press