Latest news with #ChiCheemaun
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Northern Ontario ferry recreated in Lego
An Ontario man built a nine-foot, eight-inch Lego replica of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry using 92,000 pieces over three and a half months, garnering media attention and display inquiries.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Owen Sound, Ont. man builds Chi-Cheemaun tribute using 92,000 Lego pieces
Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) For 64-year-old Ken Reid, what began as a shared pastime with his wife has grown into a labour of love, for Lego. The Owen Sound resident has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. Reid's creation is no toy. Stretching an impressive nine feet in length, 20 inches wide and 30 inches tall, the ship contains an estimated 92,000 Lego pieces, along with 600 minifigures (small figurines), 51 cars with trailers, and 10 motorcycles carefully assembled on board. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) 'I started building again during the early days of the pandemic. I had all this time on my hands,' said Reid. This was a hobby he and his wife, Ola used to do together in 2016. In 2020, Ola passed away and Reid found that the days grew longer. The endless hours of the pandemic lockdown may have reignited his passion, but it was the 50th anniversary of the Chi-Cheemaun that inspired Reid to begin this ambitious build. Ken Reid Owen Sound residents, OIa Vonrichter (L) and Ken Reid (R) in an undated image on the beach. (Supplied) 'I reached out to the Owen Sound Marine Services, and they were kind enough to invite me on board the real ship. I took dozens of photos, everything from the interior layout to the details on the deck.' Reid said to CTV News. The project, which began in mid-February, practically became a full-time job for Reid. For months, he spent six to eight hours a day, seven days a week meticulously designing and assembling the model, including a full interior. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) 'It took me three weeks just to figure out how to build the front of the ship. If I couldn't get that right I wasn't going to build the rest of it,' Reid said. Sourcing parts was no small task. As a longtime VIP member of Lego, Reid scavenged Facebook Marketplace and bought bulk boxes of miscellaneous pieces to gather the materials he needed. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) He even hand-painted sections of the ship and created custom decals using printable label paper he bought from Amazon. The finished model, known in the Lego world as a MOC (My Own Creation) scale and remarkably close to the real Chi-Cheemaun, which can hold roughly 140 vehicles and operates seasonally between the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. While the Chi-Cheemaun is his newest piece, it is definitely not his largest project. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) Reid previously built a seven-foot-long, four-foot-high replica of Toronto's Casa Loma, and his biggest undertaking to date is a 220,000-piece Star Wars mock; a testament to his dedication and passion. Reid estimates more than 1.5 million Lego pieces in his back pocket. He often lets his creations live for a few years before dismantling them to make way for new projects. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) 'I usually build in the winter months. It's a great way to pass the time indoors. I don't know what my next project will be yet,' he said. Now, Reid is considering placing the Chi-Cheemaun model at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery for public viewing, a fitting home for a piece that blends both creativity and local pride.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Man's Lego version of iconic northern Ont. ferry garnering attention
Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid's largest piece to date is a seven-foot high, seven-foot long and seven-foot wide replica of Minas Anor from Lord of the Rings that required 220,000 Lego pieces. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid is seen with another of his creations – a Lego replica of Toronto's Casa Loma. Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid has been making Lego replicas for almost a decade, but he says his replica of an iconic northern Ontario ferry is getting the most attention. Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Lego 2 Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. (Photo courtesy of Ken Reid) It took 92,000 pieces and he estimates that on many days, he worked six to eight hours on what was clearly a labour of love. Reid said he and his late wife took the ferry several times over the years and he has thought about making a Lego replica of it for a while. 'I started thinking about it last year when it was (the Chi-Cheemaun's) 50th anniversary -- I kind of missed the boat,' he joked, on the phone from his home Wednesday. Took photos on the ferry 'Then in early February, I started downloading pictures off the internet and I figured, you know, it's been bugging me for a year. It's time to start building it.' Ferry officials let him on board to take photos of the interior of the ferry when it was docked in Owen Sound so he could get everything just right. The hardest part, he said, was the hull. He spent three weeks alone building and rebuilding it to get it right. He uploaded photos of the finished product in May, and it has gathered a lot of media and other attention since then. Lego 7 Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. (Photo courtesy of Ken Reid) In addition to radio and TV interviews, he said Science North in Sudbury has asked about displaying it as part of its Lego exhibit, the Chi-Cheemaun has asked to display it, as has the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound. He said he built it so it could be moved in four sections. He's not sure about sending it all the way to Sudbury, however, and he's unsure how it would fare on the actual ferry, since there's so much movement back and forth. 'The Owen Sound Visitor Centre happens to be at the Tom Thompson (Art Gallery), so I'm kind of leaning towards that one for a while because I've had a lot of interest from people,' Reid said. While he has built models all of his life, he got seriously into Lego replicas in 2016. Reid saw a TV show about adult fans of Lego and was soon hooked. At first, he dug out old Lego pieces that belonged to his children. Now he has around one million Lego pieces in all corners of his home. Reid said he was drawn to making replicas because he liked the idea of being able to enjoy his creation for as long as he wanted, then take it apart and build something new. 'You build a model and it just sits on a shelf forever,' he said. '(With) Lego, you build it, you enjoy it, and after a while, you can change it.' Lego Casa Loma Ken Reid is seen with another of his creations – a Lego replica of Toronto's Casa Loma. (Photo courtesy of Ken Reid) Another of his creations – a replica of Toronto's Casa Loma – also attracted attention. As did his largest piece to date – a seven-foot high, seven-foot long and seven-foot wide replica of Minas Anor from Lord of the Rings that required 220,000 Lego pieces. 'Unfortunately, that one's not movable because a lot of people wanted to see it,' he said. He also did a nine-foot version of the Titanic, which was good preparation for his work on the Chi-Cheemaun. Reid expects he'll enjoy his latest creation for a while before he gets the itch to make something else. 'Yeah, there'll be another project,' he said. 'I usually slow down during the summer on my builds. It's more of a winter hobby. But I don't stop – like, if it's a rainy day, I putter away in here.'
CTV News
24-05-2025
- CTV News
Author to honour 50th anniversary of Chi-Cheemaun
This marks the 50th season of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry bring passengers from the Bruce Peninsula to Manitoulin Island. Ian Campbell reports. This marks the 50th season of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry bring passengers from the Bruce Peninsula to Manitoulin Island. Ian Campbell reports. It's an iconic symbol of summer, the Chi-Cheemaun, and it's about to be memorialized in a book for all to see as it sets sail for its 50th year. Historian and author Richard Thomas has been busy working on the project, in coordination with the Owen Sound Transportation Company, and is looking for help from those who have memorable stories involving the Chi-Cheemaun. 'It's a great story and I ride Chi-Cheemaun probably about a dozen times every summer myself,' said Thomas. 'So it's a subject that's near and dear to my heart.' For decades now, Chi-Cheemaun (otherwise known as *Big Canoe*) has been making the trek to Manitoulin Island and back ferrying summer lovers across the Georgian Bay and cutting hours off car trips. 'Chi-Cheemaun really is an iconic symbol of Great Lakes travel. For many people, it's the biggest ship they'll ever be on in their lives and so it's a special trip,' he said. According to Thomas, the biggest issues with Chi-Cheemaun's predecessors was the line-ups. They couldn't keep up with demand which led to it's creation at a Collingwood shipyard. 'I've heard lots of great stories so far, people are very generous with reaching out. I'm up to three couples who were married on Chi-Cheemaun who have shared photos and stories with me so I'll be including some of those,' he said. 'There have been a number of people talking about the iconic nature of Chi-Cheemaun, they remember as little kids travelling on Chi-Cheemaun with grandma to go over to the cottage and now as adults they take their own children on board. It's a real generational story.' Thomas says he's hoping to gather information about special trips they've had on the ferry, whether it was the good or worst passage ever along with any other interesting tidbits. 'I've gotten up to the point where Chi-Cheemaun is being built and I've actually interviewed about a dozen men form the shipyards who worked on Chi-Cheemaun back in 73 and 74 and I've got some great stories about them and the one thing I'll say that came through loud and clear from the shipyard workers was the sense of pride that they all have that Chi-Cheemaun is still sailing,' he added. No word yet on when the ferry plans to launch for the summer season. To reach Richard Thomas or to contribute to his work, he can be reached at chicheemaun50@
CBC
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
92,000 Lego bricks later, this model of the Chi-Cheemaun was born in brick form
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."
