Stories | Sternwheelers of Kootenay Lake

STORIES OF THE STERNWHEELERS OF KOOTENAY LAKE

Explore life on the boats as a passenger or a crew member

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Bill Curran

Bill Curran, a lifelong Nelson resident, began work at the CPR shipyard at age 19. Bill also worked as a fireman on the SS Moyie on its Procter to Lardeau runs. He continued his career with the CPR, until his retirement, working on the trains.

Working on the SS Moyie

Roy Green

Roy Green came to Kaslo in 1921 to visit family and eventually settled there in 1927. He was a boat builder, mayor of Kaslo and Curator of the SS Moyie. He helped to save the SS Moyie.

Arriving in Kaslo by Ship

Mabel Tapanila

Mabel (Timms) Tapanila was born in England and came to Kaslo in 1906 at the age of eight on the SS International.

Life in Kaslo with the Sternwheelers

Charles Kirkendahl

Charles Mertin "Mert" Kirkendahl was born in Renata on the Lower Arrow Lake. He began working on the sternwheelers on the Arrow Lakes and later worked on the SS Moyie.

Ice Breaking

William Triggs

William Triggs was born in England and came to Nelson in 1912. He worked as a purser on the CPR sternwheelers on Kootenay Lake until the end of the "Crow Boat" run in 1930. He lived in Nelson with his family and continued to work for the CPR in the ticket office until his retirement in 1955.

Passenger Care
Working the Sternwheelers

PASSENGERS

TRAVEL ON A STERNWHEELER

Experience a trip on a sternwheeler from boarding, handing over your ticket, sitting in the Dining Room, finding your stateroom and finally disembarking on a lonely shoreline with all of your possessions around you.

DAY TRIP ON THE SS MOYIE, 1955

In 1955, the SS Moyie ran from Procter north to Kaslo and Lardeau on Saturdays. This film was shot on one of the passenger runs during the summer months, as the SS Moyie made her way up and down the lake.