Who We Are
Mission
The Marine Heritage Society is dedicated to preservation and enhancement of the marine history shoreline of Lake Huron in Bruce County. We conduct ourselves in an ethical, fun, and safe manner, as we aim to actively participate in and contribute to the local community.
The shoreline of Lake Huron in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, is steeped in vibrant nautical history dating back to the 1850s. This period was characterized by hearty sailors, treacherous waters, and safe harbors under the watchful gaze of lighthouse keepers. In 1997, the volunteer-driven Marine Heritage Society (MHS) emerged in Southampton as another guiding light, helping to preserve and share this maritime legacy.
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Current Activities
The MHS accomplishes its mission through eight primary activities:
1. Conducting guided Historical Boat Tour to Chantry Island, fostering public appreciation for shipwrecks beneath the water and the historic lighthouse towering above.
2. Operating the Artisans & Tastes Market weekly throughout the summer; a platform for talented local artists and food producers to showcase their homemade, handmade, and homegrown goods.
3. Managing a Tour Base & Gift Shop where guests can learn about MHS activities, arrange island tours, and obtain other tourist information.
4. Conducting the areas only Fun, Free, Family Festival. Three days of fun, food, and music for all ages. So much to do – children’s gold hunt, games in the park, bike rally, and more!
5. Hosting Wednesday Afternoon Socials to facilitate networking among volunteers, fostering camaraderie, and planning future activities.
6. Maintaining Pioneer Park, adjacent to the working harbor, where the MHS tends to the gardens, nautical installations, and a shoreline view that attracts visitors for the tranquility.
7. Operating The Boat House, a versatile workshop where MHS volunteers and tradespeople tinker, fix, paint and build stuff that keep the boats and facilities in good working order.
8. Operating two live web cameras at the Southampton Harbor every day. See our Harbour Cams.
MHS is proud to help preserve our shared history, with key achievements that include:
Excavation of an 1816 Shipwreck, resulting in the recovery of artifacts and the creation of a museum display.
Since its inception in 1997, the MHS has also achieved organizational milestones, including:
Training over 1,000 individuals, generating hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours.
Establishing Ontario as a premier global destination for marine enthusiasts.
Engaging over 100,000 visitors from across Canada and around the world.
Generating $8 million in net new economic prosperity for this coastal region.
Maintaining fiscal responsibility, with the MHS currently free of debt.
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The Marine Heritage Society is a not-for-profit organization that works closely with the Town of Saugeen Shores. MHS is governed by a board of 12 members and is financially supported by donations, fundraising events, and modest charges for specific activities.
The MHS board is currently chaired by Wayne Kaufman, affectionately known as Captain Wayne Sparrow
To learn more about the MHS, you can visit the Volunteer page and/or attend the weekly Wednesday Afternoon Socials at 3:30 pm at the Walker House. Additionally, you can explore the MHS Calendar for dates, times, and locations of activities scheduled in the upcoming year. As for today’s view of the lake – check out the popular Harbour Cam, offering two camera views where the Saugeen River meets Lake Huron. Available 24/7 year-round.
Community collaboration has been instrumental in the restoration and upkeep of the island, as well as for other MHS operations and activities you can explore on these pages. The Marine Heritage Society extends heartfelt thanks to the Town of Saugeen Shores, Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, Southampton Propeller Club, Chantry Island Chambettes, Southampton Rotary Club, Saugeen Shores Rotary, the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce, and numerous private and corporate donors. Their unwavering teamwork helps sustain the success of the volunteer-driven Marine Heritage Society.
The MHS also wishes to acknowledge that Bruce County is situated on the traditional and treaty territory of the Anishinabek: The People of the Three Fires, known as Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations. This is the homeland of the Chippewas of Saugeen, the Chippewas of Nawash, and the Metis, the traditional keepers of this land. May we all live with respect on this land and waters, in peace and friendship with all its diverse peoples.
