Who We Are
Why the Marine Heritage Society
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.
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In 1997, the volunteer-driven Marine Heritage Society (MHS) emerged in Southampton as another guiding light, helping to preserve and share this maritime legacy through restoration projects and events.
Top MHS Activities
The MHS accomplishes its mission through nine activities:
1. Restoring Community Assets – From the 1997 hands-on reconstruction of the Chantry Island Lighthouse Keeper’s Home to the 2022 and 2024 restorations of the Front and Rear Range Lights. MHS helps preserve and share local, working, nautical history. Explore some of the projects here:
Excavation and artifact recovery from an 1816 shipwreck, contributing to a museum display
Creation of full-size, replica storm baskets (details to come)
Restoration of the Saugeen River Rear Range Light (details to come)
Stay tuned for more projects here.
2. Conducting Guided Historical Boat Tours to Chantry Island – Attracting tourists to Bruce County while fostering public appreciation for the shipwrecks beneath the water and the historic lighthouse towering above. The Keeper’s Home visit is a highlight, bringing 1800s history to life.
Book early for this boat ride into history, here.
3. Managing the Tour Base & Gift Shop at Southampton Harbour – This is where visitors connect with friendly MHS volunteers, book island tours, learn more about the area, and browse a selection of locally crafted gifts and souvenirs.
4. Operating the Popular Artisans & Tastes Market – Held every Friday in July and August around The Boathouse, this vibrant, proudly Canadian market is both a favourite destination for visitors and a showcase for Bruce County growers, cooks, and artists to share their homegrown, homemade, and handcrafted creations.
Check out the community spirit and offerings here.
5. Producing the Annual Marine Heritage Festival – Now in its fourteenth year, this is the largest free, three-day summer festival along this stretch of the Lake Huron coast. A highlight for both residents and visitors, the Festival celebrates local spirit and demonstrates why Saugeen Shores and Bruce County are vibrant, family-friendly places to live, work, and play.
Check out the full 2025 schedule and video here.
6. Hosting Social Meeting Wednesdays – Held at the historic Walker House, these weekly gatherings foster camaraderie among new and long-time volunteers, share updates, and coordinate all nine activities listed here. This ensures that MHS volunteering is fun, efficient, safe, and rewarding.
This is also an easy, welcoming way for prospective volunteers to drop in, experience the teamwork, ask questions, and make new friends.
7. Maintaining Pioneer Park – Adjacent to the working harbour and tour base, this scenic, shaded space is lovingly maintained by MHS volunteers. They care for the lawns and gardens, tend to the nautical installations, and help preserve the park’s stunning view of Lake Huron.
Ideal for picnics… and picture perfect for wedding groups!
8. Operating The Boathouse – A versatile workshop shared with other community groups, The Boathouse is where MHS volunteers build, repair, paint, clean, and maintain a wide range of assets – from tour and work boats to historic pieces, and even Santa’s sleigh!
This is a year-round hub of hands-on activity, including winter projects.
9. Operating Two Live Harbour Cams – Offering a 24/7 view past the Front Range Light and out over the ever-changing waters of Lake Huron, these cameras draw over 70 thousand online views each year.
Milestones
Since its inception in 1997 and the activities (above), the MHS has also achieved internal, organizational milestones, including:
Training over 1,000 individuals, generating hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours in the community-building activities.
Engaging over 100,000 visitors from across Canada and around the world, helping establish Ontario as a premier destination for marine enthusiasts.
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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Key to Success
At the heart of the Marine Heritage Society’s success is 28 years of strong community collaboration.
This 100% volunteer-driven group works in partnership with the Town of Saugeen Shores to help preserve and share the area’s rich local history, while delivering family-friendly activities that foster a strong sense of community.
Guided by a dedicated 12-member volunteer board, the Society coordinates around 125 volunteers annually. Project expenses are primarily covered through small to medium-sized donations and modest program fees.
In addition to its valued partnership with the Town, MHS is proud to collaborate with the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, the Chantry Island Chambettes, Southampton Rotary Club, Saugeen Shores Rotary, the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce, and a wide range of local businesses and private citizens.
The MHS Board is currently chaired by Wayne Kaufman, affectionately known as Captain Wayne Sparrow, with Eric Tolton named as the future incoming Chair.
To learn more about the MHS, please explore this website, drop in on a Wednesday Social Meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the Walker House (no appointment necessary), and consider volunteering – whether it’s just a few hours a year, a half-day a couple of times per month, or more. Volunteering is totally flexible, whenever and however your schedule and the seasons allow.
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.
