Edmonton Riverboat

Riverboat on the North Saskatchewan River, Canada

53°32′22″N 113°28′54″W﻿ / ﻿53.53944°N 113.48167°W﻿ / 53.53944; -113.48167

History
Canada
Name|

* 1995–2018: Edmonton Queen
* 2018 onwards: Edmonton Riverboat

Port of registry| Edmonton, Alberta
Builder|

* Scott Steel, Sherwood Park, Alberta
* The Riverboat Corporation

Laid down| 1992
Completed| 1995
In service| July 26, 1996
Identification| IMO number: 8888886
Status| In service
General characteristics [1][2]
Tonnage| 750.49 GT
Length| 51.79 m (169 ft 11 in)
Beam| 12.01 m (39 ft 5 in)
Draft| 0.73 m (2 ft 5 in)
Propulsion|

* 2 × 350 bhp (261 kW) Cummins NTA855 marine diesel engines
* 2 × Paddlewheels @ 18 rpm
* 1 × 192 hp (143 kW) Volvo Penta bow thruster

Speed| 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Capacity| ~399 passengers
Crew| 10

Edmonton Riverboat, formerly known as the Edmonton Queen, is a riverboat on the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The riverboat originally started to sail on the river under the name Edmonton Queen in 1995 and has become a unique Edmonton attraction.[1] The Edmonton Riverboat is 52 metres (170 ft 7 in) long and configured to carry 399 passengers as of 2020.[3] The Edmonton Riverboat primary operates during the summer months as the cold weather, variable river levels and the North Saskatchewan River is often iced-over throughout the winter.[3]

## History

[edit]

On 2 April 1992, Edmonton Mayor Jan Reimer would announce a CA$3.4-million venture partially funded by the federal and provincial government to build a dock for the proposed Edmonton Riverboat.[4] Edmonton builder Scott Steel would construct the riverboat within the city, but would refuse to release the vessel, claiming he was owed $1.35-million.[4]

Edmonton Riverboat in 2018.

The riverboat was a lifelong dream of Edmonton businessmen Ray Collins who formed the North Saskatchewan Riverboat Company and prepared the boat. The North Saskatchewan Riverboat Company would fail before launching the Edmonton Queen, and the riverboat was subsequently sold to the development corporation Carrington Properties for CA$500,000 in early 1995.[4] The Edmonton Queen would eventually be launched on the North Saskatchewan River on 4 May 1995.[4]

In April 2016, the boat was sold in auction for $553,000 and underwent renovations, upgrades, and a change in name to Edmonton Riverboat.[5][6][7]

The Edmonton Riverboat has had a number of grounding and weather incidents throughout its history. In July 2019, the boat became lodged on a sandbar. The 300 passengers on board were rescued by the Edmonton Fire Department.[8] In April 2020, the boat was damaged after its hull was punctured by one of the underwater concrete pilings at dock due to rapid water level fluctuations from the spring thaw.[9][10] In June 2020, the riverboat was dry-docked in Whitemud Park for repairs, which were completed in July 2022.[11][12]

In May 2024, the boat was sold to two local couples for an undisclosed amount.[13]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Frequently Asked Questions". edmontonriverboat.ca. 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
2. ^ "Details for registered vessel EDMONTON QUEEN (THE) (O.N. 817706)". Transport Canada - Vessel Registration. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
3. ^ a b Markusoff, Jason (April 30, 2020). "A river runs through it: The story of the hardiest boat in Edmonton". Maclean's. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
4. ^ a b c d Zdeb, Chris (4 May 2015). "May 4, 1995: Edmonton Queen finally launched". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
5. ^ "Edmonton Queen Riverboat sold in auction for more than $500K". Global News. Edmonton. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
6. ^ "Meet the new king of the Edmonton Queen". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Edmonton. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
7. ^ Parrish, Julia (15 June 2018). "After renovation, name change, Edmonton Riverboat to sail North Sask. River". CTV News. Edmonton. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
8. ^ Komadina, Sarah (14 July 2019). "Edmonton Riverboat passengers rescued overnight by firefighters". Global News. Edmonton. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
9. ^ Snowdon, Wallis (22 April 2020). "'Like a can opener against the hull': Spring thaw leaves Edmonton Riverboat listing". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
10. ^ Ramsay, Caley (14 July 2019). "Part of Edmonton Riverboat submerged in North Saskatchewan River". Global News. Edmonton. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
11. ^ Labine, Jeff (1 June 2020). "'We're crossing our fingers': Edmonton Riverboat taken to Whitemud Park for repairs". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
12. ^ Frew, Nicolas (17 July 2022). "Edmonton Riverboat sails North Saskatchewan River for first time since 2019". CBC News. Edmonton. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
13. ^ Gibson, Caley (6 May 2024). "The Edmonton Riverboat has new owners". Global News. Edmonton. Retrieved 7 July 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edmonton Queen (ship, 1995).

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Attractions and landmarks in Edmonton

Landmarks|

* Churchill Square
* City Hall
* CN Tower
* Commerce Place
* Garneau
* Government House
* Hotel Macdonald
* Legislature
* Manulife Place
* McLeod Building
* Queen Elizabeth Planetarium
* Ritchie Mill
* Rutherford House
* Stantec Tower
* Strathcona Canadian Pacific Railway Station
* Talus Dome
* heritage buildings
* tallest buildings

Edmonton City Hall with the CN Tower in the background

Attractions|

* 100 Street Funicular
* Alberta Aviation Museum
* Alberta Railway Museum
* Art Gallery of Alberta
* Edmonton Riverboat
* Fort Edmonton Park
* Galaxyland
* High Level Bridge Streetcar
* Indigenous Art Park
* K-Days
* Muttart Conservatory
* Royal Alberta Museum
* Telus World of Science
* Ukrainian Canadian Museum
* Valley Zoo
* World Waterpark
* festivals
* more attractions

Venues|

* Argyll Velodrome
* Butterdome
* Citadel Theatre
* Clare Drake Arena
* Clarke Stadium
* Commonwealth Stadium
* Edmonton Convention Centre
* Edmonton Ski Club
* Edmonton Soccer Dome
* Expo Centre
* Foote Field
* Kinsmen Sports Centre
* Jubilee Auditorium
* MacEwan Centre
* Old Citadel
* RAD Torque Raceway
* RE/MAX Field
* Rogers Place
* Snow Valley Ski Club
* Winspear Centre
* more music venues
* more sports venues

Parks|

* Big Lake
* Hawrelak
* Mill Woods
* Rundle
* Strathcona Science
* River valley parks system
* more parks

Shopping centres|

* City Centre
* Kingsway
* Londonderry
* Premium Outlet Collection
* Southgate
* West Edmonton Mall
* more malls and shopping centres

Shopping/
entertainment
districts|

* Chinatown and Little Italy
* Ice District
* Jasper Avenue
* South Edmonton Common
* Old Strathcona (Whyte Avenue)
* 104 Street
* 124 Street

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