Mr. Speaker, on May 2, 2004, Her Excellency the Governor General honoured 100 years of history with the rechristening of the brigantine Black Jack at the Britannia Yacht Club.
The Black Jack was first christened at Quyon, Quebec, 100 years ago as the G.B. Pattee II , a steam tug plying the Ottawa River for the logging trade. The abandoned tug was salvaged in 1952 by Captain T.G. Fuller, known for his wartime escapades as the “Pirate of the Adriatic”.
How fitting that he should refit the old tug as a brigantine which has delighted generations as it sailed the Ottawa River fully rigged as a pirate ship. Through the Bytown Brigantine Inc., the ship has provided sail training to hundreds of young people.
I wish to congratulate the Britannia Yacht Club, the Bytown Brigantine Inc., and to the Fuller family for a unique commemoration of Ottawa River history.