Rise of the Normac

Rise of the Normac

Fall of the Harbour Boat Restaurant

Matthew Gawlik

Niagara - 2024

Maritime culture and heritage in the Great Lakes was largely influenced by ships built and sailed in the past, in addition to the journeys which have been undertaken throughout their lifetimes. Throughout the Great Lakes Region, ships were built for specific tasks or purposes which eventually transitioned into lengthy careers across different economic sectors. The story is no different when we examine the life of the ship MS Normac. Over the course of her 120 years of service, she had many different purposes and lives. The future of this vessel is important to cultural history, as the MS Normac is a historic, U.S.-built, Canadian registered ship which has served the Great Lakes Region for many years. The history of the vessel should be cherished and treated with dignity, respect, and remembered for many years to come.

The Normac was originally built to be a fire tugboat for the city of Detroit Michigan under the moniker James R. Elliott.1 Her construction was completed on November 29th, 1902 in Port Huron, Michigan, and shortly after she was commissioned as a fire tug for the City of Detroit as intended.2 The first fire boats were originally tugboat class vessels, which were then retrofitted with firefighting equipment such as hoses, nozzles, and pumps for water. Their purpose is to fight the fires that occurred on boats in the harbour and on docks; due to the nature of being tugboats they were able to tow or assist vessels in need. The journey to the Detroit Harbour was not without challenges, as the Elliott encountered heavy ice during her journey. The fire tug was well equipped for this scenario as it was designed to have "ice crushing abilities."3 During her first journey the Elliot, pictured in Figure 1, was not a comfortable ship, as finishing touches were not complete to make her a proper fire tugboat, worthy of being in the Detroit Fire Department's arsenal.4 Some crew members were required to sleep on the iron decks of the steamer, as there was little room for comfort on the ship in her barebones state.5

Figure 1: James R. Elliott, City of Detroit Fire Department, 1902.

The next journey of the MS Normac occurred in 1931, when the Owen Sound Trading Company purchased the Elliott from the Detroit Fire Department for use as a ferry in Ontario.6 The Owen Sound Trading Company (OSTC) renamed the ship upon acquisition, to the MS Normac, coined after their general manager at the time Captain Norman McKay. She became one of three ferries operated by the OSTC, which seasonally ferried passengers between Tobermory, Bruce Peninsula, and South Baymouth Port, on Manitoulin Island.7 Figure 2 depicts the vessel after purchase by the OSTC, operating as a ferry under the new moniker MS Normac. 8

Figure 2: MS Normac acting as a ferry under the OSTC, 1932.

The vessel faithfully served the trading company for over thirty years, travelling a consistent route between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island until she was eventually replaced by the upgraded and refitted MS Norgoma in 1964.9 After the Normac was replaced she remained in operation under the OSTC for another five years, providing ferry services on the route between Meldrum Bay, Manitoulin Island, Cockburn Island and Blind River.10 The route had much less traffic than her previous station, as the newly retrofitted Norgoma was able to carry significantly more passengers, which pushed the Normac to become somewhat obsolete. The lacked Normac's adequate space for passengers and vehicles which hindered her capacity to be the main ferry along the Tobermory, Manitoulin Island route.

By 1968, Normac had lived two separate lives within her 66-year lifespan. After sitting at dock for a year, the Normac was purchased by Mr. John Letnik.11 Letnik planned to create his own floating restaurant, as he previously owned a successful restaurant in Toronto. When Letnik travelled to Canada from Yugoslavia he developed an interest in boats and ships which provoked him to open the first floating restaurant in Toronto.12 Letnik worked closely with the Toronto Harbourfront Commission and was able to lease a location at the bottom of Yonge Street, that established a semi-permanent location for the boat, later known as "Captain John's Pier."13 The restaurant formally opened on August 8th, 1970 and can be seen in Figure 3.14

Figure 3: Normac as a floating restaurant, 1974

The Normac became a full-service restaurant and was used to host events and concerts. The location along the Toronto Harbourfront and shipping district, attracted attention to this industrial area. As the years passed the Harbourfront District grew to be a more social setting, which could, in-part be attributed in part to Captain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant. Unfortunately, in May of 1981, the Normac was struck by the Parks and Recreation Toronto ferry, the Trillium. The collision punched a hole in the side of the Normac, which caused it to sink to the bottom of the harbour.15 The guests dining at the time of the collision were rushed off the boat as she took on water; all patrons were able to escape unharmed. The Normac remained submerged at the dock for 5 years, while Letnik attempted to seek damages from the Toronto Parks Commission. The City of Toronto eventually ordered Captain John to raise the boat. Letnik never received reimbursement for damages from the Toronto Parks Commission and the courts eventually ruled that because the ship sank two weeks after the accident and not immediately, the Normac was the boat at fault, which resulted in no compensation for Letnik's losses.16 Figure 4 depicts the MS Normac as is slowly submerged in the Toronto Harbour.17

Figure 4: MS Normac resting on the bottom, 1981

Captain John raised the boat from the harbour which cost an estimated $100,000. After he removed the upper decks, he sold the hull of the Normac once it was deemed seaworthy. Letnik eventually bought a larger boat to become a restaurant in the same location along the Toronto Harbourfront, however he kept possession of many artifacts and memorabilia from the Normac.18 In the belly of his new and improved floating restaurant, Captain John displayed the original wheel of the MS Normac.

The Normac went on her way to become a new restaurant, this time on the other side of Lake Ontario. After the Normac's hull was refurbished, it was purchased by Mr. Nino Donatelli and moved to Port Dalhousie, where the new owner named her Tokyo Joe's Marina Bar and Grill.19 The vessel became a hybrid restaurant, with one half arranged as a pub and bar and the other half fitted with formal seating serving classic Asian cuisine. The restaurant was open seasonally due to its location which exposed the vessel to the lake effect weather of Lake Ontario.20

Figure 5: Normac remains after the fire, 2011.

The restaurant opened in 2008 and was a popular attraction for locals until tragedy struck the Normac once again. In December 2011 a blaze erupted one morning aboard the floating restaurant, which tore through the interior and left significant scorch marks on the exterior of the hull, as seen in Figure 5.21 The fire department did not find a cause for the fire, however they did note that the boat was not locked at the time the fire erupted. The fire caused an estimated half a million dollars, which the owner was not able to afford and had no insurance for; thus, he was unable to repair the vessel.22

Today, there is some uncertainty for the Normac, and what her next adventure will be. She currently lies vacant and docked at the Port Dalhousie Pier Marina.23 The story of the vessel and its multiple lives is not new in the history of marine transportation. Ships are often repurposed over time, rebuilt or refitted for different, participating in different adventures and journeys across lakes, rivers and oceans. Ships have fascinating histories, and like the Normac they have lived for many years, gathering stories between their walls.

The fate of many ships like the Normac is uncertain, however they deserve to be preserved. Ship preservation is often an expensive and challenging task; however, many have been successful in restoring old vessels to give them a new life. Unfortunately, many older ships are sold for scrap metal and parts to relieve the financial burden on their owners. Many heritage vessels have been around for generations and gathered stories that provides insight into the past. The Normac is one such example of a living piece of Great Lakes maritime history that should be treasured and valued.


  1. Historical Perspective Featured Lake Boat" Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, June 5, 2013. 

  2. Historical Perspective Featured Lake Boat" Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, June 5, 2013. 

  3. "Fireboat James R. Elliott arrives in Detroit" Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan. January 5, 1903, 7. 

  4. Figure 1. "Historical Perspective Featured Lake Boat" Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, June 5, 2013. 

  5. "Fireboat James R. Elliott arrives in Detroit" Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan. January 5, 1903, 7. 

  6. "History" Owen Sound Transportation Company, November 2, 2023. 

  7. "History" Owen Sound Transportation Company, November 2, 2023. 

  8. Figure 2. "History" Owen Sound Transportation Company, November 2, 2023. 

  9. John Francis "Nor-What? The Historic Ferries of the Tobermory-South Baymouth Run." Bruce Peninsula Press, August 26, 2020. 

  10. John Francis "Nor-What? The Historic Ferries of the Tobermory-South Baymouth Run." Bruce Peninsula Press, August 26, 2020. 

  11. "Historical Perspective Featured Lake Boat" Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, June 5, 2013. 

  12. John Letnik. "Background." savecaptainjohn.org. n.d. 

  13. John Letnik. "Background." savecaptainjohn.org. n.d. 

  14. Figure 3. John Letnik. "Background." savecaptainjohn.org. n.d. 

  15. William R. McNeil "Normac Propeller, Sunk by Collision, 1981." Toronto Sunday Star, 1981. 

  16. William R. McNeil "Normac Propeller, Sunk by Collision, 1981." Toronto Sunday Star, 1981. 

  17. Figure 4. Joanna Smith "Hidden Depths at Captain John's" The Toronto Star, February 29, 2008. 

  18. Grant Lafleche "Boat Restaurant Gutted in 'suspicious' Fire" Niagara Falls Review, December 29, 2011 

  19. Ramona Sheridan "East Meets West at Tokyo Joe's in Port Dalhousie" Niagara This Week, July 7, 2009. 

  20. Grant Lafleche "Boat Restaurant Gutted in 'suspicious' Fire" Niagara Falls Review, December 29, 2011 

  21. Figure 5. Grant Lafleche "Boat Restaurant Gutted in 'suspicious' Fire" Niagara Falls Review, December 29, 2011 

  22. John Francis "Nor-What? The Historic Ferries of the Tobermory-South Baymouth Run." Bruce Peninsula Press, August 26, 2020. 

  23. John Francis "Nor-What? The Historic Ferries of the Tobermory-South Baymouth Run." Bruce Peninsula Press, August 26, 2020.