SS Moyie set to sail with international crew

It wasn't easy finding qualified mariners in landlocked Alberta who could operate the SS Moyie at Calgary's Heritage Park — so recruiters went global to seek out the vessel's next crew.

The boat, a replica of the iconic ship built 125 years ago, is the city's only paddlewheeler and has been a fixture at the southwest Calgary attraction for nearly 60 years.

Recently, however, it's operated on a modified schedule since captain Andrew Hopper retired in 2022 after being at the helm for 21 years.

His replacement, Capt. Michael Lomov, is a Ukrainian seaman with extensive experience on the water. He has worked with shipping companies in his home country and in other European nations in a number of roles, including second mate, third mate and as a captain.

"I'm happy to be a part of this, and especially in Calgary, where there's no sea," he said.

"Look around, this is an authentic place … you can't find anything like this anywhere around the world."

The SS Moyie is part of that authenticity. The vessel that sails around Glenmore Reservoir is modelled after the original that was built in Nelson, B.C. — to give visitors in Calgary a taste of steamboat travel.

A year after the park opened, the ship saw its first full day of sailing on Aug. 21, 1965. Since then, it's been a staple of the historical village. 

"This is one of the iconic experiences," said Dominic Terry, the park's communications manager.

"When you talk about Heritage Park, you talk about the train, the midway and the SS Moyie. That's what people remember about the park when they came as kids."

Along with Lomov, several others from around the world are joining the crew, including Paul-Khrystyan Kurganskyi, one of the new first mates, who is also from Ukraine and from the shipping industry.

Terry said the new crew speaks to the park's diversity story — and to the diversity of Calgary as a whole.

"We just want to be able to have people see themselves represented at the park," he said.

"Our Indigenous friends were here long before we were, and then people from all over the world came to populate this area."

The paddlewheeler will be cruising the reservoir seven days a week this summer, starting Friday.