New Digby ferry will be renamed with the public's help
Federal government taking suggestions to rename Greek ship formerly known as Ithaki
The federal government is looking for the public's help in renaming the new ferry that is set to run between Saint John and Digby, N.S.
The Princess of Acadia is to be taken out of service later this year and it will be replaced by a ship that the federal government bought from a Greek operator last fall.
That ferry, which is being overhauled and modified in Halifax, is known now as Canada 2014. The ship, which was formerly known as Ithaki, needs a new name.
The federal government is seeking a name with a more Maritime ring to it and is seeking suggestions from the public. Forms to suggest a name are available at the Saint John and Digby ferry terminals and possible names can be submitted through a web page.
Curtis Finnie questioned the wisdom of changing a ship's name.
"I don't know, you know, once a ship's named something, they should keep in the same," he said.
"I was thinking about the bad luck because it's christened a certain name, right?
"So, maybe it would be a good idea to keep the same name."
But Barry Ogden, a history teacher and ship enthusiast, says renaming ships is actually quite common.
"I think the Fundy name should be in there somewhere, like the Pride of Fundy or something like that," said Ogden, who worked on the Princess of Acadia for years.
"People build pride by knowing themselves and celebrating themselves and we should celebrate who we are here."
Federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt will make the final decision on the new name.