Ice boat replica to make historic journey Saturday on P.E.I.

An ice boat will plythe waters in Cape Traverse, P.E.I., on Saturday for the first time indecades.

Until 1917the boats carried mail, supplies and passengers between Cape Traverse and Cape Tormentine, N.B., linking the Island with the mainland in wintertime.

"It really is an untold Canadian history story. The ice boats travelled for 90 years ... so it's a piece of history we're really proud of here in Cape Traverse,"said RobynMacKay, media coordinator for the Cape Traverse Ice Boat Committee.

The committee has been working with Parks Canada and Holland College for two years to build a new one,MacKay said.

'It is seaworthy'

The boat's maiden voyage at 1 p.m. will seeeight people row from Bell's Point, P.E.I.,to the Cape Traverse wharf. The boat was tested in Dalvay, P.E.I., two weeks ago.

"It is seaworthy," MacKay said.

A previous re-enactment was done in 1967. Two years ago, the committee members and local MLA Jamie Fox met with Parks Canada and decided to build a new ice boat.

"For everyone in Cape Traverse, the ice boat history is kind of a cornerstone of our community. It's just a way to bring everyone together."

'To get community involvement'

The day will have an early 1900s themewith stilt walkers, a bagpiper and an "old-fashioned" parade to follow.

The boat will behauledfrom the wharfto the Parks Canada national monument, MacKay said.

Thenthe ice cream social, a few words of dedication and "an afternoon of old-fashioned family fun" are planned.

As a side project, the committee scattered 101 heart-shaped rocks on local beaches with anchors painted on them to represent thenumber of years since the last ice boat sailed, said committee member Jim Glennie.

"[It's] to get community involvement, just so the kids and adults have some beachcombing to do. They can actually find these rocks."

Finders are encouraged to share photoson Twitter with the hashtag #CapeTraverse.

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