14

S.S. Minto and Rossland at dock at Arrowhead, 1905.

15

The longest-serving boat of the CPR fleet was the SS Minto. The Minto and its sister ship the SS Moyie were constructed in Toronto in 1898 for use in the Klondike Gold Rush, but were diverted to the Arrow and Kootenay Lakes. The Minto served on the Arrow Lakes until 1954 and made over 7000 trips for a distance of over 4 million kilometres. In the face of a huge operating loss each year and the need for extensive repairs, the CPR decided to retire the SS Minto after 56 years of service. Passengers from all over Canada booked passage on the last voyage of the Minto on April 23, 1954. Efforts to save and restore the SS Minto failed and it was finally towed to the middle of the lake and burned in 1968.

16

Lifejacket from the S.S.Minto.
1950
Arrow Lakes, British Columbia, Canada

17

Lifejacket from the S.S.Minto.

18

Last trip of the S.S. Minto at Burton.
1954
Burton, Arrow Lakes, British Columbia, Canada

19

Last trip of the S.S. Minto at Burton, summer 1954.