Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rossport Marina to Temporarily Close for the Next Phase of Marina Renewal

Rossport, ON April 17, 2025 – Rossport Marina will be temporarily closing for 10 weeks, starting July 2, 2025, due to demolition and refurbishment projects on the Marina property.

“The Marina Board understands the inconvenience boaters and others will experience during this temporary closure. Our goals are to ensure the safety of the dock and upgrade our infrastructure for the future”, stated Cathy Collinson, Marina Board Chair and President. “Adhering to the permit requirements for ‘in-water’ work compels us to complete the project during the summer months”.

During this period, contractors will be removing the east-west section of the dock, stabilizing the north-south section, underpinning the marina building, repairing the boat launch area, and installing a new foundation for the boat launch dock. We anticipate reopening the Marina to boaters and the public on September 15, 2025.

Updates and photos of the project will be available on the Marina website:

www.rossportmarina.ca 

Any changes to the construction schedule will be posted there. Rossport Marina thanks its loyal users for their understanding, patience and continued support. We are committed to providing the best possible experience and look forward to serving the public again soon.

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About Rossport Harbour Marina:

Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. is a registered non-profit corporation managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Its mission is to provide safe, quality public access to Lake Superior and the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area for both recreational and commercial vessels.

Contact:

Cathy Collinson

President 

Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc.

Email: rossportharbour.president@gmail.com

Phone: 807-823-0883

For Immediate Release

December 2, 2024

Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. (“Rossport Marina”)

Begins Onshore Revitalization Project Work December 5, 2024.   

Commencing December 5, 2024, a major piece of the Rossport Marina revitalization work will begin, with the removal of obsolete fuel tanks, dock fuel lines and fuel dispensers.  This work will take approximately 5 days, and the Marina property will be closed to the public from December 4-10, 2024.  

Rossport Marina is one of the few deep-water, protected harbours along the north shore of Lake Superior.  It is located within the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area and is an important destination for boaters and ecotourists.

In 2021, the Rossport Marina Revitalization Project was initiated due to  aging marina infrastructure.  The dock itself is over 60 years old and is in significant disrepair.  Since 2021, the Board of Rossport Marina has completed steps to move the revitalization process forward.

A Strategic Scoping plan brought community members and other stakeholders together in 2021 to identify priorities for the Marina.  First among those was the replacement of aging infrastructure.  In 2022, a structural assessment of the dock noted that the dock was “beyond its useful life” and needed either significant remediation or replacement.   A Marina Asset Management plan completed in 2023 provided two options for dock replacement which incorporated feedback from community members, stakeholders and the Rossport Marina Board.

Rossport Marina has not provided on-site fuel services since 2013, after a Technical Standards and Safety Authority inspection identified deficiencies in the fuel dispensing equipment.  “Any steps to improve the Marina must begin with the removal of the out-of-date fuel equipment currently on the property”, states Cathy Collinson, President of Rossport Marina.  “We are grateful for the support of Parks Canada to be able to complete many of the steps it has taken for us to get to this point.”, noted Philip Townsend,  Board Member and Treasurer.

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Media Contact:

Cathy Collinson

President & Chair

Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc.

(807) 823-0883

rossportharbour.president@gmail.com

www.rossportmarina.ca

Quick Facts:

• Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. (RHNPM) was incorporated on June 26, 1995. 

• The ownership of the Rossport Marina was transferred from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to RHNPM in 1995.

• RHNPM continues to own and operate the property as a not-for-profit corporation managed by a volunteer board of directors, with a Mission “to provide safe, quality public access to Lake Superior and the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, for both recreational and commercial vessels.”

• RHNPM does not receive any funds from the Village of Rossport Local Services Board, surviving solely on revenues obtained from operations.

• The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area (LSNMCA) is located along the north shore of Lake Superior and was established on September 1, 2015.

• The LSNMCA is the largest freshwater marine protected area in the world.

Rossport Marina Announces Next Steps In Future Development

March 25, 2024

OVERVIEW

Although the winter is usually a quiet season for marinas, the Rossport Marina has been busy behind the scenes over the 2023-24 winter season.  The Marina’s strategic planning process took place over the fall of 2023, with a final document released in November 2023. The Strategic Plan follows the Marina Asset Management Plan - released in April 2023.

The process was guided and supported by the Board of Directors, key stakeholders, and industry partners.  The Strategic Plan reflects the thoughtful input and insightful recommendations of those who dedicated their time and effort to this initiative.  Karen Jones Consulting Inc. was retained to facilitate the planning process, engage stakeholders, and support the development of the Strategic Plan and funding support was provided by Parks Canada.

As part of the engagement process, key interview participants were recruited. Interviews were conducted amongst eight key stakeholders.  A community and stakeholder survey was also completed by 57 individuals.  The survey asked questions about the type and size of boats owned or planned to be purchased, how visitors would like to stay connected, additional activities or experiences that would attract visitors to the marina, and whether visitors would be interested in participating in volunteer opportunities and/or events.  The survey also asked visitors what brought them to the Rossport area and whether they planned to visit again.  All participants elaborated their perceptions on the importance of

funding and cross-sector engagement.  Equal importance was placed on enhanced community engagement.

Stakeholders interviewed expressed their continued support and interest in being involved in future initiatives and developments led by Rossport Marina Harbour Association.  Key highlights during the interviews included the need to break the large dock infrastructure upgrades into phases including dock demolition as the first phase and the new dock build as the second phase.  Funding projects should include recreation and economic impact and have a local impact.  Opportunities to recruit and attract new businesses should be sought after to support the growing anticipated demand from increased visitation.  New business growth should be both land (accommodations, food & beverage) and water-

based businesses (charters, cruise ships, etc.) and include collaboration with local attractions such as Battle Island.

ROSSPORT MARINA’S MISSION

To provide safe, quality public access to Lake Superior and the Lake Superior

National Marine Conservation Area for both recreational and commercial vessels.

VISION

To be a key component of the village’s economy, contributing to the sustainability

of the community, and providing safe, quality access to Lake Superior for the

enjoyment of community members, stakeholders, and the public.

PURPOSE

To establish, equip, maintain, operate, and conduct a Marina for the use of the

public including additional recreational facilities and commercial space buildings

necessary and incidental to its use and operations.

FUNCTIONS

Marina Operations

Develop, operate, and maintain seasonal and overnight slips, public launch facilities and boater amenities.

Property Management

Maintain the launch and grounds to a standard that complements the environment and serves the user experience.

Finance

Generate self-sustaining revenues through marina fees, fundraising and prudent reserve

management.

Governance

Adhere to the by-laws and meet all other legal and regulatory obligations.

Communication

Maintain positive relationships with Rossport, Nicol Island, Pays Plat First Nation, Schreiber,

Terrace Bay, the boating public, commercial users, the friends of Battle Island and the Lake

Superior National Marine Conservation Area.

Strategic Goals for the Rossport Marina

Goals have been developed under five priority areas:

1. Operations and Maintenance

2. Infrastructure Development

3. Marketing and Wayfinding

4. Visitor Experience/Product Development

5. Fiscal Sustainability

Current Activities

1. A detailed survey of the land and water lots belonging to the Marina has been completed.

2. Initial costing of Phase 1 of the Marina redevelopment project is complete which includes:

• Removal of east-west section of the dock down to the lakebed;

• Stabilization of the north-south section of the existing dock;

• Complete the underpinning of the marina building;

• Removal of the two aged fuel tanks and bollards;

• Repair of the boat launch area, including replacement of the retaining wall on the east

side of the boat launch; and

• Provide a new foundation for the dock west of the launch area (kayak/launching area)

3. Phase 1 funding applications have been submitted to FEDNOR and NOHFC to support Phase 1 costs.  FEDNOR has approved the Rossport Marina to continue to the Phase 2 application process.

4. Initial preparation for summer 2024 operations are in progress.  The Marina will be open and operational for summer 2024, there continues to be limited docking space on the north-south leg of the dock and services like pump out, water, and docking will be accessible on that section.  The boat launch is open and will operate as it always has.

5. The planning for cruise ship passengers intending to visit Rossport during the summer and fall months (approx. 6 visits in total between June and September) is ongoing in partnership with North of Superior Travel Association (Superior Country).  The Marina is responsible for providing security services for the landing and launching of cruise ship tenders.

Contact:

Cathy Collinson

Chair

Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc.

807-823-0883

rossportharbour.president@gmail.com 

Quick Facts:

• The Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. (Rossport Marina) was incorporated on June 26th, 1995.

• Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. (Rossport Marina) was transferred ownership of the Rossport Marina from Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 1995

• The Rossport Marina continues to own and operate the property as a non-for-profit organization managed by a volunteer board of directors, with a Mission to provide safe, quality public access to Lake Superior and the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area for both recreational and commercial vessels.

• Rossport Marina does not receive any funds from the Local Services Board, surviving solely on revenues obtained from operations and soem government grants.