Bringing Home A Legend

In the course of his lifetime, Captain Charlie Currie became something of an icon in the North. He moved to Prince Rupert with his family in 1908. By the time of his death in 1997, he had become the venerable dean of the waterfront; known to all, and loved by all who knew him.

The tugboat C.R.C. was part of the Charlie Currie legend. Designed by Captain Currie and launched from Prince Rupert Drydock in 1928, Charlie and the C.R.C. remained inseparable for half-a-century. The C.R.C. is perhaps the single most remembered, and thus the most famous, vessel in Prince Rupert's heritage.

Captain Currie sold the C.R.C. to Ray Legace and Derrick Van Heek in 1979. By 1997 Van Heek was the sole owner of the tug, now based in Queen Charlotte City. In October he agreed to donate the vessel to the Skeena River Hentage Trust, with the understanding that she would be refurbished and dedicated as a memorial to those who developed the coast.

A vessels acquisitions standing committee created in 1997 by the Skeena River Heritage Trust is investigating the feasibility of salvaging the C.R.C. With extremely generous in-kind donations already in place, all that remains before the recovery project can begin is fleshing out the restoration crew and establishing a land site for permanent display. For more information about the C.R.C., or this committee, Please call Bruce Wishart at (250) 627-8482.

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