Manitoba Historical Society
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Northern Prairie Ships: Paddlewheel Princess

Building on the success of its sister ship, the Paddlewheel Queen, the Paddlewheel Princess was constructed in 1966 for Lockport businessman Ray Senft. Selkirk shipbuilders Bill and Ted Purvis constructed the two-deck, imitation sternwheeler with a capacity of 200 passengers. Last used in 2009, the ship was beached in the Selkirk Slough when it was burned extensively in May 2017. The metal remains of the ship were still present at the time of a 2022 site visit.

Paddlewheel Princess in the Red River downstream of the St. Andrews Lock and Dam

Paddlewheel Princess in the Red River downstream of the St. Andrews Lock and Dam (June 1989)
Source: George Penner

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough before the fire

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough before the fire (January 2016)
Source: George Penner

Cruiss ships in the Selkirk Slough

Cruise ships in the Selkirk Slough (February 2021)
Source: Rose Kuzina

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough (February 2021)
Source: Rose Kuzina

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough (February 2022)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough

Paddlewheel Princess in the Selkirk Slough (February 2022)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Raymond Martin “Ray” Senft (1921-2010)

Memorable Manitobans: William George “Bill” Purvis (1894-1970)

Memorable Manitobans: Edward Hubert “Ted” Purvis (1941-2016)

Northern Prairie Ships: Paddlewheel Queen

Northern Prairie Ships: River Rouge

Northern Prairie Ships: Lady Winnipeg

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Abandoned Manitoba

Remembering the Riverboats by Adrian Ames
Manitoba History, Number 49, June 2005

Sources:

“River boats rival for the pleasure of your company,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 May 1968, page 63.

“Paddlewheel Queens: Passenger ships once ruled the Red River” by Bill Redekop, Winnipeg Free Press, 2 January 2016.

“The sinking tourism on Winnipeg’s rivers,” Global News, 12 October 2016.

“Paddlewheel Princess riverboat catches fire in suspicious blaze of 'epic proportions': Selkirk fire chief,” CBC News, 11 May 2017.

We thank Rose Kuzina and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

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Page revised: 29 May 2022
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