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Updated 01 September, 2008
Welcome to the homepage for Preserve Our Wrecks, Kingston - a charitable corporation based in Kingston, Ontario and dedicated to preserving and protecting the marine heritage
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Latest News
1 Sep Cooperative efforts involving POW members, divers from the Great Lakes Underwater Explorers and others has opened up another shore dive site. Lying just a few hundred feet directly south of Murney Tower, in 60 feet of water, the wreck of a wooden-hulled, probable canal barge has substantial sections of the bow and stern intact as well as long sections of her sides. A line has been laid from shore just below Murney Tower - starting at a depth of about 20 feet. More comprehensive directions, and pictures and video, are accessible from our blog site.
29 Aug 'HMS Montreal' ? There has been a great deal of publicity recently about the 'discovery' of a wreck that some claim to be HMS Montreal, one of the vessels that carried the flag of a British admiral during the War of 1812. Anyone can, of course, make any claim they wish. But, records maintained by this organization and many private researchers, as well as marine archaeologists serving with Parks Canada, comprehensively conclude that the site concerned has been known to divers and archaeologists alike for quite a long time. Although features of the vessel involved have much in common with warships of the period concerned, it has not yet been possible to draw any firm conclusions about its identity. In fact, it would be difficult to do so, since no significant survey work has been undertaken on the site. This highlights an important issue arising from the exaggerated reporting that has been set before the reading public. Sites of scientific and historical significance are best left alone until professional survey work can be completed. Although there is no question of placing wreck sites off limits (with just three exceptions in Ontario waters) the cooperation of divers in avoiding disturbance of unexploited sites is strongly encouraged. This ensures that the most accurate results can be obtained when full surveys are completed. Naturally, the best way to avoid the risk of disturbance of a site - and confusion in its later interpretation - is to stay away from it.
20 Aug Now that the dust has settled, it's possible to look back at the inaugural Kingston Underwater event and take stock. The event aimed to focus attention on Kingston as a dive destination and to highlight the fragility of our marine environment and the wrecks and other historical resources that are so much a part of it. It certainly succeeded in those aims, though it would have been great to see more visitors and to benefit from greater publicity, especially from the broadcast media. Much effort was made to advise local journalists and radio and TV stations of the event and press packs were sent out in time to allow them to plan coverage. Disappointingly, with very few exceptions, they ignored the event.
The response of other groups invited to participate was more encouraging. Excellent exhibits in the City's Memorial Hall included outstanding environmental displays, booths promoting local conservation bodies, dive centres and charter operators and other educationally relevant stands. Visitor feedback on the whole event was very positive.
Inevitably, the question arises, 'will there be another Kingston Underwater event?'. It remains to be seen. For many reasons, there was little or no financial support for this year's show. Clearly, another can only be genuinely successful if some sponsorship is forthcoming. There is a limit to how much a handful of volunteers can achieve faced with what is a professional grade organizational challenge. If you live in Kingston and you think that the event is worthy of support, please let your elected representatives know your views. The City's maritime heritage deserves more support than it currently receives.
16 Jul Hurrah ! Our Summer newsletter has been published to the web. Just click here to download and read it. (It's just under a Mb for those of you on dial-up...). Hopefully, everyone will find something in the newsletter to enjoy. Now the work on preparing the Fall edition begins. Please consider sending us contributions.
5 Jul Members' attention is drawn to the first annual Kingston Underwater show, which is to take place in Kingston City Hall and at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes over the weekend of August 9/10. Exhibits will include one from POW and the SOS traveling display as well as others highlighting diving, environmental and maritime heritage topics. Look out for a website for the event - launching in a day or so at http://www.kingstonunderwater.ca.
1 Jun Members of POW are currently working on a research project being completed for a Master's Thesis by a visiting Marine Archaeologist. The site concerned lies in waters close to the Royal Military College under the control of the Canadian Forces. The vessel, of wooden hulled construction, is about 60 feet long and lying in shallow water. Volunteers will be working for a week or more to complete a survey and, hopefully, attribute the wreck to a particular time period and class of ship. More information daily on our blog.
21 Apr A mooring status update has been posted on our website. The document is intended to provide an up-to-date statement of the mooring situation on our most popular wrecks. Please have a look at it and provide any comments to our team (use the contact form on this website). During the dive season, we'd particularly welcome news of any problems with moorings.
17 Apr James Pate, elected to the Board of Directors at this year's AGM, has resigned. It is now likely that members will be invited to submit nominations for a new Director. Candidates will be considered at the next general meeting of members, which is likely to take place in July.
15 Apr Here's a diary date to mark in your 2009 calendars. The Society for Historical Archaeology will be holding its 2009 Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology in Toronto from January 6-11. Co chairs for the Conference, Jonathan Moore and Erika Laanela, are well known to POW. Keep an eye on the Society's website for more information.
12 Apr The Board of Directors met today and confirmed the following appointments: Mike Hill to be President; Dan Haslip, Vice President and Jennifer Bush, James Pate and Chris Haslip to serve as Directors. Nick Drakich was confirmed as Secretary / Treasurer. Harold Vandenberg will continue an excellent tradition as Chair of the Mooring Committee. Chantelle Bennett is to be our Communications Chair and James Pate will take responsibility for Membership.
12 Apr The Board of Directors have identified the date for next year's Heritage Symposium. It will take place in Kingston on Saturday, January 24th. Mark the date in your 2009 diaries now.
11 Apr POW's Annual General Meeting took place on Sunday, March 2nd at the Day's Inn in Kingston. A colourful and captivating presentation on the wrecks of Truk Lagoon was given by guest speaker, Warren Lo. This year's recipient of the Gary Thibault Award for Lifetime , Achievement in Marine Heritage was announced as Barbara Carson. Barbara has dived the waters around Kingston since the early 1960s and, with other underwater pioneers is credited with finding, recording and actively campaigning for the protection and preservation of many of our best known local shipwrecks. A new slate of Directors was elected and some introductory notes are provided on most below.
11 Apr Members and other interested individuals will want to check out our online blog, a medium through which we intend to pass interesting news and information quickly and regularly. When you visit it, please note our interest in having you contribute your views and commentary.
Board of Directors
The Organisation's Board of Directors for 2008 comprises the following members, who were nominated and elected at the AGM.
 POW President Mike Hill retired in 2005 from a full career in the British Army. His interest in diving grew during the latter years of that employment. Building on basic certification in 2001, he has advanced to instructor in the intervening years. His practical experience includes part-time employment with a busy dive centre in Northern Virginia and a training role with the Canadian Forces Club in Kingston, Ontario. He aims to get in about 250 dives in any calendar year.
He completed Level One training with the Nautical Archaeology Society in 2007, which was put to immediate use on the Twisted Sisters project. He has been a member of POW, Kingston since moving to Canada in 2005.
Mike’s other interests include dive travel, underwater photography and keeping fit to maintain what some describe as an unhealthy dive addiction.
 POW Vice President, Dan Haslip has been diving sometime now having re-certified in 1996. His start to diving was years ago when you could buy gear from the Sears catalogue. Since 96 he has been able to obtain various courses including his instructor's (NAUI), wreck courses, cavern and cave, among others. Being an active member in the military, he has had the chance to dive in various locations in the world including Belgium the Canary Islands and the Red Sea. In Canada and specifically in Kingston, Dan recognises that we have some of the best diving anywhere, which is why he feels it is imperative that we save local shipwrecks and history through organizations like Preserve our Wreck. Dan would like to invite everyone to come learn about Kingston’s marine heritage, which spans centuries, providing something of interest for everyone.
 POW Director, Chris Haslip started diving in 1996, taking his open water course in Sarnia Ontario. Currently, he is completing his divemasters course. He was drawn to POW due to the history behind many of the shipwrecks. With so many different histories and ease of diving he considers Kingston to be truly a world class diving location. Chris is always interested in learning more about diving or the wrecks that we are diving on and loves to share his knowledge and experiences with the general public. Like most divers his simple recreational past time has turned into a truly enjoyable obsession.
Jennifer (Jen) Bush - picture and bio to follow
The Board of Directors will be ably supported by Past President, Tom Rutledge; Secretary / Treasurer, Nick Drakich and Chantelle Bennett, who has agreed to produce a regular newsletter.
 Chantelle Bennett did her first dive in 1984, in the tropical waters of Venezuela, but did not pursue diving upon returning home. In 2005, she finally did her Open Water course in Florida, for further diving in Cuba. Once reality set in that there really was diving in Canada, she fell in love with the freshwater diving that our country had to offer. Chantelle took her Advanced and Nitrox courses in Florida as well, and decided to take GUE Fundamentals in 2006. Since then, she has spent most of her free time under the waters of Kingston and Brockville. Scheduled training for 2008 is Tech 1 in Kingston, and Cave 1 in Mexico.
When not diving, Chantelle works in Promotional Products by day, and trains horses in the evenings.
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Membership
We welcome as members anyone who shares our aims and ambitions. Divers are particularly encouraged to join since they benefit directly from the work of the Organisation and can contribute directly to the protection of wrecks by adopting good dive practices and promoting them in their various clubs and dive groups. Membership fees and other details are given in our application form, which can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here.
To contact us for further details on membership - or with any other questions - please use the form on our 'Contact Us' page.
Weblog (Blog) for Preserve Our Wrecks
Be sure to check our Blog regularly. Breaking news and items of interest will appear there first.
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