Here we see one of the Canada Steamship Lines famous lake ships departing from Queenston dock, with Brock’s Monument visible atop the heights to the left. At the height of its popularity, the Canada Steamship Lines fleet would transport up to 10,000 visitors from Toronto to Niagara and Queenston on a busy summer weekend. Toronto-based companies often held employee picnics at Queenston Heights Park, sending their entire staff aboard these excursion ships. Each of the four vessels in the fleet made two trips to Niagara daily in 1910. The last of the ships, the S.S. Cayuga, stopped in 1957.

For local residents, these ships were a cherished part of the summer rhythm. Many would stroll down to the dock each evening to watch the final boat come in. Former Queenston resident T.A. Clifford recalled a favourite end-of-season ritual: “On the last trip of the season, the captain, Jimmy, came down onto the dock to say goodbye to the dock staff and in particular, Walt Sheppard, the dock manager. They made a great to-do about how sad they were and when the boat pulled away from the dock, Walt got a towel soaked in water, rang his tears from it while the captain laughed and blew the whistle in long, loud blasts.”