The Sandy Talbot Community Centre

The world lost a great man today. Peacefully, in his sleep RJ Peterson at the age of 93 set sail on the afterlife adventure we all will face some day. RJ had li...ved an incredible life which he enjoyed to the fullest. In Canada, specifically this part of Ontario he was the man that saved the SS KEEWATIN from being scrapped in 1967. He read about her in a book that she was one of the last of her kind so he borrowed the funds and dragged her to a shallow lake in Michigan on the Kalamzoo River. There he put her on display as a "mini" Titanic and for 45 years visitors came. In 2011 he decided that he would like to see the ship returned to Canada where her heritage lay in Port McNicoll, and worked with Gil Blutrich a developer to to accomplish that on June 23 2012. He loved Keewatin.Not a week went by over the 9 years she has been here didn't he call to see how she was doing. Each year my wife and I went to Michigan for his birthday on New Years eve. I have included a few pictures of his last candle! Energetic and creative until the end he loved to argue and debate. He used to say" Show me someone who has no enemies and detractors and I'll show you someone who has never tried to accomplish something". Everybody in Douglas/Saugatuck Michigan knew RJ. Most liked him, some weren't so happy with him, but everyone was respectful of the magnificent things he did for his community, his country, his family and his friends. Through KEEWATIN we will honour him and work to make sure his name is tied to our great Canadian marine treasure! God have mercy on this great soul!

Thank you to each of you.

Here's to an exciting New Year with all the wishes and promises that it has to offer.

Fun for the family.