Self Unloader CANADIAN OLYMPIC

It was much like today with its biting wind and blowing snow when I photographed the then 730' Upper Lakes Shipping self unloader CANADIAN OLYMPIC berthed for winter along the old furnace plant wall in Port Colborne ON. The difference though is, it was January 2, 2011 when I took the picture, while tomorrow is the first day of Spring. The late winter blast that dumped an extra 20 centimetres of snow and a -15C wind chill factor wasn't appreciated by anyone east of the Detroit River, I'm sure. What was the groundhog's prediction this year? Oh yeah, 'An Early Spring'. Wrong-O Puxy Phil and Wiarton Willie!!
Like so many other ships that sailed for Upper Lakes after the the mid-60's that were uniquely named to commemorate a special Canadian event or profession, the launched in 1976 CANADIAN OLYMPIC was named after Canada's first Olympics which were summer games held in Montreal in 1976. There's been two winter games since, in Calgary in 1988 and Vancouver in 2010. Like her sister, the CANADIAN PROGRESS  http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2013/03/self-unloader-algoma-progress.html), the OLYMPIC was also built by Port Weller Dry Docks in St. Catharines ON, and virtually shared the same overall dimensions, along with the cargo trades of coal (for Ontario's power generation plants), taconite pellets, grain and salt products. She also had the word "CANADIAN" removed from her name shortly after Algoma Central took over Upper Lakes in February 2011. In February 2013, I snapped the then ALGOMA OLYMPIC tied off for winter below Lock 8 in Port Colborne ON making herself ready to go for gold in her 38th shipping season. Regardless of her name and the rusting from dragging up her anchor, she still looked proud and willing to take on any competitor that cames her way, like any true "CANADIAN".