MEDIA AVAILABILITY - PortsToronto celebrates the 163rd annual Top Hat Ceremony with the arrival of the first ship of the season

News provided by

PortsToronto

Mar 25, 2024, 08:30 ET

TORONTO, March 25, 2024 /CNW/ - Representatives of PortsToronto and Redpath Sugar will be joined by Councillor Shelley Carroll and the captain and crew of the MV Wigeon aboard ship to celebrate the 163rd annual Top Hat Ceremony.

A sure sign of spring's arrival, the first international ship of the 2024 shipping season has arrived at the Port of Toronto. On March 27, PortsToronto will "crown" Captain Sergiy Kobylyashnyy of the MV Wigeon with an antique top hat – first presented in the spring of 1861– at the annual Top Hat Ceremony. For the past 163 years, PortsToronto has celebrated the official opening of the commercial shipping season by crowning the captain of the first ocean-going vessel or "saltie" to arrive at the port.

WHO:

RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, PortsToronto

Councillor Shelley Carroll, City of Toronto Budget Chief and Vice-Chair of Economic and Community Development Committee

Reverend Judith Alltree, Mission to Seafarers

Ashley Black, Brand Manager, Redpath Sugar


WHEN:

Wednesday, March 27, 10:00 AM. 

*Please arrive no later than 9:40 a.m. in order to board the ship.



WHERE:

Aboard MV Wigeon, docked at Redpath Sugar, 95 Queens Quay East (Entry through east-side security checkpoint)

IMPORTANT: ALL WHO PLAN TO ATTEND MUST RSVP IN ADVANCE DUE TO SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS. Redpath and PortsToronto cannot permit access to individuals who have not pre-confirmed their attendance. Please RSVP to Jessica Pellerin at [email protected] by 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. 

*Proper media accreditation/photo identification is required.

NOTE:           

  • Outdoor wear is recommended as this is a marine industrial environment (solid shoes, no high heels, dresses, etc.)
  • Paid parking is available at the Corus building (25 Dockside Drive) and north of Redpath Sugar at Loblaws
  • Lightweight equipment is recommended, as guests must climb a ladder to board the ship
  • Refreshments will be served

SOURCE PortsToronto

Media Contact: Jessica Pellerin, Senior Manager, Communications, PortsToronto, Cell: (647) 298-0585, E-mail: [email protected]

Organization Profile

PortsToronto

PortsToronto For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City...