PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 16, 2026
MS Chi-Cheemaun returns to three daily sailings for peak travel season beginning June 19, 2026
Owen Sound, ON – The Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC) is pleased to announce the return of three daily sailings aboard the MS Chi-Cheemaun for the 2026 peak travel season.
“The M.S. Chi‑Cheemaun is a vital transportation link connecting communities, visitors and businesses across Georgian Bay,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation. “As another busy tourism season gets underway, we’re ramping up service to ensure thousands of visitors to Manitoulin Island, local residents and businesses have a reliable option to get where they’re going each day.”
Effective June 19, 2026, the ferry will offer three daily departures from both Tobermory and Manitoulin Island, providing added flexibility and convenience for residents and visitors during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
The enhanced sailing schedule reflects OSTC’s commitment to meeting seasonal travel demand while supporting tourism and regional connectivity between Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. As summer travel demand remains strong, the additional sailings will enable more passengers to experience Ontario’s natural beauty and enjoy all the region has to offer.
The MS Chi-Cheemaun’s spacious vehicle deck can accommodate a wide range of vehicles, including motor homes, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles. Walk-on passengers are also welcome.
Sailing schedule details, fare information, and ticket reservations are available on the Chi-Cheemaun website. Travellers are encouraged to reserve early to secure their preferred sailing times. The three daily voyages end on September 7, 2026.
For reservations and information please call, 1 800-265-3163 or visit www.ontarioferries.com.
Daily sailings between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island are available until October 18, 2026.
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About the MS Chi-Cheemaun:
As one of the most recognizable ferries in Canada, the MS Chi-Cheemaun continues to be an integral symbol of Georgian Bay and has carried an estimated 10 million passengers and three million vehicles, completing 24,000 voyages between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island since 1974.
About Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC):
The Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC), an agency of the Government of Ontario, plays a vital role in Ontario’s tourism and transportation system, overseeing the operation of four ships, seven terminals and dock facilities and administers contractor-operated seasonal air service. OSTC owns and operates the MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry, which provides seasonal service to community members, commercial clients and a large tourism-based ridership between Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula, sailing along the borders of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The MV Niska I, a landing craft ferry, provides vehicle, freight and passenger transportation services between Moosonee and Moose Factory Island on the Moose River at the mouth of James Bay. Additionally, OSTC operates the MV Pelee Islander and MV Pelee Islander II for ferry service between the mainland, Pelee Island, and Sandusky, Ohio.