St. Lawrence II turns pirate tonight to raise funds for youth sail-training programs

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Kingston’s Halloween festivities get a nautical twist tonight as the St. Lawrence II transforms into a haunted pirate ship for SL2 Turns Pirate: A Night of Haunted Halloween Pirate Tours at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. 

The free, family-friendly event offers spooky deck tours, treats, games, and a chance to explore Canada’s oldest continually operating sail-training vessel, all while supporting youth access to Tall Ship Expeditions Canada’s programs.

The upcoming season marks the return of programming aboard the St. Lawrence II to Kingston for the first time in three years. After seasons spent sailing on the East Coast and participating in the Great Lakes Challenge, the youth sail-training program will once again run locally starting in summer 2026.

“We’re very, very happy to be back,” said Bridget Cai with Tall Ship Expeditions Canada. “And one of the biggest benefits about being back is we get to connect with a lot of the local youth and the local families.”

Listen to the full story here.