S.C. Kanaday & Co.

S.C. Kanaday & Co. was a Toronto-based shipping and transportation company in the late 19th century. The company operated steam-powered vessels, including tugs and barges, which served various industries on the Great Lakes. Their acquisition of the COLLINGWOOD illustrates their role in supporting the Great Lakes lumber industry, a dominant trade at the time that required reliable transportation for timber and related goods across vast water routes.

S.C. Kanaday & Co. was active during an era when steam-powered vessels transformed trade and commerce on the Great Lakes, enabling more efficient and predictable transportation. Their involvement with the COLLINGWOOD also aligns with their focus on towing operations, a vital service for the transport of bulky cargoes like lumber. The company’s activities contributed to Toronto’s development as a regional trade hub, connecting the city with suppliers and markets across the Great Lakes.

The company’s operations were eventually affected by advances in shipbuilding and the shift from steam to more efficient propulsion systems, a common trend that saw the decline of small shipping firms as the industry consolidated and evolved.