Steve Hawchuk has cruised up and down Winnipeg’s rivers for more than four decades. The owner of Paddlewheel Riverboats is ready to spend more time on dry land and hand the Winnipeg institution over to someone new.
Hawchuk has operated the Paddlewheel Queen and Princess for 44 years. “I just decided it’s time to give it to someone younger. It’s for sale, it has a lot of potential,” said Hawchuk. “It’s still a Winnipeg tradition.”
This isn’t the only Winnipeg institution in limbo after its owner decided to retire. Earlier this year, Kelekis, The Wagon Wheel, Papa Georges and The Paddlewheel restaurant all closed their doors.
Hawchuk hopes the tradition of hosting athletes, musicians and politicians continues when someone takes over the boats.
On Sunday, he took the captain’s chair of the Paddlewheel Queen for the last time, again. Two years ago, he tried retiring but says he gave into public pressure and came back. Those two years have been a challenge. “This year we lost two months in May and June because we couldn’t get to the locks because of the high water. So it’s been testy,” says Hawchuk.
He says offers have come in for the boats but won’t disclose how much he’s asking. “My advice is to carry on. There’s a lot of things to bring people on the boats and make it a viable option.”
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