Prairie Lily set to return to South Saskatchewan River this season under new ownership

The Prairie Lily will set sail under new ownership this season in Saskatoon.

Since 2012, the 120-passenger riverboat has offered sightseeing and dining cruises on the South Saskatchewan River, along with themed events. After the original owners, Mike and Joan Steckhan, decided to cease operations last summer – following a difficult season which saw the boat prevented from leaving the dock due to high sandbars and low water levels – the business is now under the ownership of Stephanie Simonot, a long-time resident of the city who plans to run the riverboat’s operations along with her family.

Read more:

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“We are incredibly honoured to take the helm of such a well-loved Saskatoon experience,” Simonot said in a statement.

According to Simonot – who’s been on so many Prairie Lily cruises she “can’t count” them all – she just wasn’t ready to see the river cruise go when she found out the Steckhans were retiring.

“The Prairie Lily has been part of this community for years and, as a local family, we are committed to preserving what people love while creating new moments for families, friends and visitors,” the statement continued.

Simonot won’t be doing her first season alone, though, with the Steckhans staying on as mentors this summer.

Joan Steckhan said in addition to teaching Simonot about the day-to-day business, the couple has also been guiding her through Transport Canada regulations.

“As an operator of passenger vessel, that’s the big learning curve,” she said. “There’s a lot to know about the ship, inspections of the ship, what your responsibilities are, what the regulations are and then there’s a huge training component. You can’t just hop behind the wheel.”

The one thing Simonot won’t need to worry about is being able to set sail.

Mike Steckhan said he’s confident they’ll be operating this summer for multiple reasons.

“Firstly, we’ve been working with the WSA (Water Security Agency) on a solution to this issue and I think they are going to do their darndest to help us out and make sure that there’s a flush of water to allow the riverbed to be cleaned up,” he said.

Regardless of how helpful the WSA is, though, this winter’s snowfall in the Rocky Mountains was “nearly record breaking,” according to Steckhan.

When it melts “that’s going to be a big rush of water,” he said.

“It doesn’t really matter what (the WSA) want to do, they’re going to have to open the spillways and increase the water flow significantly, just because it’s gotta go,” Steckhan said.

History of the Prairie Lily

The Prairie Lily was built in 1989 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for navigating shallow channels like the South Saskatchewan River.

In 2012, the ship was purchased by Prairie River Cruises when Mike and Joan Steckhan partnered with Mike and Valerie Kingsmill to begin operating the riverboat.

“It has been a privilege to build this business and share it with the Saskatoon community,” Joan said in a statement.

“After 14 years, we are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received and couldn’t be more pleased to pass it on to Stephanie and her family, who share the same passion for hospitality and community connection.”

While the previous season was a challenging one for the Prairie Lily, conditions on the river are expected to improve this season, the business noted in a statement.

Terri Nielsen, a representative for Discover Saskatoon, said the riverboat is an “iconic” experience that brings in a lot of business.

“It’s how many visitors, and even longtime residents, see our city from a completely new perspective,” Nielsen said in a statement.

“Seeing it continue under local ownership is important for both our city and visitor economy. It ensures this iconic experience remains part of how people connect with Saskatoon, celebrating milestones, sharing time together, and experiencing the river in a way that’s truly unique to our city.”

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Marija Robinson