This is an example of a type of vessel which was very common on the St.Lawrence River in the first half of the 20th century up to the 1960s namely the "goélette". At first, they were wooden sailing vessels but between the world wars, many became powered and they were used to carry cargo to towns along the river banks such as pulpwood (called "pitoune" in Québec parlance). They were family-built and owned and this example NOTRE DAME DES MERS was one of the last active units of her type. Built at l'Isle-aux-Coudres in 1956, she was 91 feet long and measured 112 tons GRT.
Photo taken from the bridgewing of the laker LAWRENCECLIFFE HALL on June 22, 1977 by Marc Piché. (scanned from a slide)