Alexander Henry, historic coast guard icebreaker, returning to Thunder Bay

A historic coast guard icebreaker that worked the Great Lakes for decades after being built in Thunder Bay, Ont., is set to call the Lakehead home again.

The Alexander Henry was built by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company and was commissioned in 1959. It worked the Great Lakes until the mid-1980s, when the current breaker, the Samuel Risley, came into service. Recently, it's been facing an uncertain future in the Kingston, Ont., area.

• An uncertain future for coast guard icebreaker built in Thunder Bay

Council already approved the idea in principle in April.

• Alexander Henry one step closer to returning home

• Alexander Henry could be coming home

"Along with our forestry industry, our mining industry, our transportation industry, these are all integral parts in what make Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay," Coun. Andrew Foulds said on Monday in support of the move. "I don't think we do a very job in remembering that history."

Transportation museum officials said the current plan is to dock the Alexander Henry at the Kam River Heritage Park with plans to eventually move the vessel to the old Pool 6 site on the waterfront.

They said they hope to have the icebreaker open to the public by August.