92,000 Lego bricks later, this model of the Chi-Cheemaun was born in brick form

Longtime Owen Sound, Ont., resident Ken Reid's been looking at the MS Chi-Cheemaun since it was first put into the water in the city's harbour 51 years ago.

The Canadian-made vessel that ferries people 40 kilometres across Lake Huron to Manitoulin Island every summer caught his eye even then, and he made a model of it out of cereal boxes.

He was a teenager at that time, and his skills have since greatly improved. Today, Reid can boast having created the largest, and surely the most intricate, Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun.

"It's a nine foot long mini Chi-Cheemaun that has the full interior. It has 51 cars onboard because that's all I had. I like boats but it's really the Lego building that I love," Reid said.

He started working on the vessel three months ago using the Lego he buys in bulk, estimating some 92,000 pieces were needed to perfect the model.

Building the hull was challenging, Reid said, but a special invitation onboard the ship helped him capture the finer details of the interior. He called the Chi-Cheemaun crew to let them know he was building a Lego model, and they wanted to help.

"[The ship steward] invited me on board to take as many pictures as I required. So I had a full tour and I ran my camera to its limits taking photographs," Reid said.

The Chi-Cheemaun was built in 1974 by Collingwood Shipbuilding, a short drive from where it's docked in Owen Sound during the winter. The ship's name translates to "big canoe" in Ojibwe. Last year, when it marked its 50th anniversary, it transported approximately 150,000 people and 60,000 vehicles from Tobermory to South Baymouth.

Reid said he's had a lot of interest in his Lego version, with local museums and summer festivals in the area inquiring about displaying it.

Right now, the Lego ship is on his living room floor with the occasional neighbour popping over to take a look.

"I've been told many times from people that I should have a YouTube channel," Reid said. "But then it would become work, and I like this as a hobby."