The Prairie Lily is making its return to the South Saskatchewan River under new ownership.

Saskatoon resident Stephanie Simonot will operate the Prairie Lily going forward.

She says that running the boat will be a family affair.

“It’s my children, my son-in-law, my nephews, just the whole family. My parents, grandchildren later on.”

Original owners Mike and Joan Steckhan are going to train Simonot throughout the upcoming season.

“We’re very fortunate that Captain Mike and Joan are staying on to train us and to get us all regulated and certified.”

She says that the different cruises that people have come to enjoy over the years will not be going anywhere.

“There’s going to be the sightseeing cruise, the brunch cruise, dinner cruise and wine tasting.”

Last year the Prairie Lily ran into trouble, literally, with low flows in the river making it unsafe for the vessel to be on the water.

Joan Steckhan says, “We’re expecting a big change this year, we’ve been in conversation with the Water Security Agency all winter. And there is significant snowpack in the Rockies. Things should turn around; the river should clean up and there should be some good water for sailing this summer.”

She says they argued last summer and will continue to do so that the Water Security Agency has to have a plan that encompasses the entire Saskatchewan River Basin and that it’s about not just Lake Diefenbaker or the irrigation project utilizing Lake Diefenbaker.

The Prairie Lily is expected to hit the water in May.