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Famed Canadian musician loses ‘irreplaceable’ hat aboard BC Ferries vessel

Tom Wilson was travelling home from Ladysmith house concert
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Tom Wilson is seen here at the Short Close Song Shelter in Ladysmith on Sept. 29 wearing a black hat that he lost the next day aboard a BC Ferries vessel. (Tom Mrnka Photo)

The search is on after a famed Canadian musician lost an ‘irreplaceable’ hat while travelling back from playing a Ladysmith house concert last Friday night.

Rock guitarist Tom Wilson of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Junkhouse performed to a sold out crowd at the Short Close Song Shelter on Sept. 29.

It was when he was travelling on the BC Ferries boat from the Duke Point to Tsawwassen route the following day at 12:45 p.m. that Wilson misplaced a black hat manufactured by Beaver Brand Hats, a company which dates back to 1860 but has since ceased production in recent years.

“During that ride he misplaced his hat and it’s a very special hat…It’s an irreplaceable hat,” said local concert promoter Cathleen McMahon on a video posted to Facebook. “We are asking for you to get in touch and see if we can get this hat returned.”

The Ladysmith resident’s video has been viewed more than 1,100 times but she’s encouraging people to share it in the hopes that the hat is returned.

“I’ve done all the things I’m supposed to do, I’ve called lost and found and put out a description of the hat but it has not surfaced,” she said.

“If you know somebody who was travelling on a BC Ferries boat last Saturday from Duke Point to Tsawwassen and (found) a black hat, a Beaver company hat, and happened to see it and thought it would be a great souvenir, not questions asked just please return it and we’ll get it back to its rightful owner.”

Anyone with information regarding the hat can contact McMahon at cathleenmcmahon@mmgrp.ca.