Raised on Manitoulin Island, Jack w,is involved in the family’s commercial fishing business of James Purvis and Son based out of Quebec Harbour at Michipicoteu Island. Schooled at St. Andrew’s College and the University of Western Ontario, Jack retired after a ten year career of teaching high school chemistry and physics to pursue a foll time hobby of tug boating.
In 1975, he started Purvis Marine Ltd. In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with the small tug “Rocket” and a barge for work on the North Channel building docks and break walls for homeowners. Captain Purvis’ foresight and business acumen developed PML into one of the largest and most versatile marine contracting firms on the Great Lakes. Over the years PML has accumulated a diverse fleet of tugs, barges and a crane-equipped hulk freighter servicing the Great. Lakes, east coast of Canada and the Arctic. This fleet includes a tug moved overland f om a remote Canadian inland lake, a tug delivered from England which arrived ice-covered in late December and a barge converted from the former car forry “Chief Wawatam”. These vessels all bccaine viable endeavors because of Captain Purvis’ ability to recognize potential and overcome obstacles, PML also operates a wharf and tanker terminal, cargo handling facilities, a floating dry dock ship repair and salvage operations. The physical locations of PML stretch from the Upper St. Marys River to the lower harbor of Sault, Ontario.
As a local business owner and employer Captain Purvis has received numerous awards from the Sault, Ontario, community including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Outstanding
Business Achievement Award, the Sault Ste. Marie Medal of Merit, the Paul Dalseg Community Achievement Award, and the Skipper Manzzutti Award for Business Achievement.