Black Jack was the first ship in service with Bytown Brigantine, Inc., a charitable organization devoted to providing sail training adventure for youth.

[citation needed] Black Jack was originally a logging tug on the Upper Ottawa River and was based in Quyon, Quebec.

She made her sail training debut in 1983 and in the summer of 1984 attended the 450th Anniversary of Jacques Cartier's Landing in Quebec City with many other international tall ships.

Adrienne Clarkson, then Governor General of Canada, re-christened Black Jack at Britannia Yacht Club and helped Bytown Brigantine wish the ship well on her next 100 years of service in the Ottawa area.

[citation needed] Black Jack is now part of a sail-training summer camp for youth 12–15 years olds on the Ottawa River.

Participants sleep either aboard Black Jack (on deck or down below depending on weather), or on a floating bunkhouse moored at the island.