The Rideau Canal

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Rideau Canal THE RIDEAU CANAL Region guide A complete guide to boating vacations along a Canadian UNESCO World Heritage Site 36 OUR FIRST 20 NORTH AMERICAN 60 REGION The Rideau Canal is our first destination outside of Europe, and we don’t think we could have chosen a ABOUT THIS GUIDE better place for it. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal lets you travel along a series of These pages are intended to help you to spectacular canals, rivers and lakes between the visualize what a boating vacation in this region vibrant cities of Ottawa and Kingston. As you make might look like and help you decide whether it’s your way along the waterway you’ll find charming the right destination for you. If you are already 23 on board, it can be used day-by-day to ensure small towns, unforgettable natural wonders and, the best bit of all, a warm Canadian welcome! you make the most of everything there is to ABOUT THE REGION THE RIDEAU CANAL see and do. From page 12-61, each place or attraction is presented in the same order it is Our first North American Region Whether you’re an experienced captain or have never 3 42 Newboro located on the canal, from Ottawa in the North been boating before, you’ll find this region easy to 4 Never been boating before? Chaffey’s Lockstation to Kingston in the South, so if you’re traveling in 44 navigate. There are friendly and helpful lock keepers the opposite direction… just read it backwards! 5 When to go 46 Davis Lock on hand and many fellow boaters around with whom This Guide is not intended to replace the to exchange advice, ask for help or to simply pass 6 Planning your time 47 Jones Falls waterways guide, also provided on board the time of day. and which should always be consulted when 8 History of the Rideau Canal 50 Ken W. Watson’s tips to the Rideau navigating along the canal. Get ready to fall in love with Canada! 10 Culture of the Rideau Canal 54 Seeley’s Bay (Le Boat Base) 56 Lower Brewers Lockstation THE RIDEAU CANAL 56 Kingston Mills 12 Ottawa 57 Kingston 18 Manotick & Long Island 19 Burritts Rapids 62-63 Away from the Canal 19 Nicholsons Locks BOATING ON THE RIDEAU 20 Autumn in Canada 64-65 Our Horizon fleet 22 Merrickville 66 Lock and Mooring supplement 23 Smiths Falls (Le Boat Base) 67 Locks 28 Wandering Ontario's Highlands 68 Going through a lock on the Rideau 30 The Tay Canal 69 Fuel, water & waste 31 Perth OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION 34 Rideau Ferry 69 Feedback 36 Indigenous cultures of the Rideau 40 Portland 41 Westport 3 NEW TO WHEN TO GO BOATING VACATIONS? NEW TO OFF PEAK PEAK OFF PEAK BOATING 25 °C / 77 °F VACATIONS? 20 °C / 68 °F 15 °C / 59 °F Well we’ve got good news, a boating vacation is simple… SEPTEMBER OCTOBER MAY JUNE JULY Choose which of our state-of-the-art Horizon AUGUST boats best suits your party size (see page 64-65 for more details); pick it up from either our base in Smiths Falls or Seeley's Bay and return it, by the agreed date and time. What you do in between is entirely up to you - you’re free to stop when you want, for as long as you want! Explore new places, see amazing sights and create lasting memories. Our Horizon boats have all the necessary features to ensure you are completely self-sufficient throughout your vacation. You can travel from one exciting place to the next without the need WHEN to unpack and repack each time. The kitchens on our boats come fully-equipped if you would like to prepare your own meals, the beds come with linen, TO GO and the bathrooms have showers, hot water, towels and toilets. The hot and sunny month of July is peak season for this region and the canals can get busy. You may have to wait your turn at locks, and public moorings in some Now all you need is the waterway, which allows villages can be slightly more difficult to find. It is also important to note that for a two you to see the sights from a completely unique week period starting on the second to last Sunday of July there is a public holiday in perspective. It slows you down, allows you to the neighbouring province of Quebec. During this period the Rideau Canal will be at appreciate your surroundings, drink in the scenery. its busiest and you’ll have to give yourself plenty of time when going through locks It provides you with an ever-changing view, delivers and finding moorings. On the plus side however, you’ll encounter famous Canadian nature and wildlife to your door and entices you to friendliness with plenty of boaters to chat too – and the popularity of the Rideau with amazing towns and villages. More importantly, it the Quebecois means conversation will be in both English and French. There is also an allows you to create your own vacation - be that a abundance of events and festivals held during July as well. restful break or an active adventure. June, August and September is slightly milder and a bit quieter. Now… who’s on board? May and October are the perfect time to escape the masses, and traveling in October has the added benefit of being able to witness Canada transformed by autumn NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED colors. A season characterized by a canopy of reds and yellows, which are unparalleled anywhere and one of the best on earth (See page 20-21). Our boats are easy to handle with no license required under Canadian law. Before setting off on your vacation, you will be taught how to safely drive your boat, moor and how to travel through locks, ensuring you are happy and confident controlling your cruiser. 4 5 PLANNING YOUR TIME PLANNING YOUR TIME Rideau Canal Appro time Number of locks Montreal Ottawa Ottawa hr min 5 Mano hr min 3 PLANNING Burrit apids 1hr min 12 Rideau Canal Appro time Number 1hr 1min 1of locks Ottawa ocks hr2hr min 1min 53 Merrickville Manotick & Mano hrhr min min hr min 35 5 YOUR TIME Long Island Burrit Smiths apids Falls 1hr min 12 2hr 2 1hr2hr 1min 12 Beveridges ocksLocks To help you plan your time, use this helpful 2hr1min 1min 30 Merrickville erry chart to calculate the approximate number 2hr min hr 2min 0 1 Portland hr min hr min 5 5 Smiths Falls of hours it’ll take you to travel between the Le Boat Base Navigable river Canal 2hr2hr min 2hr 21 2 BeveridgesWestport Locks villages, towns and cities along the waterway. 1min1hr 1min 00 Newboro Be sure to allow plenty of time to stop, relax erry 1hr min 2hr min hr 2min 01 1 Chaffey’s LockstationPortland hr 1min 3 and/or see the sights though. An average of 1hr min 1 Da ock 2hr min 1 three hours cruising per day is quite a relaxed Burritts Rapids Westport 1hr1hr 1min 2min 01 alls itinerary. Anything more than five and you’ll Nicholsons Locks Newboro hr min 4 Perth Ta y C a Smiths Falls 1hr min 1 feel quite rushed. n a Merrickville Chaffey’s LockstationSeele ay hr 1min 3 l 1hr2hr min min 12 Beveridges Locks Low ewer ockstation 11hr 2min 11 Da ock 2hr min 1 Rideau Ferry LOWER 1hr 2min 1 Kingst alls RIDEAU hrhr min min 44 L AKE SeeleKingston ay 2hr min 2 UPPER BIG Low ewer ockstation 11hr 2min 11 RIDEAU ONTARIO 2hr min 1 RIDEAU Kingst L AKE L AKE hr min 4 Kingston Newboro Portland Westport Chaffey’s Lockstation Tay Canal Number Appro time of locks Jones Falls Bev ocks Davis Lock Maximum speed 2hr 2hr 2 2 Perth 10 allowed on waterways Seeley’s Bay Tay Canal Number in km/h Times are an approximation only based on an average speed ofAppro 8km/h time and 30 minutes toof passlocks Bev ocks through a lock chamber. Your speed (the boats are limited2hr to 10km/h), the2hr flow of the river2 and 2 Lower Brewers Pass oncoming boats Perth Lockstation on the right hand side, the time it takes to go through locks will all affect your progress. larger boats have Kingston priority Mills Kingston Toronto SEE MORE… cruise with a night in one of the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario’s two 1940s wooden cabooses in Add Bike and Kayak rental to your booking Smiths Falls (see page 26). Exploring by pedal power is much quicker than by foot. For example, if you want to visit Manotick, then you Rent-a-Car can moor at the Long Island lockstation and cycle the If you are planning a Le Boat cruise as part of a wider 4kms (2.5 miles) into town. Whilst, our Kayaks let you Canadian tour, why not explore with a road trip! There explore the waterways in true Canadian style! is car rental available in Smiths Falls, which in our opin- ion is the ideal location from which to explore the Ot- Book a hotel tawa Valley or Lanark County (see page 28-29) before If you would like to visit Kingston or Ottawa, but don’t dropping your car off in either Ottawa or Kingston. have time to get there and back, how about spending a night or two in a city hotel before your flight home? Or, for a unique experience, you can even cap off your 6 7 RIDEAU CANAL RIDEAU CANAL HISTORY OF THE RIDEAU CANAL THE RIDEAU WATERWAY The history of the Rideau as a navigable waterway long predates the arrival of European settlers – with the waterway long being a means of THE BUILDING OF THE CANAL navigation for the indigenous communities of Ontario.
Recommended publications
  • Limits to the Regulation of the Ottawa River 2019 Spring Flood Overview
    Ottawa River Commission de planification Regulation de la régularisation Planning Board de la rivière des Outaouais Limits to the Regulation of the Ottawa River 2019 Spring Flood Overview Ottawa River Regulation Secretariat Michael Sarich Manon Lalonde Ottawa River Watershed SPRING FLOODS VARY 1950-2018: Maximum daily flow at Carillon dam varied between 3,635 and 9,094 m3/s In 2019: Maximum daily flow on April 30th 9,217 m3/s The Water Cycle Natural Variability 2010 2017 2019 PETAWAWA RIVER 700 650 600 2019 Peak 46% higher than previous 550 historic peak of 1985 500 (Measurements from 1915 to 2019) 450 Note: Flows are within the green zone 50% of the time 400 350 300 250 DISCHARGE DISCHARGE (m³/s) 200 150 100 50 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC What about Flow Regulation? 13 Large Reservoirs Reservoirs: large bodies of water that are used to: Release water during winter Retain water in the spring Flow regulation Increase flows during winter Reduce flows during spring 1983 Agreement Integrated management The 1983 Canada-Ontario Quebec Agreement established: . Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board . Ottawa River Regulating Committee . Ottawa River Regulation Secretariat Main role : to ensure that the flow from the principal reservoirs of the Ottawa River Basin are managed on an integrated basis : minimize impacts – floods & droughts Secondary role : to ensure hydrological forecasts are made available to the public and government agencies for preparation of flood related messages How is the Planning Board structured?
    [Show full text]
  • 2.2 Ancient History of the Lower Ottawa River Valley
    INTRODUCTION 16 2.2 Ancient History of the Lower Ottawa River Valley Dr Jean‐Luc Pilon Curator of Ontario Archaeology Canadian Museum of Civilization 2.2.1 Archaeology in the Ottawa Valley The following discussion surrounding the ancient history of the Ottawa Valley does not attempt to present a full picture of its lengthy past. The Ottawa Valley contains literally thousands of archaeological sites, and to date only a handful have been studied by archaeologists. Still fewer of these have been properly published. Consequently, any reconstruction of the region’s ancient history is based on preliminary interpretations and a few more certain findings. The purpose of this summary is to provide a first blush of the richness of the Ottawa Valley’s pre‐contact past without labouring the discussion with details. The history of archaeological investigation of the ancient history of the Ottawa River Valley, and in particular, the stretch of river downstream of the Mattawa River, has been influenced by several historical factors. For nearly 150 years, there has been a national historical institution located within the city of Ottawa. Paradoxically, since it is a national, and not regional institution, its scholars have generally worked outside of the region. Another factor which has affected the level of interest in the pre‐contact ancient history of the region is the nature of the lifestyles of the peoples in the region who were relatively mobile hunter/gatherer groups, leaving few visible remains attesting to their life and times. However, as will be seen below, this situation is far from a hard fast rule.
    [Show full text]
  • 2.6 Settlement Along the Ottawa River
    INTRODUCTION 76 2.6 Settlement Along the Ottawa River In spite of the 360‐metre drop of the Ottawa Figure 2.27 “The Great Kettle”, between its headwaters and its mouth, the river has Chaudiere Falls been a highway for human habitation for thousands of years. First Nations Peoples have lived and traded along the Ottawa for over 8000 years. In the 1600s, the fur trade sowed the seeds for European settlement along the river with its trading posts stationed between Montreal and Lake Temiskaming. Initially, French and British government policies discouraged settlement in the river valley and focused instead on the lucrative fur trade. As a result, settlement did not occur in earnest until the th th late 18 and 19 centuries. The arrival of Philemon Source: Archives Ontario of Wright to the Chaudiere Falls and the new British trend of importing settlers from the British Isles marked the beginning of the settlement era. Farming, forestry and canal building complemented each other and drew thousands of immigrants with the promise of a living wage. During this period, Irish, French Canadians and Scots arrived in the greatest numbers and had the most significant impact on the identity of the Ottawa Valley, reflected in local dialects and folk music and dancing. Settlement of the river valley has always been more intensive in its lower stretches, with little or no settlement upstream of Lake Temiskaming. As the fur trade gave way to farming, settlers cleared land and encroached on First Nations territory. To supplement meagre agricultural earnings, farmers turned to the lumber industry that fuelled the regional economy and attracted new waves of settlers.
    [Show full text]
  • May 2017 Newsletter
    May 2017 Newsletter Hope to see you at our next meeting on Monday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. RCMP Club House, Long Island Locks OUR MAY SPEAKER – Pat Beechey on THE GOOD AND THE BAD NEWS ON BUGS All our gardens have bugs – but they aren’t all bad! Master Gardener Pat Beechey will help us identify good versus bad bugs. She will discuss the damage bugs can wreak on our gardens as well as various ways to combat them. FLOWER SHOW – MAY 8 *all entries must be labeled and placed on tables by 7:00p.m. Designs no wider than 24 inches. Division 1 – Horticultural Specimen Classes Class 1 Any iris in bloom, 1 stalk Class 2 Muscari (grape hyacinth), 3 stems, same variety, same colour Class 3 Narcissus, trumpet, 1 scape Class 4 Narcissus, double, 1 scape Class 5 Narcissus, large cup yellow, 1 scape Class 6 Narcissus, large cup white, 1 scape Class 7 Narcissus, miniature, 1 scape Class 8 Narcissus, small cup, 1 scape Class 9 Narcissus, multi-flowered, 1 stem Class 10 Narcissus, any other type not mentioned above, 1 scape *Trumpet applies to the cultivars that have coronas, as long as, or longer than the petal. For the large cup, the trumpet is more than 1/3 of the length of the petal; but less than the full length;the small cup is less than 1/3 the size of the petals.. Class 11 Tulip, lily flower, 1 bloom Class 12 Tulip, parrot, 1 bloom Class 13 Tulip peony type, 1 bloom Class 14 Tulip, red, 1 bloom Class 15 Tulip pink, 1 bloom Class 16 Tulip, yellow or orange, 1 bloom Class 17 Tulip, white or cream, 1 bloom Class 18 Tulip, purple or black, 1 bloom Class 19 Tulip, fringed, 1 bloom Class 20 Tulip, bi-coloured, 1 bloom Class 21 Tulip, any other type or colour not listed above, 1 stem *No more than 2 leaves should be attached to the tulip stem.
    [Show full text]
  • Who Is Watching out for the Ottawa River?
    Who Is Watching Out for the Ottawa River? Professor Benidickson CML 3351 369567 April 28 2000 George Brown AContradictions in human behavior are evident throughout the region. There are beautiful farms and ravaged riverbanks; decimated forests and landscaped community parks; chemical and nuclear waste oozing toward the river and conscientious children cleaning highways. In Canada, extremes in river levels that prevent the existence of both natural ecologies and human enterprises are caused by dams built primarily to meet US energy needs. Diverse and contradictory possibilities appear for the river region of the future: economic stability, ecological integrity and sustainability if people take seriously their responsibilities for God=s earth; ecological disaster and economic depression if current practices remain unchangedY@1 The above quotation, is taken from a statement by the US and Canadian Catholic Bishops concerning the Columbia River. Entitled The Columbia River Watershed: Realities and Possibilities, it was meant to remind citizens on both sides of the border, that Awe humans do not live alone in the Columbia watershed. We share our habitat with other lives, members of the community of life B what scientists call the biotic community B who relate to us as fellow inhabitants of the watershed, as fellow members of the web of life.@2 This paper is not about the Columbia River, it is about the Ottawa River. (Ottawa) What I found interesting about the first quotation is that you could very easily have applied it to the Ottawa River, as well as many other rivers throughout North America. I intend to examine the Ottawa from the perspective mentioned above, that it is a river that can have a future characterized by economic stability, ecological integrity, and sustainability, if we take seriously our responsibilities as citizens.
    [Show full text]
  • Britannia Yacht Club New Member's Guide Your Cottage in the City!
    Britannia Yacht Club New Member’s Guide Your Cottage in the City! Britannia Yacht Club 2777 Cassels St. Ottawa, Ontario K2B 6N6 613 828-5167 [email protected] www.byc.ca www.facebook.com/BYCOttawa @BYCTweet Britannia_Yacht_Club Welcome New BYC Member! Your new membership at the Britannia Yacht Club is highly valued and your fellow members, staff and Board of Directors want you to feel very welcome and comfortable as quickly as possible. As with all new things, it does take time to find your way around. Hopefully, this New Member’s Guide answers the most frequently asked questions about the Club, its services, regulations, procedures, etiquette, etc. If there is something that is not covered in this guide, please do not hesitate to direct any questions to the General Manager, Paul Moore, or our office staff, myself or other members of the Board of Directors (see contacts in the guide), or, perhaps more expediently on matters of general information, just ask a fellow member. It is important that you thoroughly enjoy being a member of Britannia Yacht Club, so that no matter the main reason for you joining – whether it be sailing, boating, tennis or social activity – the club will be “your cottage in the city” where you can spend many long days of enjoyment, recreation and relaxation. See you at the club. Sincerely, Rob Braden Commodore Britannia Yacht Club [email protected] Krista Kiiffner Director of Membership Britannia Yacht Club [email protected] Britannia Yacht Club New Member’s Guide Table of Contents 1. ABOUT BRITANNIA YACHT CLUB .....................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Welcome to Byc
    WELCOME TO BYC For over 130 years, Britannia Yacht club has provided a quick and easy escape from urban Ottawa into lakeside cottage country that is just fifteen minutes from downtown. Located on the most scenic site in Ottawa at the eastern end of Lac Deschênes, Britannia Yacht Club is the gateway to 45 km of continuous sailing along the Ottawa River. The combination of BYC's recreational facilities and clubhouse services provides all the amenities of lake-side cottage living without having to leave the city. Members of all ages can enjoy sailing, tennis, swimming, childrens' programs and other outdoor activities as well as great opportunities and events for socializing. We have a long history of producing outstanding sailors. Our nationally acclaimed junior sailing program (Learn to Sail) is certified by the Sail Canada (the Canadian Yachting Association) and is structured to nurture skills, self-discipline and personal achievement in a fun environment. BYC has Reciprocal Privileges with other clubs across Canada and the United States so members can enjoy other facilities when they travel. There are a number of different membership categories and mooring rates with flexible payment plans are available. We welcome all new members to our club! Call the office 613-828-5167 or email [email protected] for more information. If you are a new member, please see the Membership Guide; Click Here: https://byc.ca/join See past issues of the club newsletter ~ ‘Full & By’; Click Here: https://byc.ca/members-area/full-by Take a virtual tour of the club house and grounds; Click Here: http://www.byc.ca/images/BYC-HD.mp4 Once again, Welcome to your Cottage in the City!! Britannia Yacht Club, 2777 Cassels Street, Ottawa, ON K2B 6N6 | 613-828-5167 | [email protected] For a great social life we’re the place to be! There’s something for everyone at BYC! Call the office to get on the email list to Fun Events ensure you don’t miss out! In addition, check the; ‘Full&By’ Fitness Newsletter, Website, Facebook, bulletin boards, posters, Tennis and Sailing News Flyers.
    [Show full text]
  • Ottawa Region
    Expert report TRANSCANADA ENERGY EAST PIPELINE Spill impacts on the territory of Ottawa region GEO-16-004-16- 32 September 2016 Expert report TRANSCANADA ENERGY EAST PIPELINE Spill impacts on the territory of Ottawa region GEO-16-004-16-32 September 2016 Report prepared by: Abdelkader Aiachi, Ph.D. Project manager, Geosciences Report approved by: Chantal Savaria, ing., EESA, VEA Table of contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 2. Features of transported products ....................................................................................... 2 2.1 Products nature ............................................................................................................................ 2 2.2 Oil products behaviour in water ................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Oil products behaviour in ice ........................................................................................................ 3 2.4 Quantity of transported products.................................................................................................. 4 2.5 Spill of crude oil (examples) ......................................................................................................... 5 2.5.1 Example of crude oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River ............................................................ 5 2.5.2 Example of crude oil spill in the Kalamazoo River, Michigan
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Highlights: South/Rural South (Wards 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 20, 21, 22)
    Regional Highlights: South/Rural South (Wards 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 20, 21, 22) Draft Budget 2017 focuses on strengthening core municipal services to residents with a continued commitment to long-term affordability. The draft budget includes funding for core community priorities such as transit, social infrastructure, safety, the environment, support for the arts and efforts to promote economic growth. Substantial investments in active transportation and improved transit services are key priorities of this draft budget, securing funding for consistent service delivery and programs that support our most vulnerable residents. Multi-ward (regional) investments The 2017 draft budget includes $645 million in tax-and-rate-supported capital projects, comprised of $290.9 million for ward-specific and cross-ward projects. The ward-specific and cross-ward projects include: Public Works and Environmental Services $24.8 million – Communal Well Rehabilitation project – funding envelope for retrofit, rehabilitation and/or replacement of asset components at the five communal well based drinking water systems serving: Munster Hamlet (Ward 21); Richmond – King's Park subdivision (Ward 21); Carp (Ward 5); Vars (Ward 19); Greely – Shadow Ridge subdivision (Ward 20) – typical projects include: condition assessment; control and instrumentation rehabilitations; water treatment and process upgrades; well condition and capacity testing $1.3 million – 125,000 trees on target to be planted across all wards to increase forest cover in urban, suburban and rural areas,
    [Show full text]
  • The Best of Ottawa
    1 The Best of Ottawa As a native of this city, I’ve seen Ottawa evolve over 5 decades—from a sleepy civil service town to a national capital that can proudly hold its own with any city of comparable size. The official population is more than 800,000, but the central core is compact and its skyline relatively short. Most Ottawans live in suburban, or even rural, communities. The buses are packed twice a day with government workers who live in communities like Kanata, Nepean, Gloucester, and Orleans, which were individually incorporated cities until municipal amalgamation in 2001. Although there are a number of residential neighborhoods close to downtown, you won’t find the kind of towering condominiums that line the downtown streets of Toronto or Vancouver. As a result, Ottawa is not the kind of city where the downtown sidewalks are bustling with people after dark, with the exception of the ByWard Market and Elgin Street. One could make the case that Ottawa would be very dull indeed were it not for Queen Victoria’s decision to anoint it capital of the newly minted Dominion of Canada. Thanks to her choice, tourists flock to the Parliament Buildings, five major national museums, a handful of government-funded festivals, and the Rideau Canal. Increasingly, tourists are spreading out beyond the well-established attractions to discover the burgeoning urban neighborhoods like Wellington West and the Glebe, and venturing into the nearby countryside. For visitors, Ottawa is an ideal walking city. Most of the major attractions—and since this is a national capital, there are many—are within easy walking distance of the major hotels.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report Table of Contents
    The largest natural history museum in Canada known for: nature inspiration and engagement; arctic knowledge and exploration; species discovery and change; and a 10.5 million specimen collection housed at a 76 hectare research campus. 2014-2015 AnnuAl report table of contents MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR . 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . 5 PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR 2014-2015 . 7 OUR PEOPLE . 13 COMMUNICATING RESEARCH RESULTS . 15 INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY . 23 COLLABORATORS . 26 MANAGING OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES . 33 message from the chair Sustainability is a word increasingly heard in Governance: at a micro level with respect to the ongoing health and viability of an enterprise; and at a macro level with respect to our ability to maintain a regenerating natural environment capable of supporting current global trends of increasing population, economic growth, and energy consumption . Responding to both of these aspects of sustainability have been central themes to progress at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) in the past year . At the macro level, the Canadian Museum of Nature conducts research to create knowledge which has direct relevance to Stephen henley understanding environmental change . Chair, Board of Trustees And, through the National Natural History Collection, it maintains a scientific body leadership will ensure that each of these of reference that is vital to environmental Centres of Excellence continues to make management . Fulfilling this role depends, important contributions to the body at the micro level, on the museum itself of knowledge that must be leveraged managing sustainable operations . To to manage environmental change in be relevant, the museum must be clear the Arctic and maintain a wealth of in the value it provides to the scientific biodiversity in Canada and worldwide .
    [Show full text]
  • 2.8 Steamboats and Canals on the Ottawa River
    CULTURAL HERITAGE 105 2.8 Steamboats and Canals on the Ottawa River The Ottawa River was once the only way to access the Upper Ottawa Valley, to travel between Montreal and Ottawa and beyond. It was a viable option for military and commercial access to the Great Lakes. Before roads and even railways were built, the Ottawa River was literally the one and only highway, carrying merchandise, people, and mail in both directions. From Montreal, there were two Figure 2.63 Canoe on the River, 1841 main routes inland: the St. Lawrence – Great Lakes system, and the Ottawa River – Lake Nipissing – Georgian Bay to Upper Great Lakes route (Canadian Public Works Association 113). At first, canoes plied the waters of the Ottawa, carrying First Nations Peoples, explorers and voyageurs into the interior of the land. But the development of the lumber industry in the Ottawa Valley and the related settlement in its upper reaches soon required larger boats. These Source : Philip John Bainbrigge/Library and Archives Canada/C-011815 boats faced logistical challenges hoisting themselves up or around the many sections of chutes and rapids they encountered along the Ottawa. A series of canals, initially built for military purposes, facilitated the transportation of goods and people along the river. Figure 2.64 Steamer, “Duchess of York” Steamboats appeared on the Ottawa River during the construction of these canals, enabling a more reliable and efficient transportation system. The canals only circumvented certain rapids. Others, such as the Chaudiere Falls, still represent an Canada/C-003949 obstacle to navigation. Steamboats were therefore confined to particular sections of the river.
    [Show full text]