Book Description

This study presents a brief history of the Ottawa River canal system from the time construction began until 1963. Although the Carillon Canal (a national historic park) would normally have been the focal point of such an undertaking, a specific study of this canal proved virtually impossible owing to the lack of information pertaining to its initial construction period. Records of the commercial use of the canal over the years were equally sparse. Fortunately, however, the history of the Carillon Canal is closely linked with that of several other canals (the Vaudreuil, St. Anne's, Chute-a-Blondau, and Grenville canals) constructed on the lower Ottawa River in the early 19th century. As a consequence this study encompasses the entire Ottawa River canal system.