The Rideau Canal

The 202 km Rideau Canal was officially opened in the summer of 1832. 2007 marks the 175th Anniversary of the opening of the Rideau Canal, the oldest operating waterway in North America. Many events are planned to celebrate the occasion.

Rideau Canal 175th Anniversary - Events There are a number of events associated with this anniversary in Perth and surrounding towns and cities. Here is a list of events by date. Click on "Geographic List of Events" to see the listing by town.

Rideau Canal 175th Anniversary Brochure 2007 is 175th anniversary of the opening of the Rideau Canal, North America's oldest continuously operating waterway. Perth is connected to the Rideau Canal via the Tay Canal, winding up in the Tay turning basin in Downtown Heritage Perth. The Friends of the Rideau have made this brochure available to visitors.

This Parks Canada site provides a good history of the Rideau Canal The war of 1812 made it imperative for Canada to have safe access to the great lakes. The St.Lawrence waterway was at risk because the Americans occupied the south shore.

The "Friends of the Rideau" provide much useful information Books, souvenir merchandise, information, maps and much moreabout the Rideau waterway.

The Rideau Canal was confirmed as a World Heritage site in 2007 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) The 202 km Rideau Canal the only canal dating from the great North American canal-building era of the early 19th century to remain operational along its original line with most of its original structures intact. . The Canal joins more than 800 sites on the list of international cultural treasures.

The Tay Canal

In 1834, the Beveridges locksmore information on Lower Beveridges Lock 33 allowed access from the Rideau Canal to the Town of Perth.

The present day locks were built between 1883 and 1887, replacing the earlier set of wooden locks constructed in 1834. Locally the Tay Canal is known as "Haggart's Ditch" after John G. Haggart, local MP, who held the portfolio of Railways and Canals and who poured much government money into upgrading the Tay Canal and constructing the Beveridges locks.

Some interesting sites related to the Tay.

• THE FIRST TAY CANALAn Abortive Upper Canadian Transportation Enterprise of a Century Ago - By H. R. Morgan [Reprinted from Papers and Records, Vol. XXIX, Ontario Historical Society, 1933. Illustrated with postcards from the collection of the Perth Museum.]
• Human History of the Rideau - Ken Watson"Ten thousand years ago, following closely on the heels of the retreating glaciers, a strange looking animal, one that walked on two legs, appeared. Humans had arrived in the Rideau region. Archaeological records indicated that humans inhabited the area near present day Perth, on the shores of the ancient Champlain Sea (see Geology) as far back as 8,000 B.C. ..." Click to Read More....
• Friends of the Tay Watershed"Much more information about the Tay RiverWatershed - a watershed approximately 850 square kilometres in size. l" Click to Read More....
• Aerial photos of Perth - courtesy "Friends of the Tay Watershed"