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WHAT'S NEW on the Rideau Web Site
October 2024
- Added the 2024 boat traffic statistics to the Statistics Page
- Added a letter of concern from Rideau Canal staff concerning Parks Canada under-resourcing the Rideau Canal compared to the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW). Parks Canada Ontario Waterway's management and much of its staff is concentrated in Peterborough, leaving the Rideau shortchanged. It is a significant issue, Parks Canada is paying a lot more attention and resourcing to the TSW than it is to the Rideau Canal. You can Read the Letter Here.
- Added details about the Lasalle Causeway, including clarification of the east channel fixed bridge clearance, to the Statistics Page (see endnotes below statistics table)
- all sorts of little updates over the spring/summer
January 2024
October 2023
September 2023
- Added a new section to the website, Talking Up the Rideau, which contains audio files for a car tour of the Rideau Canal. This audio tour was produced in 1982 by Gordon Cullingham and Janet Irwin and it is narrated by Patrick Watson. Although now dated, it still provides a great deal of interesting information about the Rideau Canal. You'll find it on the Talking Up the Rideau page.
June 2023
- Added a new article about How Much of the Rideau Canal is Manmade. This is an article that looks into how much of the Rideau Canal consists of excavated cuts compared to natural waters and flooded natural features (i.e. existing gullys). For instance, in Ottawa (Ottawa Locks to Hogs Back Locks), only 62% of that section is excavated with the other 38% consisting of flooded natural features. For this and other articles of interest see the Articles of Interest Page
January 2023
- Added a new article about the Rideau Lockstation Offices. Purpose built lockstation offices date back to the 1870s. The design of these have changed over the year, including several lockstations today that feature a more modern, 1970s design. This article looks at how these have changed over time. For this and other articles of interest see the Articles of Interest Page
- Added a new article about the Rideau Contractors. An article about the contractors who were tasked with building various sections of the Rideau Canal between 1827 and 1832. For this and other articles of interest see the Articles of Interest Page
- I've updated my Save Our Rideau section with the new Rideau Canal Management Plan, which was released in mid-December 2022. While Parks Canada generally does a very good job at running the Rideau Canal as a recreational waterway, keeping it properly operating with visitors greeted by friendly staff, they do an extremely poor job of following their legislated requirements in terms of cultural heritage and the environment. The protection and presentation of cultural and natural heritage are the reasons Parks Canada is running the Rideau Canal, not the Department of Transport (as was the case prior to 1972). They stopped following their legislated mandate in 2012 when they re-organized into a Waterways unit. See my Save Our Rideau site for more info.
October 2022
July 2022
- I have made my book, The Rideau Route, available as a free PDF download. See The Rideau Route Section. The cost of re-printing a hard copy is now too expensive, so only the digital copy is available.
May 2022
Febuary 2022
- Posted various 2022 updates - Rideau hours & fees, Paddling Guide, general Rideau guide, etc.
- Added Chaffey's Lock to the Community History page
October 2021
April 2021
- I've posted several other submissions regarding the new Rideau Canal Management Plan plus several letters I've written (UNESCO, Prime Minister, Minister of Environment and to the CEO of Parks Canada) regarding the many problems with the heritage and ecological management of the Rideau Canal. See my Save Our Rideau website
March 2021
- I've posted my detailed critique of the very poorly done draft management plan for the Rideau Canal. See my Save Our Rideau website
February 2021
- I've posted my updated 2021 Paddling Guide for the Rideau Canal. This version now includes a set of suggested trip itineraries for paddlers who wish to transit the Rideau Canal (Kingston to Ottawa). See the Paddling Guide Page
January 2021
- I've posted the new draft management plan for the Rideau Canal to my Save Our Rideau website. The draft plan has very serious issues in terms of cultural heritage and ecology, which are legally mandated requirements for Parks Canada, which it has been ignoring on the Rideau Canal since management restructuring in 2012 and has failed to address in the new plan.
December 2020
October 2020
April 2020
- APRIL 15 - Parks Canada WILL NOT be opening the Rideau Canal (or any National Historic Site/Park) until AT LEAST June 1, 2020. Updates from Parks Canada will be posted here as they become known.
- I've added a link to some virtual reality videos done as part of TVO's "slow TV" show, Tripping the Rideau, of a journey on the Rideau Canal. These videos can be panned 360 degrees by using your mouse, or if on a smartphone, by simply moving the phone, or, for full immersion, by the use of a VR headset. See: Tripping the Rideau Canal - VR 360 Experience.
January 2020
- Researchers from Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Sherbrooke are using an NSERC Strategic Partnership Grant to do an innovative research project to enhance our understanding of the natural ecosystems of the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn waterways, as well as the impacts (positive and negative) of human activities and decision making on the waterways. For information about the project see: historicwaterways.wixsite.com/research
- I don't normally post heritage issues relating to Parks Canada's heritage mismanagement of the Rideau Canal here, but I received a very disappointing reply from Mr. Ron Hallman, the new President and CEO of Parks Canada. That reply indicates that Mr. Hallman has apparently has no interest in the heritage presentation of its National Historic Sites, a legislated mandate of Parks Canada. This despite Ministerial directives to do so. While I assume that Mr. Hallman simply rubber stamped a self-serving reply written by Ontario Waterways, it's still disappointing that the new CEO apparently supports Parks Canada continuing to ignore its legislated heritage requirements on the Rideau Canal. My Heritage Report Card for the Rideau Canal remains with a grade of D-. See my Save Our Rideau site for details.
December 2019
- I've donated my book Engineered Landscapes to the website History of Parks Canada Electronic Library (ParksCanadaHistory.com) where it will be available as a free download. ParksCanadaHistory is a private website, not affiliated with Parks Canada. It is much like rideau-info.com, simply a one person volunteer effort to get valuable information about Parks Canada sites out to the public (something that Parks Canada does not do, it has no digitization program). It's a tremendous public service, well worth a visit for anyone interested in learning more about Parks Canada sites (all sorts of research material)
October 2019
September 2019
- Posted an updated version of my Paddling Guide to the Rideau Canal - see the Paddling Guide Page
April - August 2019
March 2019
January 2019
- Added an article about Rideau Myths to the Articles of Interest Page. For years now I’ve been trying, with limited success, to beat down misconceptions about the building of the Rideau Canal. Certain erroneous beliefs are persistent. Many people still think that the malaria that affected the workers was brought to this area by British soldiers and that it was unique to the Rideau – that’s incorrect on both counts. Many people think that workers who died were buried in unmarked graves – they weren’t. Many people think that the Rideau construction camps were like a gulag with a callous disregard for the worker – they weren’t. See Rideau Myths
December 2018
- Posted version 2.0 of my Paddling Guide to the Rideau Canal. I've added a new section to the guide, the 10,000 year history of paddling the canal, the surveys of the route and the development of the paddling route we have today (which wasn't the original route). The intent of this new section of the guide is to give the Rideau paddler a sense of their place in the long history of paddling the Rideau waterway.
The Rideau Canal is much more than just a simple recreational waterway, it's filled with history and you'll get a sense of that from the guide. Of note, the 182 page paddling guide (PDF download) is also of great use to any boater. It's free so check it out today!
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
- The lack of rainfall and high temperatures is resulting in continued water level declines in the southern Rideau (Newboro to Kingston Mills). Navigation levels are below normal in the southern part of the Rideau Canal. Current and forecasted draft can be found on the Parks Canada Water Management InfoNet - Available Draft
July 2018
- 19 July 2018: The lack of rainfall and high temperatures is resulting in continued water level declines in the southern Rideau (Newboro to Kingston Mills). Navigation levels are normal now but are forecast to drop below minimum navigation level in places next week (Monday 23 July 2018: projected 4 feet 8 inches). Forecasted draft can be found on the Parks Canada Water Management InfoNet - Available Draft
- While we on the Rideau Canal know that we have the best and friendliest lockstaff in the world - it was nice to get some unbiased confirmation of that from an American boater - to quote "Lockkeepers are the best we've encountered in several countries including
France, England, Scotland, and Holland. They were helpful, knowledgeable,
and extremely friendly" - DJ, Alexandria, Virginia, 2018.
April 2018
- Not new on my site, but new on the Parks Canada Rideau Canal website is water level information. See the Water Management Infonet: www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/rideau/info/infonet
- Parks Canada has announced a 50% discount on a season lock pass for canoes and kayaks for the 2018 season
- As part of their free admission day program, Parks Canada is offering free lockage on the Rideau Canal on Sunday, June 24, 2018. There is another free lockage day on Sunday, July 1, 2018 in celebration of Canada Day.
December 2017
November 2017
- The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking to purchase 120 acres (including 2.5 km of shoreline) on Whitefish
Lake, 16 km north of Kingston in the Township of Rideau Lakes, Leeds County. It is well worth making a donation to protect this piece of the Rideau Canal forever. To find out more about this project see: www.natureconservancy.ca/whitefish-lake
October 2017
August 2017
- Added a new Tale of the Rideau: Malaria - The Secret Immigrant. Many know that malaria affected the workforce during the building of the canal. But if you think it was tropical malaria brought here by British soldiers you would be wrong. It was a form of temperate malaria already existing in Ontario. See Malaria - The Secret Immigrant
- Updated the Memorials and Markers Page with information on the "new" Royal Sappers and Miners Cemetery in Newboro (formerly called the Old Presbyterian Cemetery)
June 2017
- Updated my report card (slight downgrade) for the Rideau Canal on my Save Our Rideau website: www.SaveOurRideau.ca
- Added links to some sources of Indigenous Peoples (First Nations) information on the links page
March 2017
- Posted a direct link to the Parks Canada free lockpass ordering page on the fees page
February 2017
- Added a link to the Parks Canada National Library (which now holds all the Rideau books - local Parks Canada libraries on the Rideau Canal were removed in 2013). You'll find that link on the Rideau Bibliography Page
January 2017
Nov - Dec 2016
October 2016
- Added the 2016 boat traffic statistics to the Statistics Page
- Due to drought conditions, the available draft in shallow sections of the southern Rideau (Kingston to Poonamalie) is low.
Projected minimum draft in the Kingston to Narrows section to October 10, 2016 is 4 feet 6 inches for Kingston to Newboro and 4 feet 8 inches for Newboro to Narrows and 4 feet 11 inches for Narrows to Poonamlie. Draft from Poonamalie to Ottawa is normal.
Boaters travelling within this section of the Rideau Canal whose vessels draw greater than four (4) feet should contact Rideau Canal Staff at RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca for timely information on water levels and available draft.
- Completely revamped my Save Our Rideau website. The site now follows a report card I did regarding Parks Canada's heritage administration of the Rideau, they get a D+ (2.6 out of 5) at the moment. The clear fails are things such as public education and research with low scores also going to heritage interpretation, site management and heritage landscape protection. You can see the "new" Save Our Rideau site and the report card at: www.SaveOurRideau.ca.
August/September 2016
- Due to drought conditions, the available draft in shallow sections of the southern Rideau (Kingston to Newboro) continues to drop.
Projected minimum draft in the Kingston to Narrows section to September 23, 2016 is 4 feet 3 inches for Kingston to Newboro and 4 feet 8 inches for Newboro to Narrows.
Boaters travelling within this section of the Rideau Canal whose vessels draw greater than four (4) feet should contact Rideau Canal Staff at RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca for timely information on water levels and available draft.
July 2016
- Effective immediately (July 22), the available draft in the southern section (from Newboro Lockstation to Lake Ontario) of the Rideau Canal is reduced from the standard five (5) feet.
This reduction is necessary to ensure safe navigation and is the result of low water levels due to a lack of precipitation and evaporation caused by unseasonably high temperatures.
Boaters travelling within this section of the Rideau Canal whose vessels draw greater than four (4) feet should consult the Parks Canada website or contact Rideau Canal Staff at RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca for timely information on water levels and available draft.
Navigation in the northern section (Ottawa River to Newboro Lockstation including the Tay Canal) of the Rideau Canal is not impacted and boat traffic can continue to move freely throughout this area.
UPDATE(August 5, 2016): Projected minimum draft in the Kingston to Newboro section to August 12, 2016 is 4 feet 5 inches.
May 2016
- To help celebrate Canada's 150th birthday, Parks Canada will be providing free lockage on the Rideau Canal (and the other historic canals that they administer) in 2017. See www.pc.gc.ca/eng/voyage-travel/admission.aspx
- I've made a few updates to my Save Our Rideau website. I've posted information about the new infrastructure funding. While it still falls short of what is needed, and what Parks Canada has promised, it is an historic amount for capital funding for the Rideau Canal - a very good start.
The same can't be said for the letter I received from the Minister (185 days after I sent my letter to her) - essentially a blow-off letter that, with the sole exception of infrastructure funding, didn't address any of the issues I raised. Parks Canada continues along the course set by the previous government, the current government has yet to deal with the many problems that has created. It's disappointing to see the Minister sign off on such a letter - she either didn't read it or doesn't understand the issues <sigh> See the Save Our Rideau website.
- I've been adding new galleries of my Rideau photos to the Friends of the Rideau Facebook page. See www.facebook.com/rideaufriends/
March 2016
January 2016
November 2015
- I've written a letter to the new minister in charge of Parks Canada. See the Save Our Rideau website for a copy of the letter
October 2015
September 2015
- I've posted a report titled "The De-Evolution of Parks Canada" all about how Parks Canada has abandoned their legislated heritage mandate for the Rideau Canal,
a National Historic Site of Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a detailed look at how Parks Canada has gone from a shining example as the steward of our natural and cultural heritage sites to a tourism agency that has abandoned its legislated heritage mandate.
As I note in the report, dealing with these issues is not something I like to do – I'd much rather be telling people about the wonders and rich history of the Rideau Canal, but it is critical that people speak up in defence of our Canadian heritage. The Rideau Canal is an important part of our Canadian heritage, it’s an important part of this region of Ontario and it deserves better from the Government of Canada. See:
"The De-Evolution of Parks Canada" (PDF)
August 2015
- Added a new Tale of the Rideau - this one about the Dead Lock on Opinicon Lake - the tale of a Rideau lock started but not completed, a "dead lock." It has a interesting back stories (three in fact) and the site can be visited today. I'm still tweaking the tale, but I figured I should make it public sooner than later to allow people more time to visit the site this year. See The Dead Lock.
June 2015
March 2015
- 2 for 1 Promotion: May 15 until June 30, 2015 - Parks Canada has an early summer promotion of two for one for select types of lockages. Coupons are being offered that can be applied to a single lockage and return or a one day lockage. The details on how exactly it works are a bit fuzzy, but you can see the details on the Parks Canada website at: Parks Canada 2 for 1 Promotion.
February 2015
January 2015
Comments: send me email: Ken Watson
©1996- Ken W. Watson
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