Lachine Canal

On Earth Day and every day, let's change our habits for a brighter future. #EarthDay2021

It's hard to believe it today, but summer is coming! The water level of the canal between lock chambers No. 1, 2 and 3 (from the Old Port to Côte-Saint-Paul) has been stabilized as planned today. Quick reminder: the water level in lock chamber No. 4 will gradually start to increase on April 28 and will be completely filled by May 5.

Thanks to our fan Joao for brighten up our grey days!

They keep us company, help reduce our stress and share our daily life . On Pet Day, show your little ones how much you appreciate the love and support they give you by sharing your photos with us!

The beautiful season is approaching! And good weather means a fully filled canal! In anticipation of the next navigation season, the water level from locks No. 1 to No. 4 will be stabilized by April 21. The raising of the water level at Lock No.5 will take place from April 28 to May 5.

Fan photo Friday! Psst...we almost used all of our fan photos. Help us fill up our photo library! ... No one has a better eye for it than you! : Mathieu Morin

What's better than fossils for a #TBT? Virtual classes continue with École en réseau! If you think traveling in time is impossible, think again! With the fossils of the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve which are more than 450 million years old, the leap in time has never been so accessible. ... Join our expert from Mingan Park on April 21 at 1:15 p.m. for an enriching and educational workshop. Go here to register your class before April 20: https://bit.ly/3sY5VIf.

JOB OPPORTUNITY Our Visitor Experience team is looking for two rare gems to complement the summer programming! Apply today here: https://bit.ly/3fQtezZ.

Planting Seeds for Wildlife From today until April 10, we invite you to participate in National Wildlife Week by planting one seed a day! Visit the Canadian Wildlife Federation to find out more https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/national-wildlife-week/ #DoMoreForWildlife

Who says April 1st, says April Fools! For this occasion, we are going to play a little game with you: guess which statement is wrong and tell us in the comments. 1The Lachine Canal has the first cyclo-pedestrian roundabout on the island of Montreal. 2The cycle path runs along the canal for 20 kilometers. 3The mural at Hangar 1825 took a month to complete.

Did you know that on March 31, we are celebrating National Indigenous Languages Day? Indigenous languages hold the keys to irreplaceable culture, knowledgeable worldviews and intimate understandings about the environment, intergenerational knowledge, and the history of the landscape we know as Canada.

Start a new career at Parks Canada as Technical Services Coordinator! Join a diverse team that takes pride in protecting and preserving Canada's natural and cultural treasures! To apply today : http://ow.ly/j7bi30rCLlx

You still have a few days left to take advantage of the early bird discount on your lockage and mooring permits Learn more here : http://ow.ly/lCL630rvs7K

On this Canada History Week, let’s remember the important role the Lachine Canal and its industries played in Canada’s economic development. The canal is now a place of pleasure boating and leisure, but its initial purpose was completely different. When the canal was opened in 1825, there were 7 locks and the canal was 14,6 m wide. The canal linked the Atlantic to the Great Lakes, but only small ships could cross the canal. Because of the high demand, it has been enlarged... twice; from 1843 to 1848 and from 1874 to 1885. The second widening gave the locks their actual size. These operations allowed the exploitation of hydraulic power and the implantation of multiple manufacturing industries. Between 1846 and 1945, about 800 companies from manufacturing industries were located close to the canal! Its history as the St. Lawrence Seaway, marine terminal, supplier of hydraulic power, and industrial complex made the Lachine Canal the cradle of Canadian industrialization in addition to being a structuring element of the island of Montréal’s southwest. Parks Canada is proud to contribute to the conservation and commemoration of our heritage.

JOB OPPORTUNITY Lockmaster I & II Chambly and Lachine Seasonal (permanent and temporary), transfer, acting, assignment Closing date: November 22, 11:59 P.M (PT)... Apply online here https://bit.ly/35yxajv. See more

On this Remembrance Day, we celebrate the war effort of Montrealers who worked hard to support our troops during the World Wars. The factories around the Lachine Canal played an important role during the World Wars because of their importance and diversity. The manufacturers of the canal were quickly mobilized to produce ammunition, food, clothes, and a wide range of goods. ... The shipyards were solicited to build military ships. Among these shipyards, there is the Canadian Power Boat Company. From 1941 to 1947, women and men contributed to the war effort building small Motor Torpedo Boats (also called MTB) for the Royal Canadian Navy. These boats played an important role in the sea battles along the European coast. Dominion Bridge expertise has been useful for Allied troops. This factory known for bridge structures and railroads has diversified his operations to contribute to the war efforts. Barges and ships were built in the factory during both wars. The labour shortage brought the steel factory to hire women, even if these jobs were still considered too physical or technical for them at the time. During World War I, the Dominion Bridge paid them on the equal pay for equal work rule.

The most observant among you will have noticed that the water level has recently been lowered in some areas of the canal. This is because winter maintenance work and repairs to the canal's marine structures are being prepared, as is the case here at Lachine Lock No. 5. Don't worry about the aquatic fauna; at the beginning of the week, our teams relocated approximately 1500 fish, which were taken out of the lock waters before being released upstream from the shore. To learn more about this, it's right here: https://bit.ly/3loZZnP.

Fan photo Friday! It is getting darker earlier, but that is not necessarily a bad thing for the regulars of the canal's banks. : Johanne.

On this Canada’s History Week, let’s test your knowledge! While the Lachine Canal was already in operation, the pursuit of additional ways around the Lachine rapids continued with the help of the newest technology of the time: trains. In what year was Montreal’s first railway inaugurated? a. 1830 b. 1847 c. 1860... Fun fact: This train, going at more than 40 km/h, made the 13 km trip from Bonaventure station to Lachine in 21 minutes! See more

#TriviaTuesday! Which of these bridges do not span the Lachine Canal? A. Pont Wellington B. Pont Monk C. Pont Lafleur... D. Pont Latulipe See more

Fan photo Friday! The canal’s sceneries are perfect every season! Thanks to Peter for sharing.

Special #ThrowbackThursday! When we posted an archival photo of a ship moored to a wharf in the Old Port, little did we know that the son of that ship's captain would recognize it and delve into his memories from 57 years ago to tell us its story: https://bit.ly/2UEEbsD. Little coaster has come a long way with this story! ... Special thanks to Mr. Desgagnés for sharing it with us.

Happy Halloween! It's well known that this party is nothing without its classic bedtime stories! Here's one with a navigation theme that we dusted off for the occasion. There are countless stories of ghost ships or supernatural vessels, but the most famous is undoubtedly the one about the ship named the Flying Dutchman. ... In the 1821 version of the legend, a ship rounded the Cape of Good Hope, the southern tip of Africa, and suddenly ran into a terrible storm. The crew begs the captain to give the order to anchor in a sheltered cove. Not only does the captain refuse, but he mocks their fears and declares that he is not afraid of anything, neither on land nor in the sky. The captain then locks himself in his cabin to drink and smoke his pipe. When the storm worsens, the captain challenges God to sink his ship. A luminous shape then appears on the deck. The crew is terrorized, but as usual, the captain shows neither fear nor respect. He says, "Who would like to pass quietly? Not me, I do not ask you anything. Disappear if you don't want me to blow your brains out." The captain then takes out his pistol and shoots the form, but the pistol explodes in his hand. Then the form casts a spell on the captain. He is condemned to sail forever, without respite. "And since it pleases thee so much to torment the sailors, thou shalt torment them, for thou shalt be the evil spirit of the sea. Your ship will bring misfortune to those who see it." Extract from: Cohen, Daniel and Robert Laffont. 1984. Encyclopedia of Ghosts.

To wrap up Women History Month, here’s our source of inspiration of the day: Béatrice. 1- Briefly describe your background. I grew up on a farm on the shores of the Atlantic. On this Breton beach where I learned to swim and where I also set foot for the first time on a schooner, looking at the horizon, I told myself: "one day I will go to America". So I arrived in Quebec alone to do my doctoral thesis in social sciences on the quality of public services at home for elder...ly people in "loss of autonomy". I decided to take my (well-deserved!) post-doctoral break by sailing in the Caribbean for 3 months as a volunteer hostess and not as a captain! That's when I had the impulse to want to structure the nautical resources in Quebec. I then set up 15 nautical regions and worked with more than a thousand stakeholders including Parks Canada in Quebec. Passionate about navigation, bodies of water and networking, I am pursuing my mission to promote the historic canals for Parks Canada's Quebec Waterways Unit. 2- What are you most proud of? My unusual background is very complementary in my way of looking at life and advancing my career, but also in my way of thinking and acting. I am tough and resilient, surrounded by an extraordinary network of which I am very proud! 3- What has helped or served you the most in your career? My authenticity, my transparency and my sense of humor. 4- What advice would you give a young woman? Listen to your heart, intuition and trust yourself.

Happy fan photo Friday! : Johanne.

To highlight Women History Month, we continue to showcase our colleagues! Here is today’s source of inspiration: Judith. 1- Briefly describe your background. I love telling stories, especially about the environment. That's what led me to study journalism and then to create multimedia web content for Radio-Canada's specialty channel ICI EXPLORA, as well as for Parks Canada. I am currently working as a communications and public relations officer (social media) for La Ma...uricie National Park. I left Montreal to settle in Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc, near the park and in the middle of the forest. I have always wanted to work creatively, close to people and nature. I am fulfilled! I thrive on popularizing everything I learn from the passionate people I meet. 2- What are you most proud of? Show the public what my colleagues are doing for La Mauricie National Park and share the beauty of the place. 3- What has helped or served you the most in your career? My passion for nature keeps on feeding the content I create. 4- What advice would you give a young woman? Follow your passion, because it becomes contagious.

To conclude our round of thanks, we would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of our colleagues in the field who, in the context of the pandemic, were able to demonstrate ingenuity, patience and flexibility while, like all of us, their daily lives were turned upside down! Hats off to you and thank you for the smiles we saw under your masks throughout the 2020 season!

Thanks to Tourisme région Sorel-Tracy for this great love wave for the tourism industry! We return the congratulations for this one of a kind season. (post in French)

Did you know that October is Women History Month? To highlight the occasion and also because we all need motivation during this difficult period, we wanted to share our colleagues point of views on their careers and what they are mostly proud of. Our first source of #inspiration is Julie. 1- Briefly describe your path. Of a literary nature, I studied in that sense. Having to make up for the obligations, I had to turn to a job that could offer me stability. The job of assi...stant seemed to me to be the ideal profile. You can work anywhere, in any sector, and I had the required skills. 2- What are you most proud of? I’m proud to say that times have changed. We emerged from stereotypes that came (and still comes, sometimes) with this job. There is a recognition of the work. It allows initiative to prove your skills and expertise. 3- What has helped or served you the most in your career? My system D, my adaptability and my openness to change have served me well since this is a constantly evolving field. Being an assistant means being at the heart of the action. 4- What advice would you give a young woman? The work of an administrative assistant is an important link and he or she has all the knowledge on management issues without carrying the decision-making pressure. With experience and motivation, this job can evolve very quickly. The only limit to your possibilities is your knowledge, so learn as much as you can.

National parks , historic sites and marine conservation areas help share the story of . Now you can help write the next chapter . Share your thoughts on key priorities with us by participating in the Minister’s Round Table until October 30 https://letstalkparkscanada.ca/. #2020MRT Parks Canada

We thanked our partners and dealers for a season out of the ordinary, but we did not forget YOU! We wish to thank all the boaters and visitors of the Lachine Canal for their collaboration and patience throughout this exceptional 2020 season. We can’t wait to see you again next spring!

The 2020 season has been challenging! We had to be patient and adapt quickly to the measures in place. We want to thank our partners and dealers of the Lachine Canal for their collaboration and for an exceptional season. See you all next year!

Fan photo Friday! It this what we would call the light at the end of the tunnel? Thanks to Olivier for sharing.

#TriviaTuesday! What do the Gauron Bridge and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge have in common? A - The same construction technology was used B - The same company designed both bridges... C - They were built in the same year See more

We wish all of our fans a happy Thanksgiving! : RunningMontreal via Instagram

This Thanksgiving long weekend is probably not what we all wished for. To get your mind off of it a little, we offer you these games created by our Learn-to camp team! To download them https://bit.ly/2Sv5Z1l.

Fan photo Friday! What a beautiful view of the Château Saint-Ambroise! Thanks to Myrianne for sharing.