Going Places: 176th navigational season starts up on the Rideau Canal

Canada's Environment Minister and Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean John Baird recently launched the 176th season of uninterrupted service, and its first as a World Heritage Site, on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada.

"The Rideau Canal has become one of Canada's foremost recreational waterways; drawing boaters in the summer, skaters in the winter and canal enthusiasts all year-long. As a Member of Parliament from Ottawa, I am pleased to be here today, on behalf of the Government of Canada to launch the Rideau Canal's first complete operating season since it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site," said Minister Baird.

In May of 1832, Lt. Col. John By, his wife Esther and their two daughters, along with a group of officials, departed from Kingston on the steamboat "Pumper" to travel the 202 kilometre length of his newly created waterway. At the time of its construction, Rideau Canal builders could never have foreseen that their monumental engineering achievement would become a world-class destination.

Throughout the year 2008 Parks Canada will showcase Canada's newest World Heritage Site to Canada and the world. In partnership with various community partners, the Rideau Canal will launch many new initiatives and programs to provide high quality visitor experiences for the many people who visit the Rideau Canal each summer.

Designated a national historic site of Canada in 1925, the Rideau Canal, including property from three other national historic sites of Canada - Fort Henry, the Kingston Fortifications (including the Martello Towers) and the Merrickville Blockhouse, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2007.