Rideau Canal Wall Repairs

This project involves rehabilitation of a section of vertical concrete retaining wall that is part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site. The site is owned and operated by the Ontario Waterways Unit of the Parks Canada Agency. The project includes the rehabilitation of approximately 100 meters of the east canal wall section located along Colonel By Drive near Clegg Street, in Ottawa, Ontario. The proposed repairs would return the wall section to a "good condition" and includes replacement of the upper wall for a length of 84.6 meters, the replacement of an additional 16 m of coping, localized concrete repair, wall re-facing, excavation behind the canal wall (temporarily exposing high voltage electrical power line), replacement of railings, and re-paving of the multi-use pathway within the rehabilitation zone. In order to advance the work, a cofferdam system will be required on the water side to protect the construction area. It is anticipated that the contractor will place a temporary granular work pad inside the canal at the start of the drawdown period in fall 2026, with removal prior to the re-watering of the canal in spring 2027.

Latest update

May 29 2026 – Parks Canada intends to make a determination regarding whether the carrying out of the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Parks Canada is inviting public comments until June 28 2026 respecting that determination.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
1 New project being assessed by Parks Canada – Public comments invited from May 29 2026 to June 28 2026 - May 29, 2026

Contacts

Rideau Canal National Historic Site
34 Beckwith Street South
Smiths Falls, Ontario K7A 2A8
Telephone: 613-283-5170 or 1-888-773-8888
Fax: 613-283-0677
Email: rideau@pc.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Rideau Canal National Historic Site (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Recreation and Tourism
    • Maintenance activities (fences, walls)

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2026-05-29

  • Proponent

    Parks Canada

  • Authorities

    • Parks Canada Agency

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    90504

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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