|
|
Like arteries of the human body, Canada's canals have carried the lifeblood of our nation. They were built on and around the inland waterways along which our forefathers travelled - European explorers, fur traders, settlers, immigrants - and along which villages were built and communities were formed.
Inland Waterways
Though used primarily for recreation today, Canada's canals were originally constructed as artificial watercourses for inland navigation - built as improvements to natural waterways for embanking, straightening, dredging or overcoming elevational differences.
This stamp set features six of Canada's canals.
St. Peters Canal in Nova Scotia
The St. Peters Canal permits passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Bras d'Or Lake. This 91.4-metre-long waterway was used extensively during the 19th century for shipping coal from Sydney to maritime ports and transporting loads of limestone and gypsum to PEI and the United States.
The Lachine Canal in Quebec
The Lachine Canal is the oldest canal in Canada and, for many years, was one of the most active. It enabled ships travelling from the Atlantic Ocean through Montreal to bypass the Lachine Rapids en route to Lake St. Louis. Lined by masonry walls, the canal contained five locks operated electrically. Several bridges crossed over it, and three tunnels lay beneath it. Operational for over 130 years, the Lachine Canal was closed in 1970 - its use diminished by the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Chambly Canal, Quebec
The Chambly Canal was built to improve navigation on the Richelieu River, which flows from Lake Champlain north to the St. Lawrence. Opened in 1843, it enabled ships to bypass rapids on the Richelieu and enter Lake Champlain. Just under 12 miles long, the canal consisted of nine locks. It carried shiploads of newsprint headed to New York, and return cargo of coal, raw materials and package freight. The Chambly Canal closed in 1959.
St. Ours Canal, Quebec
The St. Ours Canal opened in 1849, six years after the Chambly Canal. A lock and dam were built above the mouth of the Richelieu to retain the waters of the river and to maintain a 2.13 metre depth between St. Ours and the lower entrance to the Chambly Canal.
Rideau Canal, Ontario
Built by the British Armys Royal Engineers, the Rideau Canal system is part of an alternate water route from Montreal to Kingston, created in the 19th century to enable British ships to avoid sailing near American guns situated on the New York side of the St. Lawrence River.
It was Lt. Col. John By who was given the task of constructing this elaborate waterway. The outcome was an outstanding display of civil engineering. Over five summers, some 2,000 men built 52 dams and 47 locks - spanning a distance of about 200 kilometres. Though never used for military purposes, the Rideau Canal opened the area to settlement and served as a commercial route well into the twentieth century. Today, it is enjoyed by numerous recreational boaters and skaters.
Port Carling Lock, Ontario
The Port Carling Lock links Lakes Rousseau and Muskoka, and helps travellers overcome the rapids on the Indian River.
Built originally in 1871 to facilitate the movement of floating timber and small steamboats, the locks on the Muskoka Lakes are now used by pleasure craft. They are busier today than ever before!
Sault Ste. Marie Canal, Ontario
The Sault Ste. Marie Canal, or Soo Canal as it is more commonly known, is the final link in an all-Canadian water route extending from the Atlantic to the head of Lake Superior. It was built to help ships overcome the rapid-infested St. Marys River. Until its construction, oxen had the task of hauling canoes and boats through the rapids.
The first canal was built in 1798, but it was destroyed by Americans in the War of 1812. A new canal was constructed in the late 1800s. The Soo Canal was the world's first inland waterway with an electrically powered lock, and it was the first one equipped with a self-contained power plant to operate lights along its length. The Soo Canal closed in 1987 due to structural problems.
Trent-Severn Waterway, Ontario
The Trent Canal system links Lake Ontario with Lake Huron. This 400-kilometre course includes over 50 kilometres of man-made channels, 44 locks, a marine railway and scores of buildings and dams. Two of the locks, at Peterborough and Kirkfield, are hydraulic-lift locks - unique in North America. The marine railway features a rail car which carries boats over the Big Chute Falls on the Severn River.
The Trent-Severn Waterway is still used today for lumbering, steamboating, power generation, and recreation.
History meets Modernity
The Canals stamp set is an exquisite collection of scenic scapes that blends illustrations of historic canals with images of modern recreational use.
The series consists of a pane of 10 stamps, with the Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway featured twice. On the selvedge, a summary relief map displays the locations of all six canals and the bodies of water they connect.
| Denomination | 10 X 45¢ |
| Layout | Booklet of 10 stamps |
| Product Nos. | Unsealed booklet: 413361111 ($4.50) Sealed booklet: 113361 ($4.50) |
| Date of Issue | 17 June 1998 |
| Last Day of Sale | 16 June 1999 |
| Design | Carey George, Dean Martin |
| Illustration | Vince McIndoe |
| Printer | Ashton Potter |
| Quantity | 10,300,000 stamps |
| Dimensions | 30 mm x 45 mm (vertical) |
| Perforation | 13+ |
| Gum Type | P.V.A. |
| Paper Manufacturer | Tullis Russell Coatings (Coated) |
| Printing Process | Lithography (ten colours) |
| Tagging | General tagged four sides |
| Official First Day Cover (OFDC) Cancellation Product No. | PETERBOROUGH ON 413361131 |
© Canada Post Corporation
Errors and omissions excepted.
