Wednesday, July 20, 2022

My Canal

Article written by Anne-Marie Moran, Lockmaster at Carillon Canal National Historic Site

Before the Lachine Canal became navigable again, I used to pedal its 14 kilometres daily with my fellow patrollers. The bike path snaked along the grassy knolls under the Bonaventure Expressway, skirted the graffitied walls of the old Redpath factory and bypassed outdated locks where urban legends and 125 years of history flowed. A rumour was circulating within our team: the Lachine Canal would be restored for a reopening to navigation. Despite the photos and models of the various components of the project, it was impossible for me to imagine the embankment slopes under the Bonaventure Expressway being excavated and transformed into a huge navigable basin.

Two years later, in June 2002, I was in charge of the Saint-Gabriel lock, the third of the five restored and functional locks. In the heart of the cradle of industrialization in Canada, it was a pleasure boating frenzy. In this first year of operation, 4,624 boats passed through the gates of the brand-new locks to discover a clear body of water and a stunning view of downtown Montreal. While the boats were cruising at 10 km/h, the lock keepers were running behind the scenes to ensure the smooth operation of the facilities. In the summer of 2002, I learned the meaning of the word running-in, joined a dynamic team and ended the season by naming the Saint-Gabriel lock my lock. For several years, I returned to my post at the foot of the Des Seigneurs Bridge, which stood on its islet like a home port.

Twenty years later, the team has become an imposed family with a rich attachment. I am witnessing a canal that has flourished as its rich history goes on. Dug with picks and shovels in 1825, it is today the passing boaters, the lock keepers, the partners, the many visitors and the residents living on its banks who sketch the canal of tomorrow. I am proud to be part of this community that beats to the rhythm of the water.