"Completed in 1895, this canal formed the last link in
an all-Canadian navigation system stretching from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Superior. Designed and
built by Canadians, the canal incorporated several engineering innovations. It was the world's longest
lock and the first to operate with electrical power. It was also novel in using an emergency swing
bridge dam to protect the lock in case of accident. Electricity was generated on site in the powerhouse.
Closed in 1987 owing to a lock wall failure, the canal was equipped with a modern lock and opened for
recreational use in 1998." Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, 1998
