Niagara shoreline and Fort Mississauga project update December 2023

Final phase of work underway on Niagara shoreline and Fort Mississauga

Parks Canada would like to advise that infrastructure investment work has begun on the final phase of construction to protect Fort Mississauga National Historic Site. The final phase of the project includes construction on the eastern side of the site of a new break wall and tree and shrub removal to protect the cultural heritage. Work will span approximately two years.

Break wall Construction: Parks Canada is committed to conserving the natural and cultural heritage of its special places, while ensuring safe, high-quality experiences for its visitors. To date, an approximate 600-metre stretch of break wall has been installed on the western shoreline of Fort Mississauga National Historic Site to combat erosion and stabilize the shoreline. An additional 500 metres of break wall will be constructed on the eastern shoreline of the site to continue this vital work.

Tree and shrub removal: To protect cultural heritage and prepare the shoreline for break wall installation, work will involve the removal of trees and shrubs. Similar to the western shoreline of Fort Mississauga National Historic Site, the eastern shoreline has many tree and shrub species that are non-native, would soon be compromised by ongoing erosion, and are in a position where root systems can damage archeology.

All Parks Canada projects are subject to environmental assessments to ensure appropriate ecological protection measures are in place, including the protection of wildlife and aquatic habitat, ensuring all necessary measures are taken to protect fish and fish habitat throughout the infrastructure work. As well, for this project, it has been confirmed that no species at risk trees are present. Any trees that are not impacting archaeology or are not at risk of being impacted by erosion and the subsequent construction activities will be preserved. All tree removals will occur outside of the bird nesting season to protect migratory birds and wildlife. New regionally sourced native trees and shrubs will be planted at the end of this project.

Parks Canada makes every effort to minimize disruptions caused by infrastructure work for its visitors and for important stakeholders like the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club. There may be some noise and some encroachment in localized areas for limited times, however, the work will be carefully staged and managed to cause minimal disruption to visitors and golf course users.

Visitor safety is of utmost importance to Parks Canada. During construction, visitors are asked to respect all onsite signage, keep a safe distance from construction crews and onsite equipment, and be aware of some minor disturbances, including intermittent trail closures and the moving of heavy machinery in the area.

The Government of Canada has earmarked $6 million in federal infrastructure funding to protect Fort Mississauga National Historic Site and to combat shoreline erosion. These federal infrastructure investment projects in heritage, visitor and waterway infrastructure ensure safe, high quality and meaningful experiences for visitors, enabling Canadians to discover nature and connect with history across the country.

Map displaying on site closures. The designated trail is not accessible in the affected closure area. Please use the grass to connect to the trail (in blue).