Bulletins

SMITHS FALLS, Ontario – May 17, 2024 – Parks Canada is pleased to welcome all new and returning visitors to the 192nd navigation season on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada.

Parks Canada offers 450,000 km² of stories, and the Rideau Canal has experiences for everyone. The Rideau Canal holds designations as a Canadian Heritage River, a Canadian National Historic Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the locks between Kingston and Ottawa’s National Capital Region connect more than one million visitors annually with incredible beauty, natural heritage, and modern Canadian memories.

Returning this year will be the ever-popular free “Learn-to Paddle” program at Hartwells Lock in Ottawa. Interested individuals should watch our website and social media channels as we gear up to present this ever-popular course from June 1 to September 2, 2024. What is “Learn-to Paddle” all about? Visit our website for more details here!

NEW THIS YEAR! Lock & Paddle comes to the Rideau Canal! What is Lock & Paddle? Find out more here then join Parks Canada and hundreds of paddlers across Ontario and Quebec for this free mass paddling event on the historic canals and waterways. Paddlers of all skill levels and backgrounds will simultaneously come together on Canada Parks Day (July 20) in three Canadian cities on three historic canals! Ottawa, Peterborough, and Montreal will all play host for this free, one-of-a-kind canoe and kayak community encounter. Celebrate with your family, friends and fellow paddlers in this one-of-a-kind “triple crown” of paddling fun.

This summer, we also invite you to stay a little longer and experience a one-of-a-kind overnight stay at our oTENTiks, Lockmaster’s Houses, and reservable camping sites. To book one of these unique and popular experiences, visit reservations.pc.gc.ca.

The safety of our visitors and staff continues to be of the utmost importance to Parks Canada. Boaters, paddlers, and swimmers are reminded that certain reaches continue to have higher-than-average flows and are asked to exercise caution. Floating debris may be present, and navigation aids may be off-station as we continue to monitor the navigation channels. Boaters are also advised to watch their wake and wash near shorelines to avoid damage to docks, boats and property.

We are closely following the progress of both the Carillon Canal in Quebec and the LaSalle Causeway in Kingston and will provide updates when they are available – in the meantime, boaters are invited to visit the following pages for the latest information.

Update on the Carillon Canal

Update on the LaSalle Causeway

Media wishing additional information are invited to contact us at the email below to arrange for an interview.