Old Slys Lock 26 and 27 Masonry Rehabilitation

In October 2018, work began on the first phase of the rehabilitation of Old Slys Locks 26 and 27 on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site. This project will be completed in two phases during the non-navigation season, and is expected to finish in spring 2020.

During the first phase, repairs were undertaken on the masonry outside of the chamber of both lock 26 and 27, as well as inside the chamber of Lock 26. Repairs included stone replacement, repointing, and grouting. Work was also  completed on the stop log gains, and the west wall . The second phase, scheduled to begin in fall 2019, will focus on repairs to heritage stone masonry within Lock 27 and its sluice tunnels. 

The rehabilitation of Old Slys Locks is part of Parks Canada’s infrastructure program, a $3 billion dollars investment over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. 

About Old Slys Lock 

This site’s namesake is William Sly, a settler who began developing the area in the early 1800’s. In the late 1820s, construction of the locks began. Plans were later modified to increase the size of the lock to accommodate large steamboats in the early 1830s. At this time, the dam was also raised by three feet and a waste weir was included in the plans to improve water management at the site. 

Communications

December 18, 2018 - Community Update: Ongoing Gate Replacements on the Rideau Canal
October 16, 2018 - Community Update: Stone Masonry Repairs to Begin