New canoe, kayak docks part of $57M federal investment in Rideau Canal

Kayakers,canoeists and stand up paddleboardersin Ottawa will soon have access to two new launchpoints on the Rideau Canal.

Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna, whose environment and climate change portfolio makes herthe minister responsible for Parks Canada, made the announcement after portaging a canoe to the site of the first dock atPattersonCreek in the Glebe.

"It's a way of celebrating the natural beauty that we have here in Ottawa," said McKenna.

The second dock will be installed on the east side of the canal at Clegg Street in Old Ottawa East.

Both docks are expected to be available for public use on May 20, and will be operated this summeras pilotprojects until Thanksgiving Day on Oct.10.

McKenna said more docks could follow.

"If it goes well, then we may be able to have other access points, which I think would be really exciting."

Years of lobbying

Representatives from nearby community associations were on hand for Tuesday's launch, includingPhyllis Odenbach-Sutton, president of theOttawa East Community Association, which has lobbied for years for the new access points.

She described the effort needed to launch a canoe over the Rideau Canal railing: "Throw it over, straight up, straight down, climb very precariously over or through the railings. To actually be able to go to a dock and launch will be wonderful."

Odenbach-Sutton and her counterpart at the Glebe Community Association,Christine McAllister, took advantage of the new dock at Patterson to launch a canoe and join McKenna in a flotilla travelling to downtown Ottawa.

'It'sa very good start'

The government says the new paddle docks are part of a series of infrastructure investmentsalong the length of the Rideau Canal, between Ottawa and Kingston, totalling $57 million.

The money will be spent torepairand rehabilitatebridges, locks, dams and visitor facilities.

"By Parks Canada's own assessment, some of it's in not very good shape, it's in poor condition, it needs attention right away," saidHunterMcGill, chair of the boardof thevolunteer group Friends of theRideau.

McGillsaid Tuesday's announcementiswelcomenews for the UNESCO world heritage site.

"It's a very good start. It's a really impressive commitment by the government, by the minister, to restoring, renovating and protecting this heritage structure."

Mobile users tap here to see a map of this upcoming Rideau Canal work.