Engineering CAD Technicians work with engineers to build highways, bridges, and buildings – some of which have even become iconic historical sites. In Canada, we’re lucky enough to have several engineering marvels that are recognized worldwide. From the CN Tower to the Confederation Bridge, Canadians have a lot to be proud of when it comes to inspiring feats of engineering.
One of our most famous landmarks is also one of our oldest: the Rideau Canal. The canal was designed in the 1800s and stretches over 200 km. Today, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is among the most prominent canals in the world.
If you plan to enroll in CAD courses, read on to learn the story behind the engineer and the canal that significantly changed Canada.
The Need for a Canal Along the Rideau River
Often, when professionals with CAD training are asked to tackle a project, it’s because there’s an issue that is in need of an innovative solution. For instance, the CN Tower gave Toronto better broadcast signals, and the Confederation Bridge connected Prince Edward Island to mainland Canada. When it came to the Rideau Canal; however, the challenge was quite different.
Canada and the United States had gone to war in 1812, and, during this war, Canadian officials realized how vulnerable the St. Lawrence was to an American blockade. Canadians relied on the St. Lawrence as a trade route between Kingston and Montreal. And so, even though they had won the war, officials still wanted to create a secure route between Montreal and Kingston that bypassed the St. Lawrence.
Surveying the Site of the Canal
The only potential alternative to the St. Lawrence was the Rideau River. But, in order for the Rideau River to be of any commercial use, it required some significant modifications; two waterfalls and narrow sections made the river impossible to pass.
In 1821, the river was surveyed by the civil engineer Samuel Clowes, who decided that the Rideau River could be turned into a useful trade route for the absurdly low cost of £62,258. British politicians weren’t keen on building a canal along the Rideau River. As far as they were concerned, relations with the US had cooled since the war, and the project of building a canal in Canada didn’t seem worth the trouble.
However, the low estimate, as well as the advice of several key figures, finally won the project a green light and in 1826 Lieutenant Colonel John By was hired to design the Rideau Canal.
Building the Rideau Canal
The construction of the Rideau Canal started in 1827 and lasted until 1832. Thousands of Irish and French Canadian carpenters, stone masons, and other laborers were hired to work on the canal, but construction was difficult for several reasons.
First, the canal ran through what was then mostly untamed swampland. Houses for laborers had to be built, and huge swaths of land cleared before construction could take place. On top of that, John By realized that the locks of the canal needed to be redesigned. The original concept for the locks couldn’t handle the new steamboats that were being used in Canada, and By didn’t want the canal to be outdated before it was even finished.
Problems with contractors also drove up the cost of construction, until the Rideau Canal was finally completed for £800,000. While the final cost was still reasonable for such a large undertaking, it was so far off the original estimate that By was disgraced.
The Rideau Canal Today
Although the Rideau Canal was built for military reasons, the United States never did go to war with Canada again, and so it never served its intended purpose. Fortunately, though, the canal was still used as an important trade route for decades.
Today, the Rideau Canal attracts tourists from around the world who skate on it during the winter and fish and canoe along the canal in the summer. You could even visit the Rideau Canal during your summer break from your CAD courses.
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