The Lachine Canal in 1920

History

Diagram showing the canal pass through Montreal's boroughs

However, while the Lachine canal proved an enormous boon for Montreal and the province of Quebec, time would show that for Canada's Maritime Provinces, it was the first major nail in that region's economic coffin.

A bridge over the Lachine Canal, in sight of downtown Montreal

Close up view of locks

National Historic Site

The canal has been designated as a National Historic Site, officially named the Lachine Canal National Historic Site. The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site is located near the western end of the canal.

Development

Over the last two decades, the canal has seen a large increase in residential and commercial development. In what was originally a very heavy industrial neighbourhood, Point St. Charles and St. Henri have become very up and coming districts. House values have sky rocketed and many real estate developers have turned the century old industrial factories and wearhouses, like that of Dominion Textiles (5524 St-Patrick Street, now Complexe Dompark) & Siemons Matresses (4710 St-Ambroise Street, now Complexe Canal Lachine) into prestigious loft buildings. Montreal real estate developer Adam Cutler co-owned more than 1,000,000 sq/ft of Canal front property from the early 90s until 2003. Complexe Dompark recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and now houses more than 90 multimedia, fashion, publishing, and service industry-based companies in custom designed lofts. The area around the Atwater Market has become one of Montreal's most desirable residential areas for condo owners. Much of this is thanks to the continued effort to clean up the Canal.

Recreation

In 2002, it was reopened as a pleasure boating area, despite environmental concerns due to heavy industrial contamination of its bottom, and the banks of the canal were redeveloped. An environmental reclamation project continues to clean up old oil spills. The banks of the canal offer bicycling and roller blading. Parks Canada offers guided tours of the canal by foot, bicycle, and boat during the summer months.

Crossings

From east to west:

• Rail bridge
• Bridge (Mill Road)
• Bridge (Autoroute 10)
• Rail bridge
• Wellington Bridge with the closed Wellington Tunnel underneath
• Des Seigneurs Bridge
• Charlevoix Bridge with the Metro Line 1 (Green) in a tunnel
• Atwater Footbridge
• Atwater Tunnel
• Rail bridge
• Pedestrian bridge
• St. Rémi Tunnel
• Bridge (Autoroute 15/Autoroute 20)
• Côte St. Paul Bridge
• Monk Boulevard Bridge
• Pedestrian bridge
• Bridge (Angrignon Boulevard)
• Pedestrian bridge
• Lafleur Bridge and Gauron Bridge (two adjacent bridges carrying St. Pierre Boulevard)
• Bridge (Route 138)
• Rockfield Bridge (rail)
• Bridge (Museum Way)

See also

• Montreal and Lachine Railway
• Grand Trunk Railway

References

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