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Rideau Canal Opens its 100th anniversary as a National Historic Site

Rideau Canal

May 22, 2025

by Mathew Channer

This year marks the Rideau Canal’s 194th season and it’s 100th anniversary as a National Historic Site of Canada. The Rideau opened for the 2025 boating season on Friday May 16 and will remain open until Thanksgiving weekend.

The Rideau Canal was built between 1826 and 1832 and was designated a National Historic Site in 1925. In 2007 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the best preserved, fully operational canal from North America’s major canal building era, stretching more than 200km from Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario.

Due to the recent demolition of the LaSelle Causeway’s old bascule bridge, there is limited access to and from the St. Lawrance River near Kingston; a temporary bridge must be removed to make way for vessels taller than 16 feet.

Currently, the confirmed access hours for this section are May 17, 9 am to 5 pm and May 31, 9 am to 5 pm. The full season schedule has not yet been announced.

Rideau Canal

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