7.0 Moveable Resources

The level one moveable resources include a wide range of excavated archaeological artifacts and archival material that are directly linked to the commemorative intent of the site.

7.1 Archival Material

A collection of surviving deeds, site plans, surveys, maps, reports and correspondence dating from the military period are housed at the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa and copies are available for research purposes. A collection of original design drawings and engineering plans are on file at the engineering office at Canal headquarters in Smiths Falls. Also, there are early Canal records housed in the Realty section of Parks Canada’s National Office.

While not under the ownership of the Canal, it is important to note the collection of Royal Engineers’ Working Drawings from the Rideau Canal, many the work of Lt.-Col. By,  housed at the Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh. Similarly, the Public Record Office in London holds a collection of early maps of the Rideau Canal. Also, there is a remarkable group of watercolors and pencil sketches dealing with a variety of Rideau Canal subjects dating from the 1820s through the 1840s housed in several repositories including the Ontario Archives, the McCord Museum, the Royal Ontario Museum and the National Archives of Canada.

7.1.1 The  level one archival material of the Rideau Canal is valued for:

• the information it provides on the pre-Canal route;
• its association with the survey, design and construction of the Canal;
• its association with travel on the Canal system during the early period;
• the information it provides regarding the impact of Canal construction on the natural environment;
• the information it provides on construction methods;
• the information it provides on working and social life on the Canal;
• the information it provides on lockstation sites and adjacent communities;
• its aesthetic qualities.

7.1.2 The  level one archival material will be unimpaired and not under threat when:

• a comprehensive inventory record of all such material is developed and maintained;
• the level one documents held by Parks Canada are organized and available for research and presentation purposes;
• the level one documents held by Parks Canada are removed from working circulation, protected, conserved and provided with appropriate storage facilities;
• their historic values are effectively communicated to the public.

7.2 Archaeological Artifacts

Archaeological excavation at several sites on the Canal has resulted in an extensive collection of level one artifacts related to Canal construction, operation and maintenance as well as social and working life on the Canal during the military period. This material is under the management of the Archaeological Services Section at Parks Canada’s Cornwall Office.

7.2.1 The level one artifacts are valued for:

• their association with Canal construction;
• their association with working life on the Canal;
• the detailed information they provide on working and social life;
• the detailed information they provide about construction techniques and tools;
• their presentation potential;
• their integrity as a collection.

7.2.2 The level one artifacts will be unimpaired and not under threat when:

• inventory and evaluation records of the holdings are completed and maintained;
• resource collections are maintained;
• the integrity of collections are maintained (this does not preclude the exhibit of portions in different locations)
• their historic values are effectively communicated to the public.

PART II

Level One Messages: Reasons for the Site’s National Significance Are Effectively Communicated to the Public