Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site
What's New
Navigation Season Extended
Passage of a Boat Through a Lock at the Chambly Canal
© Parks Canada
Parks Canada’s historic canals
in Montérégie
Chambly (Quebec), October 3, 2011 - Floods caused by tropical storm Irene closed the Erie Canal on August 27 and 28, trapping some 250 boats in the New York State Canal System.
At the request of the New York State Canal Corporation and the New York State Governor’s Office, Parks Canada agreed to
keep the canals at the Chambly and Saint-Ours
historic sites operational until October 31 thus providing an alternate
navigation route via the St. Lawrence and Richelieu rivers.
The historic canals normally close the Tuesday after Canadian Thanksgiving. Exceptionally this year, Parks Canada will operate the locks from October 10 to 31,
by reservation only. Pleasure boaters may reserve at the Saint-Ours Lock or by calling 450-447-4804.
Admission Fees at the Saint-Ours Canal
SAINT-OURS (Quebec), July 27, 2011 - Parks Canada wishes to inform the public that regular admission fees will apply at Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site as of Saturday, July 30.
Admission fees
Includes parking and taxes
| Adults (ages 17 to 64): |
$2.90 |
| Seniors (65 years and over): |
$2.40 |
| Students (ages 6 to 16): |
$1.40 |
| Children (under 6): |
FREE |
| Family Pass: |
$7.30 |
For more details on service periods, please consult the 2011 Schedule available at the lock. Please note that, at all times, you can obtain information by phone at 1-888-773-8888 and on the Internet at www.parkscanada.gc.ca. The Saint-Ours canal’s staff can also be contacted during operating hours throughout boating season at the following phone number: 450-785-2212.
The Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site is part of Parks Canada’s network of national parks and national historic sites, which offer visitors first class services and exceptional heritage experiences. In 2011, Parks Canada celebrates its centennial as the oldest national parks network in the world. To mark this occasion, Parks Canada invites Canadians to come celebrate at its protected areas across the country.
Reopening of the Saint-Ours Canal
Lockage at Saint-Ours Canal
© Parks Canada
SAINT-OURS, Québec, June 9, 2011 -
Parks Canada wishes to inform the public that the Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site will reopen its doors to visiting boaters on Friday, June 10.
For more details on when the canals will be open, please consult the 2011 Schedule available at the first lock when entering the canal.
Please note that, at all times, you can obtain information by phone at 1-888-773-8888 and on the Internet at www.parkscanada.gc.ca.
The Saint-Ours canal’s staff can also be contacted during operating hours in boating season at the following phone number:
450-785-2212.
Due to exceptionally high water levels and flooding, some parts of the park around Saint-Ours Canal remain closed.
Parks Canada is requesting the cooperation and support of all users and asks that they comply with temporary signage and exercise patience and caution.
Boating Season
CHAMBLY, Quebec, May 31, 2011 - As it celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding as the world’s first national parks service,
Parks Canada is pleased to announce the opening of three historic canals for this year’s boating season.
The Lachine,
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and
Carillon canals will welcome visiting boaters from Friday, May 20, till Monday, October 10, 2011.
Due to exceptionally high water levels and flooding in the Richelieu Valley, the opening of the
Chambly Canal and
Saint-Ours Canals National Historic Sites will be delayed this year.
Parks Canada will do everything necessary to ensure the repair and safe operation of the facilities at these historic canals and will inform the public of their reopening as early as possible.
For more details on when the canals will be open, please consult the 2011 Schedule available at the first lock when entering each canal.
Please note that, at all times, you can obtain information by phone at 1-888-773-8888 and on the Internet at www.parkscanada.gc.ca.
The canal’s staff can also be contacted during operating hours in boating season at the following phone numbers:
| Chambly Canal: |
| Locks No. 1-2-3 (Chambly):
450 658-4381 |
| Saint-Ours Canal: |
| 450 785-2212 |
| Lachine Canal: |
| 514 595-6594 |
| Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal: |
| 514 457-5546 |
| Carillon Canal: |
| 450 537-3534 |
The National Historic Canals, which offer outstanding services and an exceptional heritage experience
to its 1,206,000 boaters and visitors are part of the Parks Canada network of national historic sites and national parks.
Closure
SAINT-OURS, Quebec, May 19, 2011 - Parks Canada wishes to inform the public that the following measures have been taken at Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site due to exceptionally high water levels and flooding:
- Lock opening delayed;
- The National Historic Site is closed : Parks Canada asks visitors to refrain from entering the park around Saint-Ours Canal.
Parks Canada is requesting the cooperation and support of all users and asks that they comply with temporary signage and exercise patience and caution.
Parks Canada will do everything necessary to ensure the repair and safe operation of the facilities at this historic canal and will inform the public of their reopening as early as possible.
Closure
SAINT-OURS, Quebec, May 6, 2011 - Parks Canada wishes to inform the public that the following measure has been taken due to exceptionally high water levels and flooding:
- Access to the Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site is closed: Parks Canada asks visitors to refrain from entering the park around Saint-Ours Canal.
Parks Canada is requesting the cooperation and support of all users and asks that they comply with temporary signage and exercise patience and caution.
Parks Canada will inform the population of the reopening of the installations as soon as possible.
A WORLD-UNIQUE FISH LADDER:
A Parks Canada and community organizations initiative
A unique fish ladder is helping species at risk reclaim their habitat
at the Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site of Canada.
The Vianney-Legendre fishway, located on the Richelieu River, in the
Quebec Province, of Canada, is no ordinary fish ladder. Unlike the
others; it shows that a historic site can be more than a site of Heritage
significance. It can protect biodiversity and help recover species at
risk.
The Vianney-Legendre fishway ladder
© Parks Canada / Jean Mercier / 2002
The Copper Redhorse (Moxostoma hubbsi) is running up the Richelieu River
again. This is a major victory for the unusual copper-coloured fish
species, which is found only in south-western Quebec. A dam built in 1967
hindered this endangered species' migration to its most important
spawning area upstream from the Canal-de-Saint-Ours National Historic
Site of Canada. Now a fish ladder of unique design is brightening the
future for the Copper Redhorse.
Such a successful environmental engineering project could create a
tourist attraction and be useful in educating the public about this
biodiversity restoration initiative. In fact, the fish ladder has even
gained international attention. Although it has been designed uniquely
for this site, other jurisdictions are interested in it as a model to
follow.