The Fur Trade & Lachine Canal by MagikUnicorn
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Description
*****-Lachine Canal-*****
The canal is situated on land originally granted by the King of France to the Sulpician Order.
Beginning in 1689, attempts were made by the French Colonial government and several other groups to build a canal that would allow ships to bypass the treacherous Lachine Rapids. After more than 130 years of failure, a consortium that included the young Scottish immigrant John Redpath was successful. John Richardson was Chairman of the Committee of Management of the canal project and its chief engineer was Thomas Brunett. The contractors were Thomas McKay and John Redpath, plus the firms of Thomas Phillips & Andrew White and Abner Bagg & Oliver Wait.
The new canal officially opened in 1825, helping turn Montreal into a major port and eventually attracting industry to its banks when the Society of Sulpician Order decided to sell lots. It was enlarged and improved in the early 1840s under the supervision of Alfred Barrett.
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.
The canal became obsolete in the second half of the 20th century, being replaced by the St. Lawrence Seaway, which opened in 1959. The canal was finally closed to shipping in 1970. The opening of the Seaway and the decline of shipping on the canal led to the devastation of the neighbourhoods that lined the canal in Montreal's Sud-ouest borough due to shifting patterns of industrial development and shipping.
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,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 condominium owners.
Much of this is thanks to the continued effort to clean up the Canal.
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.
Thanks
Magik
Comments (75)
bebert
une petite ballade en canoe, là-dessus... de quoi faire un break :) beau POV, bravo !
DennisReed
Stunning view & capture! Bravo MU, now don't be falling in for that perfect shot! ;)
PIERRE25
Joli paysage, belle photo!
Zazou
Superbe point de vue !
kenwas
Excellent shot and thanks for the history!
lior
Une merveille!
NekhbetSun
Lovely shot !!!
Darkwish
You did great work! Very well done!
RodolfoCiminelli
Beautiful place and excellent photo mon ami Magik.....!!!!!!
B_PEACOCK
Awesome looking shot Real
stevey3d
Excellent Magik! 5+
huismus
Beautiful capture! Thanks for the info.
lucindawind
gorgeous photo and great history mon ami :) :)
Primal
A beautiful place and interesting history!!Excellent photo my friend..
mtc
Un cadrage des plus agréables, une belle ligne courbe à gauche,un feuillage qui nous permet de gouter à la lumière, et encore et surtout ces magnifiques feflets sur le plan d' eau! Pour moi, une image très réussie.
bkhook
Bravo, beautiful story as well as the image. Thank-you for sharing.
mickeyrony
Excellent documentation Magik Very beautiful environments also to be walked have generates savours with any blow. You are large Embassadeur loll..... Bravo of your glares brought to charm us the spirit and to covet an arrival on these picturesque sites. Mile mercies ((5++)) Documentation excellente Magik Très bel environnements aussi À se promener ont engendre saveurs à tout coup . Tu es un grand Embassadeur loll Bravo de tes éclats apportés pour nous ravir l'esprit et convoiter une venue sur ces sites pittoresques . Mile mercis ((5++))
Heathcroft
Thnanks for all the info- fascinating. And the image is excellent!
Nonameman
nice... :D
Cosme..D..Churruca
très belle endroit Magik... a very fine pic!
MarciaGomes
MAGNIFICA FOTO MEU AMIGO QUE LUGAR FANTÁSTICO BELISSIMO CANAL.++++++++++5 IMPRESSIONANTE HISTÓRIA COMO PODE O SER HUMANO TUDO ELE DESTRÓI E POLUI.
emmecielle
Excellent shot and splendid reflections!!! :)
fredster66
A very beautiful reflective shot!
Richardphotos
very interesting history and 1600's? your city goes back a long time..superb photo
magnus073
Magik c'est une grande photo de ce canal, je l'aime beaucoup. J'apprécie cette série sur le commerce du pelage très beaucoup. Merci pour l'histoire de cette scène
hipps13
wonderful capture, Magik warm hug, Linda
bluedarkmoon
Outstanding and so gorgeous, love it!!! 5+++
evielouise
wow love that reflection and it's a beautiful place indeed ! memories on the corner of my mind lalalalalalala-- smile !!
~2Loose2Trek
Another really superb shot!
Mad-Mike
Hey this is real pretty! most beautiful here! hope your doing cool my cool bud!