Portions of the Shubenacadie Canal System to be Upgraded

NATURAL RESOURCES--Portions of the Shubenacadie Canal System to be Upgraded

The province will provide $250,000 to upgrade portions of the Shubenacadie Canal system.

The funding, announced today, Jan. 20, will be used to improve the structural support of lock two and to begin restoration work on lock three at Port Wallace, Dartmouth.

Support for these projects reflects the priorities of the Shubenacadie Canal Commission, the body that received the funding.

"The Shubenacadie Canal system is more than a canal. It's a significant corridor of cultural and recreational resources that stretches through our province," said Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt. "Together with our partners, we are committed to preserving it and its rich history so that Nova Scotians and visitors alike can enjoy all that it has to offer."

The Shubenacadie Canal and waterway runs from Dartmouth to Maitland, Hants Co., and encompasses a series of locks, canal cuts, lakes and rivers. It is a National Historic Civil Engineering Site.

"This support enables us to continue the work of the commission in preserving the historical features of the canal and the recreational and educational opportunities it provides," said Bernard Hart, commission chairman.

Restoration work on the Shubenacadie Canal system began with archeological investigations and was further enhanced in 1986 when the canal commission was established. To date, a variety of trails and waterways have been created. The Fairbanks Centre, adjacent to the canal and the location for today's announcement, was constructed to showcase the historical and cultural aspects of the canal and the restoration work that has been carried out on a number of lock sites along the canal route.