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Enlargement of the Lachine Canal – Work on the St. Gabriel Lock December 1, 1877
Print. Donated by Charles de Volpi. M979.87.441 © McCord Museum
The Lachine Canal
The Lachine rapids made circulation on the river difficult and slowed commercial trade with Upper Canada. In 1821, work was started to dig the Lachine Canal. It was inaugurated in 1825, and expanded and improved many times before the end of the 19th century, as shown by this print.
Workers of primarily Irish origin were hired to complete this project. The Irish workers settled in the neighboring areas with their families, first in Griffintown, then the Saint-Anne neighbour hood and finally Pointe-Saint-Charles.