The Shubenacadie CanalThe Shubenacadie Canal

Nova Scotia’s Nova Scotia’s inland waterwayinland waterway

SiKEPNE’K KATIKSiKEPNE’K KATIK

Used by the Used by the Mi'kmaq for Mi'kmaq for centuries, centuries,

the the ShubenacadiShubenacadie waterway e waterway was carved was carved

out of out of bedrock by bedrock by

glaciers glaciers during the during the

last ice age. last ice age.

The Mi’kmaq would travel along this natural waterway using birchbark canoes.

The wide-bottomed Mi'kmaq canoe was raised at both ends and the sides curved upwards in the middle. This shape allowed the Mi'kmaq to canoe far out to sea as well as in shallow streams and even in rapids. Canoes were 3m to 8m long, made of birchbark over a light wooden frame. A small canoe could take a load of several hundred pounds but was light enough for one person to carry.

The Mi'kmaq : Nova Scotia Museum http://museum.gov.ns.ca/arch/infos/mikmaq1.htm

(15/02/05)

A Natural Highway and Route to the A Natural Highway and Route to the Interior of Nova ScotiaInterior of Nova Scotia

Early French settlers learned of this interior Early French settlers learned of this interior route through cooperation with the route through cooperation with the Mi’kmaq.Mi’kmaq.

Cooperation between the Mi’kmaq and new Cooperation between the Mi’kmaq and new migrants and explorers from Europe was a migrants and explorers from Europe was a necessity for survival. Much of the necessity for survival. Much of the cooperation was the result from attempting cooperation was the result from attempting to endure the harsh north-eastern North to endure the harsh north-eastern North America climate in winter.America climate in winter.

This relationship was a good example of the This relationship was a good example of the interdependenceinterdependence Europeans and First Europeans and First Nations had with each other at first contact.Nations had with each other at first contact.

Natural ResourcesHinterland

Heartland

At the time of canal construction Nova Scotia was governed by the British.

The Industrial Revolution and The Industrial Revolution and CanalsCanals

During the colonial period (1750-1870) over 70 During the colonial period (1750-1870) over 70 canals were constructed in North America.canals were constructed in North America.

Inland waterways and canals were useful in moving Inland waterways and canals were useful in moving large quantities of goods before the invention of large quantities of goods before the invention of steam-powered railroads.steam-powered railroads.

Early Nova Scotian entrepreneurs such as Samuel Early Nova Scotian entrepreneurs such as Samuel Cunard (shipping industry) and Enos Collins Cunard (shipping industry) and Enos Collins (Collin’s Bank) saw potential in constructing a (Collin’s Bank) saw potential in constructing a series of locks along the ancient Mi’kmaq route to series of locks along the ancient Mi’kmaq route to enable large barges to extract the abundance of enable large barges to extract the abundance of natural resources in Nova Scotia natural resources in Nova Scotia (coal/gypsum/granite/timber) for shipment from (coal/gypsum/granite/timber) for shipment from Halifax to Europe.Halifax to Europe.

Work on the canal system began in 1826, ceased in 1831 and resumed in 1854. The canal was completed in 1861. Construction of 9 locks and 2 inclined planes connected a chain of 7 lakes and the Shubenacadie River, enabling boats to travel from Halifax Harbour to the Minas Basin. The only other route to the Bay of Fundy was by way of Cape Sable, a dangerous sail.

The Shubenacadie Canal opened in The Shubenacadie Canal opened in sections and operated between 1856 sections and operated between 1856

and 1870. Steam vessels hauled barges and 1870. Steam vessels hauled barges laden with goods along the system. laden with goods along the system.

Above: Halifax Harbour (Dartmouth Cove) in the 19th century. (c.1886)

Right: Halifax Harbour March 2005

By 1870, railways were able to By 1870, railways were able to transport goods faster and more transport goods faster and more cheaply than ships, forcing the cheaply than ships, forcing the

closure of the canal.closure of the canal.

Railways pre 1867

Dartmouth Cove

Dartmouth Cove

Lake Banook & Lake Micmac

Locks #2 and #3 Port Wallace

Halifax Harbour to Sullivan’s PondHalifax Harbour to Sullivan’s Pond

Sullivan’s Pond to Port Sullivan’s Pond to Port WallaceWallace

Lock #1

Lake Banook to Lake Lake Banook to Lake CharlesCharles

Lock #2

Lock #3Port Wallace

Lake WilliamLake William

A water A water powered powered marine railway marine railway would pull would pull boats over land boats over land and into the and into the next lake. next lake.

Click here to see an INCLINED PLANE

The PortobelloThe Portobello inclined planeinclined plane

Lock #4

Fall River

Lock #5 Wellington

Lock #6

A Stone Point that

was located in the area

Further InformationFurther InformationNova Scotia Musem Archaelogy in Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Musem Archaelogy in Nova Scotia

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/arch/sites/shubie/shubie.htmhttp://museum.gov.ns.ca/arch/sites/shubie/shubie.htm

Shubenacadie Canal CommissionShubenacadie Canal Commission

http://shubie.chebucto.org/index1.htmhttp://shubie.chebucto.org/index1.htm

Waverley Heritage MuseumWaverley Heritage Museum

http://waverley.chebucto.org/Museum/shubie.shtmlhttp://waverley.chebucto.org/Museum/shubie.shtml

Department of Education N.S. Canadian History 11 websiteDepartment of Education N.S. Canadian History 11 website

http://history11.ednet.ns.cahttp://history11.ednet.ns.ca

Photographs taken by Dan Smith August 2004 (Locks 1-6 / Portobello Inclined Plane & Photographs taken by Dan Smith August 2004 (Locks 1-6 / Portobello Inclined Plane & Sullivan's Pond)Sullivan's Pond)

Photographs taken by B. Khan December-March 2004-05 (Halifax Harbour)Photographs taken by B. Khan December-March 2004-05 (Halifax Harbour)

Presentation created by Barrett Khan 2004-05Presentation created by Barrett Khan 2004-05