Community Update: Historic Masonry Repairs Nearing Completion

April 26, 2018 – The first phase of historic stone masonry repairs at Poonamalie Lock 32 is nearing completion. Work will finalize with site restoration in mid-May.

The cofferdam upstream of the lock has now been removed. Stone replacement, repointing, and grouting is complete on the upstream and downstream wing walls, while stone replacement and repointing continues on the west wall within the lock. While much of the scaffolding has been removed from around the lock, the remaining scaffolding will be removed in early May.

The second phase of work at Poonamalie Lock 32 will include historic stonework repairs to the upstream monoliths and east lock wall. The full project is expected to complete in winter 2019.

A Brief History of Poonamalie Lock 32

The Poonamalie site’s original name was First Rapids, as it is the first lockstation encountered in the descent toward Ottawa on the Rideau system. Local folklore has it that the name Poonamalie was derived from a town in India named Poovirundavalli where the British Army stationed a garrison in the early 19th century. An officer of the Royal Engineers felt the cedar-lined roads at First Rapids were reminiscent of those he had seen while serving in India.

The channel in this section of the Rideau Canal is nearly 2.5km and bypasses the original rapids in the Rideau River. In addition to the lock, earth dam, and weir, a defensible lock master’s house can also be found at this site. This building was originally built in 1842 and remains in use to this day.

For More Information:

For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Rideau Canal, please visit www.pc.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure. For questions or to receive updates regarding this project, please email RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca and include “Poonamalie Lock” in the subject line.