Canadiana explores the history of the Rideau Canal, a popular tourist attraction in Ottawa and marvel of human engineering from the early 1800s. During the War of 1812 the Duke of Richmond thought a safer transport route to Quebec was needed as Americans across the St. Lawrence River threatened Canada. When he died of rabies the project was overseen by Colonel John By.  Many of the thousands of French Canadians and immigrants labouring to build the canal died of malaria. This engineering masterpiece still has hand cranks that open and close its locks. By’s camp, Bytown, became the city of Ottawa and the canal is now an official World Heritage Site.

Also available in French: La merveille d'ingénierie construite pour se défendre contre les Américains