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Enjoy new programs, guided tours at Sault canal this season

Paddle to Poutine this year - for free!
Sault Canal stock2MP
The Sault Canal is pictured in this file photo. Michael Purvis/SooToday

NEWS RELEASE
PARKS CANADA
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Dreaming of exploring the stories of the past? Memories await you at Parks Canada’s places from coast to coast to coast!

Whether you’re looking for adventure, fun science activities for the whole family, a chance to explore history, or a break from the everyday, Parks Canada has 450 000 km² of protected areas with countless unique experiences to suit your needs.

The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The visitor centre is now open during the following hours:

  • May 13 - July 1: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • July 2 - Sept. 2: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sept. 3 - Oct. 11: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The visitor centre is located in the portable trailer next to the Administration Building and Lock.

This year, the canal team is excited to offer new guided tours and special programs including a Monarchs and Milkweed tour, the Parade of Paddles on Canada Day, and a Summer Tea Series!

Monarchs and Milkweed Tour

Join us and learn all there is to know about the endangered monarch butterfly and its favourite plant, the milkweed. This program is great for kids and families! The cost of the program is $5.80 per person.

Canada Day – Paddle to Poutine!

Calling all paddlers… grab your kayaks and canoes and join us down at the canal for a fun Canada Day event. Let’s beat last year’s Parade of Paddles record of 100 paddlers in the lock. Red and white decorations are encouraged. Paddle your way to Poutine Feast at the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site. This is a free event!

Summer Teas are back at the Superintendent’s Residence!

Step back in time and join us for afternoon tea at the historic and elegant Superintendent’s Residence. Throughout July and August, the canal will be hosting three different tea experiences, ranging from a casual drop-in Tea House to a fancy High Tea. The Superintendent’s Tea House Relax and enjoy a tea or coffee with scones and treats as you sit on the verandah of the Superintendent’s Residence and watch the boats pass through the historic Sault Ste. Marie Canal. Tea dates are July 10, 17, 24, and 31 and Aug. 7, 14, and 21. Tickets are $10.80 per person.

Heritage Tea

Invite some friends for a fun-filled historic tea luncheon complete with costumed interpreters, music, and a full lunch menu. Tea dates are: July 14, 21 and Aug. 11. Tickets are $17.20 per person.

High Tea

Wear your Sunday best and enjoy live entertainment and a gourmet lunch menu served by costumed interpreters. Tea date is August 18 and tickets are $36.55 each. Each tea will include varying interpretation from our knowledgeable staff and delicious food and treats provided by local restaurants. Reservations are required for the Heritage Tea and High Tea and tickets will be available for purchase shortly. The weekly Superintendent’s Tea House requires no reservation and operates on a firstcome, first-served basis.

For additional information on any of these events, or to reserve tickets for one of our summer teas, please visit our website or call 705-941-6205.

You can also stay connected with us on Facebook and Twitter! The site also offers a selection of daily guided tours ranging in length from 1.0 to 1.5 hours and walking distances of 0.5 km to 2 km for $5.80 per person.

Don’t forget, Parks Canada’s always popular Xplorers and Club Parka programs for children are free of charge.

Pick up your booklets in the Visitor Centre! There is something for everyone to do, from youngest to wisest!

Located in every province and territory, Parks Canada’s 171 national historic sites reflect the rich and varied heritage of our nation and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history.

Canada Historic Places Day benefits historic places across Canada, increasing their awareness and interest in visiting them, as well as emphasizing the vital role these places have in their communities. Canadians are encouraged to take part in the national celebration during the third annual Canada Historic Places Day on July 6 by visiting a historic place near them! Parks Canada’s places belong to all Canadians.

That is why the Government of Canada is pleased to continue to offer free admission to all Parks Canada’s places for youth aged 17 and under. By encouraging young people to discover nature and connect with history, we can help to inspire the next generation of stewards for these protected places. In celebration of diversity, Parks Canada continues to offer free admission to new Canadian citizens for one year through the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Canoo mobile app.

Visiting Parks Canada’s national heritage places is a great way for Canadians to experience the outdoors and learn more about our environment and heritage. Parks Canada’s staff at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site are excited to welcome new and returning guests back to experience everything that the canal has to offer. Quote “Warm weather is finally here. It’s the perfect time to head back outside and reconnect with the places we love.

Parks Canada has so many wonderful places where Canadians and visitors to Canada can explore our wilderness and learn about our culture and history. The Government of Canada is pleased to offer free admission to all Parks Canada’s places for young people, 17 and under. So let’s get outdoors, visit our national parks, historic sites, or marine conservation areas, taking advantage of discovering the places in Canada we love best.” - Terry Sheehan, member of parliament for Sault Ste. Marie

Quick Facts

  • Please note that there will be a delay in the opening of the recreational lock due to the Powerhouse project that is currently underway.
  •  The latest Parks Canada’s app update makes trip planning for Parks Canada’s locations across the country even easier for first time visitors. Visitors can now find Learn-to Camp content in the app and can obtain information on proper camping equipment, tips, and recipes. Visitors can even plan their entire trip itinerary and create a camping checklist.
  •  Canada’s network of protected areas play an important role in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change by protecting and restoring healthy, resilient ecosystems and contributing to the recovery of species at risk.
  • Visitor safety is important to Parks Canada. Visitors can do their part by getting informed and being prepared by planning an activity and sharing that information with a friend or family before they begin. Learn about the wildlife in the park/site you will be visiting to help us keep wildlife wild by checking out our top ten tips here.
  • Enter Parks Canada’s Discover Canada contest for a chance to win an amazing trip to Canada’s NorthYukon! In collaboration with our proud partners: MEC, CIBC, Air Canada, and Air North.
  • The possession and consumption of cannabis is now legal and is strictly regulated in Canada. For more information about cannabis in Canada, please visit here.

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