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Evan D.
St. Davids, Ontario
Other
The Welland Canal
The history of the Welland Canal, including William Hamilton Merritt; why the canal was built; the construction and evolution of the canals; and the impact of the canal locally within the Niagara Peninsula and throughout the Great Lakes.
What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?
The most interesting thing I learned about my topic was the machinery and mechanics of the locks of a canal and how they work to lower and raise the boats.
What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?
The Welland Canal is an important part of our local and Canadian history. The canal opened up trade in North America to countries from the east, as well as shaping the Niagara we have today. The Welland Canal is an inspiring topic and shows that with enough effort, any project can be tackled.
How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?
Life during the time of William Hamilton Merritt was much more difficult than life today. Merritt's dream had many obstacles including raising money for the project, finding enough labourers for the construction and learning about the machinery and mechanics of the lock system. Health conditions of his family and the workers also impacted the progress of the project. The biggest difference between then and now is the technology and machinery available to complete a project of that size.