Soo Canal Fitness Challenge
Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada
Local Powerhouses Race to Return Water Flow to Historic Powerhouse
© Parcs Canada / P. McCormick
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO – Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site and Catalyst Fitness are co-hosting a unique challenge that is sure to give participants a good workout, while helping preserve a piece of Sault Ste. Marie’s heritage.
On Saturday, December 4 at 10 am on the grounds of the national historic site, competitors will turn a large T-shaped handle to crank open the Canal’s upper valve. Spectators are invited to cheer on the teams of six as they complete as many revolutions as possible in a ten minute interval. In the past, it has taken Parks Canada staff as long as six hours to open the valve. These teams will be challenged to complete the same job in less than three hours!
The turning of the valve is part of a preventative maintenance program and helps to preserve the Sault Canal’s historic machinery. Completed in 1895, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal was the longest lock in the world, and the first to be electrically operated. The penstock valve controls the flow of water to the Powerhouse, where water turned the turbines that would generate the electricity used to power the lock.
For more information on the “Turn the Tide” event or to register your team, visit www.catalystgym.com/2010/11/turnthetide.html . Interpretive activities will be available for all ages.
The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada is one of 167 national historic sites operated by Parks Canada to protect and present significant examples of our nation’s heritage. The construction of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal marked the completion of an all-Canadian waterway from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior. Parks Canada proudly protects and presents this national treasure as an important part of Canada’s heritage.
