The canal seen from the Canal Bridge

Grenville is a picturesque and modern municipality located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, in the regional county municipality of Argenteuil, Laurentides, Quebec. This municipality comprises between route 148 serving the shore of the Outaouais river and between Grenville Bay and the eastern end of the canal which is about 800 m (2,600 ft) downstream from the Long-Sault bridge on rue Maple, spanning the Ottawa River.

Understand

Geography

The municipality of Grenville is a village municipality crossed by route 344, connecting Montreal to Hull. This scenic route is a reflection of regional history as it ends near the heritage site of the canal on the Ottawa River. The main tourist attraction sites in the Lower Laurentians are heritage sites, in particular the Grenville Canal.

The village of Grenville is part of the Laurentides tourist region. Its main roads (e.g., route 148 and route 344) generate an influx of traffic, in particular many tourist attractions. This village is crossed by the Kingham River which flows into Grenville Bay. The McIntyre Bridge spans this river near its mouth.

History

Long-Sault Bridge spanning the Ottawa River

Rustic house on the edge of the Grenville canal

Rue du Canal and rue Principale in Old Grenville with the church in the background

View of the park in the entrance area of the Grenville Canal

Grenville Canal

After the construction of a merchandise warehouse in 1818, the first period of canalization of the Ottawa River dates from 1819 to 1830 under the direction of Captain Henry du Vernet of the Royal Staff Corps of Great Britain, with a hundred British soldiers. Hundreds of Irish immigrants united their working energies with those of French Canadians to dig the way for the canal. The Grenville Canal was operational in 1829. Finally, the network of canals on the Ottawa River was not fully completed until around 1843. In 1870, the upper portion of the canal was widened.

These initiatives to build military infrastructure are dependent on the military conflicts of 1812. This canal was part of the pipeline network, to supply Kingston and the Great Lakes in the event of a military conflict with neighbors south of the Canadian-American border. The purpose of these canals was to allow the transport of military troops and military equipment between the provinces of upper and lower Canada, thus avoiding the risk of being captured by the enemy on the St. Lawrence River. Of military design, the canals and locks of the Outaouais did not meet the demands of the growing commercial transport which was trying to establish itself on the Ottawa River. In the middle of the X19h century, commercial navigation took a big expansion on the St. Lawrence river; but struggled to relay to the upper Outaouais circuit.

Initially, six miles in length, the Grenville Canal was completed in 1833, with the three sections of canal: Grenville, Greece's point and Carillon. Partially flooded in 1962 by the rising water levels during the construction of the Carillon hydroelectric dam, only two thousand of the Grenville Canal remain visible and navigable; this non-submerged segment of the canal network is mainly in the Grenville territory.

Commercial shipping

From 1819, a regular barge service (Durham boat) was in use in the opposite direction of the river, between Hull and Grenville, under the aegis of Philémon Wright. However, the demand for transporting raw materials and goods was significantly higher than the capacity to transport. The ships were loaded with goods at the Grenville Quay in order to sail up the Outaouais, bound for the Rideau Canal in Ottawa or to the upper part of the Ottawa River.

The steam powered boats were put into service to ensure the superior link of the circuit, that is to say between Grenville and Hull: the ship "Union of Ottawa" and in 1828, the "Shannon", a powerful steamboat built in Hawkesbury, served this circuit. Even so, in the early part of the 19th century, commercial shipping on the Ottawa River had a rather modest record, with only two steamboats on the upper circuit.

Carillon dam

The construction under the aegis of Hydro-Quebec of a hydroelectric dam (from 1959 to 1963) and of a modern lock at Carillon, irreparably modified this network of canals in the Ottawa River. Upon completion of this work, the water level rose over 62 feet at Carillon and 9 feet at Grenville. The portion of Greece's point of the canal was found submerged, as well as its hamlet. In addition, by gradually rising the water level, the rapids of the Long Sault were inundated, transforming them into a body of calm water.

This military-type canal is recognized as a civil engineering work, emeritus for the 19th century. Nowadays, it is a distinctive historical draw and a municipal park to appreciate the great local history and nature.

Get in

The territory of Grenville is accessible by road vehicle, seapleane, VTT or snowmobile.

By car

• From Montreal (101 km (63 mi). Time: 1 hr 16 min. Take highway 40 (west) to the Ontario limit; Highway 417 (west); Highway 17 (west), to Hawkesbury; Tupper Street (north); Main Street East (west); cross the Long-Sault Bridge spanning the Ottawa River.

Get around

Gas stations

• 1 Station-service Crevier, 13, rue Maple, ☏ +1 819-242-1234. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Station-service Pétro-Canada, 40, rue Maple, ☏ +1 343-500-2644. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Station-service Esso, 54, rue Maple, ☏ +1 418-242-3134. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Station-service Shell, 130, rue Maple, ☏ +1 819-242-9310. (updated Dec 2021)

Charging stations

• 5 Electric charging station, 441, rue Principale, ☏ +1 800-686-9243. (updated Dec 2021)

See

Interprovincial reception signage infrastructure in Grenville

• 1 Interprovincial reception signage infrastructure in Grenville, rue Maple (route 344) (Intersection of rue Principale (route 344) and rue Mapple.). At the Grenville exit of the Long-Sault bridge spanning the Ottawa River (coming from Hawkesbury), a magnificent floral and landscaping arrangement with a stone plinth signaling welcome to Quebec has been installed. This provincial reception infrastructure is worth a detour. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Cinéma Laurentien (Laurentian Theatre), 362, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-242-3131. (updated Dec 2021)

Heritage circuits

• 3 Canal de Grenville (Grenville Canal), rue Canal Nord. Canal along the north shore of the Ottawa River. It offers a magnificent hiking trail along the Grenville Canal and the Ottawa River. The foundations of the swing bridge are still visible on the ground, as well as the remains of the structure of the railway bridge that led to Ontario, of the Carillon-Grenville railway line, and of the old penicillin factory. Along the canal, walkers or boaters can see the attachment points for the cables holding the boats. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Phare de l'entrée nord du canal de Grenville (Grenville Canal North Entrance Lighthouse), 49, rue Canal Nord, ☏ +1 819-242-2146. (updated Dec 2021)

Heritage House in Grenville

• 5 Maison du patrimoine (Heritage House), 17, rue du Canal Nord (Between rue Principale and the canal.). This ancestral house was erected around 1820 near the Grenville Canal, to house workers. It turns out to be one of the oldest houses still standing near the canal. Initially of vernacular architecture, this house was renovated towards the end of the 19th century, in order to incorporate characteristic elements of the Second Empire style. From 1924 to 1998, the Heritage House served as a Masonic lodge. Since 1998, this house has been occupied by the offices of the Grenville Heritage Commission. On October 6, 2008, the Municipality of the village of Grenville granted heritage building status to this historic building. The toponymic designation "Heritage House" was formalized on March 26, 2018 at the Commission de toponymie du Québec. (updated Dec 2021)

Events

• Concours de décorations de Noël (Christmas decoration contest), ☏ +1 877-493-7837. Annual competition organized under the aegis of the Municipality of Grenville, with the objective of putting a magical note in the streets during the holiday season. (updated May 2017)

Buy

Food

• 1 IGA Grenville - Famille Goulet, 30 rue Maple (on Maple Street near Route 344 and the Long-Sault Bridge spanning the Ottawa River), ☏ +1 819-242-6888. General grocery store. Online grocery shopping. Catering. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Boni-Soir, 54, rue Maple, ☏ +1 819-242-3134. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Charlebois & Filles - Kiosque de fruits et légumes (Charlebois & Filles - Fruit and vegetable kiosk), 107, rue Maple, ☏ +1 450-562-0478. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Dépanneur Grenville, 163 rue Principale, ☏ +1 450-562-0478. (updated Dec 2021)
• 5 Dépanneur Villeneuve, 271 rue Principale, ☏ +1 450-562-0478. (updated Dec 2021)

Other stores

• 6 L'Univers du Meuble Grenville (The Grenville Furniture Universe), 196, rue Queen, ☏ +1 819-242-4848. Furniture and home accessories store. (updated Dec 2021)
• 7 Ti-Gros Barils, chemin de l'Écocentre, ☏ +1 450-516-4172. M-F 08:00-17:00. Furniture maker from recycled barrels and barn wood. (updated Dec 2021)

Eat

• 1 Dallas Pizza inc, 20, rue Maple, ☏ +1 613-307-0600. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Jos Patate, 21, rue Maple. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Fromage et Cie - Casse-croûte (Fromage et Cie - Snack), 29, rue Maple, ☏ +1 450-566-4120. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 La Cremière, 29, rue Maple, ☏ +1 819-242-2136. (updated Dec 2021)
• 5 Restaurant Chez Linda, rue Maple, ☏ +1 450-613-1432. (updated Dec 2021)

Drink

• 1 Au Bar du Canal, 305, rue Principale. Bar-restaurant (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Bar Le Stash/Gros ORANGE, 418, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-242-0588. Lounge bar (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Bar Les Plaisirs, 313, rue Principale, ☏ +1. Nightclub. (updated Dec 2021)

Cope

Grenville Library and Youth Centre

• 1 Bibliothèque municipale Fernand-Bernier (Fernand-Bernier Public Library), 18, rue Tri-Jean, ☏ +1 819-242-2146, biblio@grenville.ca. This municipal library is affiliated with the biblio laurentides network (www.reseaubiblioduquebec.qc.ca/grenville). It also offers access to numerous electronic resources. It also offers a free mobile library service for people with reduced mobility, the elderly or overwhelmed by illness. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Centre Jeunesse (Youth centre), 18, rue Tri-Jean, ☏ +1 819-242-2146, info@grenville.ca. This municipal library is affiliated with the biblio laurentides network (www.reseaubiblioduquebec.qc.ca/grenville). It also offers access to numerous electronic resources. It also offers a free mobile library service for people with reduced mobility, the elderly or overwhelmed by illness. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Aréna et piscine (équipements régionaux), 20, rue Tri-Jean, ☏ +1 819-242-2146 ext 2511, info@grenville.ca. These regional facilities include: arena Kevin-Lowe / Pierre-Pagé in Lachute (80, rue Hamford, +1 450-562-5249 ext 201), arena Gilles-Lupien in Brownsburg-Chatham (200 rue Mac Vicar, +1 450-562-5249 ext 201) and Lachute indoor swimming pool (452 avenue Argenteuil, +1 450-568-3781). (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Parc Normand-Woodbury & Terrain de jeux (Normand-Woodbury Park & Playground), 20, rue Tri-Jean, ☏ +1 819-242-2146 ext 2511, info@grenville.ca. These public infrastructures include: the water games, the children's park, the skating rink, the pétanque games, the municipal wharf and the ball field. The toponym of this park refers to Normand Woodbury (? -2004) who was a municipal councilor from 1965 to 1971. He contributed to community development, particularly in the field of recreation and as a member of the committee for the 125th anniversary of the municipality. (updated Dec 2021)

Go next

• 1 Saint-André-d'Argenteuil This municipality, located between Grenville and Saint-Placide, benefits from its coastline on the north shore of the Ottawa River where recreotourism is well developed, including the Carillon dam. The main economic activities are agriculture, forestry and recreotourism (camping, nautical activities, boating, hiking trails, etc.). Thus, between the Grenville canal (upstream of the Carillon dam) and the Carillon island (downstream of the dam), in Saint-André-d'Argenteuil tourists will discover several tourist attractions and activities: National Historic Site of the Canal-de-Carillon, municipal campsite at Parc Carillon, guided tours of the Carillon power station, a Quebec monument in memory of heroes, boating (upstream and downstream of the Carillon dam).
• 2 Brownsburg-Chatam City in the MRC d'Argenteuil, located at the foothills of the Laurentians, north of the Ottawa River.
• 3 Grenville-sur-la-Rouge Municipality of the MRC d'Argenteuil located at the foothills of the Laurentians. Drained by the Rivière Rouge and Rivière du Calumet, it is a centre for vacationing and recreational tourism on the Ottawa River. Water sports (canoeing, kayaking, rafting) on the Rouge River are well known. In addition, there is the Halte des Sept-Soeurs campsite and the Hôtel Villégiature Lac Carling vacation complex.
• 4 Hawkesbury A predominantly French-speaking eastern Ontario city located halfway between Ottawa and Montreal, across from Grenville (Quebec). Recreational tourism activities are developed there especially with the Ottawa River, upstream of the Carillon dam, where the body of water allows for pleasure boating (with marinas, and various services for boaters) and nautical activities. Île du Chenail (where Confederation Park and the Chenail cultural centre are located, as well as the Long-Sault Bridge) and Hamilton Island (accessible only by boat) on the Outaouais attract many vacationers. Next to the Long-Sault Bridge spanning the Ottawa River is an important tourist information centre.