Sault Ste. Marie will receive $7. 4 million from the federal government for critical infrastructure.
The funding will be used to stabilize and conserve the historic Powerhouse building.
The investment is in addition to the $6. 3 million allocated in the past to the site, making the overall monetary contribution the largest investment in Canada’s national parks.
The total upgrade for the canal’s large revitalization project focusing on its historic core is almost $19 million. It includes upgrades to a number of heritage buildings made up of the Carpentry Shop, Stores Building and Blacksmith’s Shop, as well as Powerhouse and surrounding landscape.
Work on the design has already begun to achieve long-term sustainability and serve as a historic property, said Sheehan, who made the announcement Thursday at the site.
The Powerhouse building enabled Sault Ste. Marie to be the world’s first electrically operated lock and is why it was designated a National Historic Site.
“It’s awesome,” Sheehan said. We were even going “green” here in 1895, in Sault. »
Sheehan also said the improvements will give a boost for tourism after the crumbling infrastructure is repaired and upgraded.
Work on the first phase of the task began before the COVID-19 pandemic, but was delayed. The second phase is now in a position to begin, Sheehan said.
This heritage building is undergoing significant structural stabilization work to remediate its deterioration, largely through groundwater mitigation efforts and other improvements including conservation, rehabilitation, and construction initiatives.
Sheehan said the government is committed to investing in the conservation of Canada’s built heritage and supporting local economies and growth in the tourism sector.
“By ensuring the sustainability of Parks Canada’s venues, the Government is supporting local economies, contributing to the expansion of sustainable tourism and editing their appeal as destinations to celebrate our country.
Work began on this phase of the Powerhouse project in late December and is expected to continue for approximately two years.
The first phase of the Powerhouse allocation began in 2019, with $6. 3 million in federal investment to begin research work, which included removing some of the existing infrastructure to explore and deeply understand water infiltration issues and assess long-term desires to remediate this heritage construction. . With today’s announcement, the overall federal investment for the construction of Powerhouse is approximately $13. 8 million.
Other significant infrastructure investments have been completed at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site over the past eight years, including upgrades to the superintendent residence, paving the site, providing EV charging stations and better access for non-motorized vehicles.
Federal funding has been provided for numerous projects at the site, including the restoration and protection of the site’s Powerhouse building, Stores building and associated structures, repairs to the Superintendent’s Residence, the design and repaving of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site’s entry road and the creation and opening of a new Visitor Centre and exhibit space.
Approximately 100,000 land-based visitors and 55,000 water-based visitors pass through Sault Ste. Marie. Marie. Mary each and every year.
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