The Murray Canal is a recreational boaters’ route from Presqu’ile Bay to the Bay of Quinte. When it was built in the late 19th century, it was a major commercial waterway that local businesspeople and politicians fought long and hard to create. Photo by Sean Scally.
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Just outside of Brighton, along County Road 64, is the beautiful Murray Canal. Today, it is a recreational waterway that takes boaters from Presqu’ile Bay to the Bay of Quinte. Most people use it to get to the Trent-Severn Waterway or to Kingston by boat.
However, in the 19th century, businesspeople, residents, and politicians saw it as a vital route for commerce, national security, and safety.
While the Welland and Rideau canals were built in the mid-1800s, the Murray Canal was consistently delayed. Lobbying efforts by local businesspeople and politicians and a fateful re-election campaign won by Sir John A. Macdonald finally moved the project forward.
A new book by local historian Dan Buchanan tells this amazing story. If you are curious about local history, have a listen.
Originally aired: March 8, 2024
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