Ottawa Event Date:
Monday, August 3 - Colonel By Day
Bytown Museum / Ottawa Locks

11AM
COLONEL BY DAY OPENING CEREMONY

Colonel By Day is a family fun festival that celebrates the accomplishments of Colonel John By and the labourers who built the Rideau Canal. He was the engineer and overseer of the Rideau Canal, as well as the founder of Bytown which is now Ottawa. Come out to experience Ottawa’s wonderful local history with heritage performers, musical acts, costumed characters, children’s activities and more!

11AM TO 4PM
ONGOING — BYTOWN MUSEUM/ OTTAWA LOCKS

A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE DAY INCLUDING:

• Free admission to the Bytown Museum
• Heritage cookery demonstrations
• Costumed characters of Ottawa's past — including Colonel John By himself
• Outdoor musketry demonstrations
• Lace making o Flax and linen weaving
• Heritage rug braiding o Ingleneuk Country Scottish Dancing
• Aboriginal drumming and music by Northern Voices o Blacksmithing
• Face painting
• Tabletop exhibits from Ottawa's local heritage groups and museums

2PM
CELTIC CROSS CEREMONY 

HOSTED BY THE OTTAWA AND DISTRICT LABOUR
COUNCIL AND THE IRISH SOCIETY OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

Canal Workers Remembered on By's Holiday The building of the Rideau Canal required a yearly work force of up to 7,000 workers. During its 7-year construction, as many as 1,000 workers lost their lives due to accidents and disease. Their deaths went largely unrecorded and many lay in unmarked graves alongside the canal. These workers, who at first lived in temporary communities such as Ottawa's Corktown, played an important part in building the City of Ottawa.

On the day set aside to honour Colonel John By and to celebrate local history, his workers who laboured building the canal will also be remembered. A memorial ceremony to the workers and their families who died during the building of the Rideau Canal between1826-32 will take place at 2pm at the Rideau Canal Workers Monument at the first lock.

The Bytown Museum showcases true tales of courage passion and scandal in Ottawa’s history! Experience the stories and relics of the people who made Ottawa what it is today – uncensored, unembellished and unforgettable! Throughout the Rideau Canal Festival, the Museum will be offering daily children's programs in our family play space. And don't forget to visit our temporary photography exhibition Justin Wonnacott: Somerset. On Monday, August 3, the Museum will be open for free as part of the Colonel By Day celebrations!