On Monday, people gathered at the Celtic Cross Monument near the Rideau Canal to honor the estimated 1,000 workers who died building the canal between 1826 and 1832. The annual Celtic Cross Ceremony remembers the Irish, French Canadian, and Indigenous workers who perished due to accidents or disease, many of whom were buried in unmarked graves. The canal, constructed under Lieutenant-Colonel John By after the War of 1812, provided a secure supply route from Montreal to Kingston. Today, the Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and transforms into the world’s largest skating rink in winter.

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