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History of GCRP
The purpose of the Galop Canal Revitalization Project is to maximize the potential of the Galop Canal and area. Our organization is dedicated to the restoration and revitalization of the Galop Canal and area.
A well attended public open house was held to provide the community with an opportunity to give their input. From this, a 10 year plan was developed and presented to the various stakeholders of the project. In June 2005, the plan was approved in principle by the Township Council of South Dundas. The plan was then delivered to the Ontario Power Generation and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation for their comment and review. As these organizations are landowners in the area surrounding the canal, the Galop Canal Revitalization Project has been working closely with them. Our stakeholders are supportive of the project and have provided valuable input on the implementation of the plan.
Our plan recognizes the valuable asset of the old locks in terms of creating a thriving Marina that captures the flow of boaters between Montreal and the Thousand Islands. An upgraded and expanded marina operation will be important to the future sustainability of the project.
At the recommendation of funding agencies and various other non-profit organizations, a not-for-profit corporation was formed in November 2005 to oversee the implementation and execution of the plan. The chair of the board is Kathy McIntosh, with Nathalie Sirois as treasurer and Gail Gellner as secretary. General manager Geraldine Fitzsimmons and Consultant Steven Smellie are indispensable resources to the Galop Canal initiative.
To date, the Galop Canal Revitalization Project has completed several ambitions outlined in the development plan—and it is important to note that such a detailed plan is a great accomplishment in and of itself. The revitalization of the historic lockmasters shed (the last of its kind), the solidification of partnerships with local businesses and the Township of South Dundas, and the successful completion of funding applications from HRSDC and Trillium are examples of ways in which the ambitions outlined in the development plan are being fulfilled. Futhermore, during the summer of 2005, summer student Meghan Macdonald created conceptual drawings of the revitalized Galop Canal area which have since been used as a communication tool to local residents to explain our goals within this organization. Throughout the summer of 2006, summer student Amanda Adlington created this new site as a tool for communicating to more people about our organization. In the spring of 2006, the Iroquois/Matilda Lions Club funded the creation of a garden under the mural of the old village waterfront.
