Parks Canada is proposing changes to how the Carillon Canal National Historic Site is managed, with an emphasis on maintaining recreational navigation, preserving historic properties, and strengthening regional tourism partnerships. The proposals were presented during a public consultation held Friday, November 13, at the Saint-André-d’Argenteuil (STADA) community hall.
Residents and local stakeholders were invited to review the draft management plan and share their comments on the site’s proposed direction over the coming years.
The plan outlines two main strategies: maintaining the canal’s navigation mandate and sustainably managing its assets, and coordinating its development with regional partners through the Carillon Hub.
Under the first strategy, Parks Canada aims to maintain the number of lock passages and level of service for recreational boaters at 2024 levels, reduce navigation interruptions caused by facility conditions compared with 2025, and continue infrastructure maintenance to address climate-change impacts and ensure boater safety.
The strategy also includes plans to assess the work required to make the Tax Collector’s House habitable by 2029 and explore opportunities to showcase heritage buildings. A decision on the future of the Superintendent’s House is expected by 2030, following consultations with the Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) d’Argenteuil and STADA.
The second strategy focuses on integrating the historic site into regional tourism and development initiatives. Parks Canada proposes continuing its involvement in the Carillon Hub established by the MRC d’Argenteuil through 2035, with the goal of making the historic site an integral part of the regional tourism circuit by 2029.
Other objectives include facilitating the use of the site for events through adapted occupancy terms and conditions, and incorporating Indigenous perspectives into site management and broader discussions about the Carillon Hub.
A Parks Canada representative confirmed with The Review that discussions are underway with several stakeholders, including the MRC d’Argenteuil, STADA, Indigenous communities, and Hydro-Québec.
Next steps
Parks Canada’s online public survey is open from Friday, November 13, to Saturday, December 12, 2026, allowing residents to provide additional feedback on the proposed management plan. The survey is available here: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/canalcarillon/gestion-management/gestion-management/consultation.
A public consultation report is expected in winter 2027, followed by a review and tabling of the management plan in Parliament in spring 2027.
The plan will establish the direction for the site’s management and development over the coming years.
