New life for Lock 31 in Buckhorn

The Trent-Severn Waterway is an important part of local tourism and quality of life for residents in communities along its length.

Investments toward improvements in Trent-Severn Waterway infrastructure, such as the $600 million announced by the Government of Canada in 2015 and 2016, are necessary in ensuring the structural integrity and safe operability of the waterway infrastructure.

Buckhorn Lock 31 – a masonry lock and one of the busiest on the Trent-Severn Waterway – is a part of this historic infrastructure re-investment. Over the winter months contractors have been working on the upstream and downstream approach walls removing grout and re-pointing and repairing or replacing stones as required. In addition to masonry work, lock gates are in the process of being sandblasted, primed and painted. In order to undertake masonry and painting work during the winter, work areas are covered to create a temporary weather enclosure. The enclosure is heated to create a work space that maintains temperatures to allow mortar, grout, and paint to cure. Shrink wrapping created the lock portion.

As in other Trent-Severn construction projects, work at this site has been staged to accommodate specific constraints due to being in an aquatic environment. Contractors removed the cofferdams that have kept water out of the work site in mid-March so that there is no in-water work taking place during the environmentally sensitive spring fish spawning season. The cofferdams were positioned in a way that would allow dry access to the upstream and downstream approach walls. The work site will now shrink and the area within the lock itself will be the focus of the remaining work.

Parks Canada undertakes construction and maintenance projects in this manner to reenforce their role as stewards of Canada’s natural and cultural resources. Undertaking the rehabilitation project at Buckhorn during the winter and shoulder seasons ensured that visitors will be welcomed to the Trent-Severn Waterway during the navigation season and contribute to tourism in our area. Celebrate Canada 150 in the water with free lockage!

For questions or concerns, or to receive email updates, please contact Parks Canada at Ont. TrentSevern@pc.gc.ca and include “Buckhorn” in the subject heading. Visit www.pc.gc.ca/ tsw Peterborough County for up-to-date news about the Trent-Severn Waterway infrastructure projects.

Jobs, Jobs, Job

Looking for a job for the summer or maybe even longer... There is a job for a university student who plans on returning to university as a Tourism Outreach Assistant in Buckhorn. Based at the Buckhorn Welcome Centre there is a very short turnaround time. When you read this a cover letter and resume must be sent to generalmanager@ KawarthaChamber.ca indicating the position name in the subject line. The municipality is hiring a seasonal labourer, truck driver/ equipment operator, seasonal operator, internal/external part-time transfer station attendant, recreation and facilities summer students, and casual transfer station summer students.

To view advertisements for these positions visit the Trent Lakes Human Resources - Job Postings webpage or the following direct link: http://www.trentlakes.ca/ depa…/ human-resources/ job postings/

Calendar

Spring luncheon: St. Matthew-St. Aidan Anglican Church, Saturday, April 29 at noon, Vikki of Griffin’s Greenhouses presents.

Sharing Stories, Bridging Generations: Celebrating 150 Years of Canada, April 24, 1 p.m. Buckhorn Community Center. Call Community Care for more info. 705-657-217.