Dow’s Lake Area is under threat

Massive development all around Dow’s Lake threatens to permanently change an idyllic oasis. The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built after the War of 1812 to create a safe internal supply chain. Commissioner’s Park is home to the Air India monument, a reminder of the innocents lost. A timeless guardian of the lake and our national values, the statue of the Man with Two Hats. His twin resides in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

The homes in the area sit on the former Booth lumber yard and link us to the time of the great lumber and rail barons. Carling Avenue pays homage to former MP Sir John Carling, chief proponent of the Central Experimental Farm, and through Carling Breweries.

Farther along the Rideau Canal, one will come upon a Celtic Cross, just below the Château Laurier commemorating the many Irish who died building the canal. As well, in 1870, a fire ravaged the Ottawa Valley, displaced 2,000 residents. The dam at Dow’s Lake was breached and the water that flowed down what is now Preston Street and saved the capital. It is absolutely imperative that development in the Dow’s Lake area — both within it and around it, be respectful. There is heritage here that is worth remembering, important to not only the immediate community, but to the entire country. Joseph Federico, Ottawa SHARE YOUR VIEWS: letters@ottawacitizen.com