Lachine Canal activities temporarily suspended following torrential rainfall
Posted July 15, 2025 10:27 am.
Following the torrential rainfall Montreal saw on Sunday, Parks Canada, which manages the Lachine Canal, has issued a notice that all water activities, including fishing, paddling, paddle boarding and kayaking, have been suspended on the waterway until at least Wednesday.
After heavy rainfall, when the city of Montreal’s sewer system is overwhelmed, the city needs to discharge water from a drainpipe into the canal.
The risk of contamination is high, as the water discharged can be a mix of rainwater and sewage, potentially containing E. coli and making the water in the Lachine Canal unsafe.
This leads to Parks Canada temporarily closing the canal to recreational water activities for the public’s safety until after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Swimming in the Lachine Canal is forbidden at all times.
