This memorial Celtic cross is dedicated to the workers and their famillies who died while building the Rideau Canal. It was constructed after the War of 1812 on fears of an American invasion of the St. Lawrence River, it served as an alternative shipping route between Montreal and Kingston.
The granite celtic cross has five engraved symbols:
centre - an Irish harp to symbolize the nationality of most of the workers
top - a pick and shovel to symbolize to tools used in the construction of the canal
right - a mosquito to symbolize the ever-present bug
bottom - a wheel barrow, another tool used in the construction
left - an explosion to symbolize the use of explosives during the construction.
