It was an exciting day for both paddlers and tourists as they descended on the Peterborough Lift Lock on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
It was the 2025 Lock and Paddle to celebrate Canada’s Parks Day.
Dubbed as the most unique paddling event in the country, canoeists and kayakers went up and down the worlds tallest hydraulic lift lock that was opened in 1904 along the Trent-Severn Waterway.
At 65-feet, it gave participants a breathtaking view of the area.
A very special moment occurred during the first group of paddlers which numbered approximately 180 – when they arrived at the top they spontaneously broke into O’Canada followed by a number of other songs.
For some participants along with visitors to The National Historic Site they were unaware of the event taking place, but were happy to take part or just enjoy the view and listen to the majestic voice of Caitlin O’Connor playing her guitar as participants waited their turn.
The event took place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and hundreds of participants took part.
Daniel Post, Promotions officer with Ontario Waterways and the Trent-Severn Waterway Parks Canada said the first Lock and Paddle was in 2016, but with COVID it was cancelled for a few years.
Saturday’s event was the third Lock and Paddle with the 2024 event having over 900 participants take the ride up and down the Lock.
Post said people from across Canada along with the United States come up to either participate or watch the event each year and it’s only getting bigger.
The Peterborough Lift Lock was created over 100 years ago due to the elevation change which would have been too large for a normal lock along the canal so it was decided to install a hydraulic lift lock.
For the event, Post said most of the participants start in Little Lake in downtown Peterborough and go through Lock 20 before arriving at the lift lock.
Post described it as a “boat parade” as hundreds of canoes and kayaks paddled up to the lift lock for the event.
Traditionally, they have the life once during the afternoon, but because the event is so popular, they made numerous trips up and down the hydraulic lock.
By the end of the day there were 1,400 paddlers took part in 978 kayaks and canoes.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
