The Workers

Over the nearly twenty-year span of the project, thousands of men worked on the construction of the Fourth Welland Canal, from engineers to ditch diggers. It was as much a source of income and jobs as it was costly to build. It required educated engineers and planners, as well as skilled labourers to construct. Unskilled labour jobs were available in the plenty, as able-bodied men who could follow instructions were essential to building the canal. 

The Fourth Welland Canal was constructed before modern excavation and construction equipment was available. While steam and hydraulic-powered excavation machines were used, a large amount of the work done on the canal was labour done by hand. Construction work in the early 20th century was not an easy job, and both labourers and engineers for the canal had to occasionally fight for better pay and work conditions from the government. Alex Grant, the engineer in charge of the project had to fight for increased funds to pay for materials and labour costs while ensuring workers had the right to have Sundays off.  

Modern construction work is still dangerous, but far safer than it was a century ago. Throughout the construction of the Fourth Welland Canal from 1913 to 1832, 137 men died building it. These men included war veterans, immigrants, fathers and sons. In 2017 the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial was unveiled at Lock 3 of the Welland Canal to honour those men.