About 1820, Ontario (Upper Canada as it was known then) decided to build the Rideau Canal. Col John Bye was given the job of getting it done and was in need of thousands of labourers, the majority, I believe, coming from Ireland. The canal runs from Ottawa, Ont (called Byetown at that time) to the St Lawrence River. Many thousands were killed in accidents and from what was called, in those days, Swamp Fever. Today we know it as Malaria. The Canal was finished about 1832 and some of those Irish who managed to survive helped to build Ottawa. Many of the streets in Ottawa still bear Irish names to this day. I stand to be corrected but I believe that there are small cemeteries, to this day, all along the route of the canal I'm not sure if a detailed list of the dead was ever kept but probably a good place to start looking would be the Ontario Archives In all likelyhood those coming over would have disembarked at Quebec City(Lower Canada) and then taken a steamer up river. Hopefully this note will be of help to some. I am sure there are genealogists in the Ottawa area who may be able to enlarge on this brief note. Albert, Belleville, Ont -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.5/256 - Release Date: 2/10/06