Boating season on the Rideau Canal officially starts on May 15! 🔥 This means you’ll be able to watch boats pass through the famous Ottawa Locks near Parliament Hill. 😃 And here’s the fascinating part… The locks are still operated manually exactly the same way they were in the 1800s. No modern automation. Just people opening and closing the massive lock gates by hand. The full locking process can take up to two hours depending on boat traffic, and during peak season, boats can pass through the locks up to 17-20 times in a single day. This is one of the coolest free things to watch in Ottawa during summer. 😄 Hours of Operation: May 15–June 18 Monday to Thursday: 10am–4pm Friday to Sunday and Victoria Day (May 18): 9am–7pm. Have you ever seen a boat pass through the Ottawa locks? #rideaucanal #boating #boatingseason #thingstodoinottawa #ottawaisnotboring