Thansika N.

Canada's Atlantis: The Lost Villages of the St. Lawrence

Thansika N.
Edmonton Regional Heritage Fair
Edmonton AB

The Lost Villages were 6 villages and 3 hamlets of Eastern Ontario, which were flooded to make way for the St. Lawrence Seaway and Hydro project. In 1954 construction of the seaway took place, and in 1959, July 1st inundation took place. This was really unfair for the residents because their voice was never heard and they were never given a choice. The residents were given two compensation options, either receive cash compensation with an additional 10% of their properties’ market value or relocation to a new town. However, residents didn’t think this could make up for what they lost. The compensation was also unfair because the market value of the homes went low since they were going to be destroyed for the construction of the seaway, because of this, they couldn’t receive the actual value of their property. Some structures were relocated but many are lost underwater and are still visible above water. Today, the Lost Villages museum preserves many artifacts and relocated buildings, and even lets visitors scuba dive to see the remains. The seaway also made changes in many government policies and rules about property rights. Going back to my research question, the seaway improved trade, generated hydro electric power, and boosted the economy. However, the residents only lost their homes which were compensated so to someone who wasn’t a part of the move the seaway would be worth it, but it is also important to consider the voices of those included.

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

The Lost Villages museum - I emailed them, and they gave me a good place to start, with some website links. 

Interviews of residents, (Website: Sunken Villages) - The interviews gave me a variety of perspectives to look at, providing a lot of background information to find the answer for my question.

The Movie re:LOCATION - The Lost Villages of the St. Lawrence (2020)- It left a visual impact on my mind after seeing it with my own eyes and how people reacted.

Many other websites that gave me more information to learn off of.

What is the historical significance of your topic?

The St. Lawrence Seaway and Hydro project was a very useful project that increased the trade between Canada and the United States. The Moses Saunders power dam generated hydroelectric power for the region. 

The residents of the Lost Villages had a long time impact, because they could never really think of this place as their homes.

This project was the reason why many new day laws are in place, and these laws could protect you and your property one day.

Why did you choose this topic? 

I chose this topic to spread awareness, because this is not a very well known topic, and many people don't even know that an event like this happened. However this project had a lot of changes in the government and this is why we have many new and revised property laws that could protect you and your property one day, so it is important to learn this.