In many provinces and cities across Canada, the first Monday in August is celebrated as a Civic Holiday. In Ottawa it is called “Colonel By Day”, in honour of Lt. Colonel John By, (1779-1836) of the Royal Engineers, who planned and supervised the building of the Rideau Canal, arguably the world's foremost engineering feat of the 19th century. This year the celebration is particularly fitting, because on this, its 175th anniversary, his engineering marvel has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ... (more)