The Passage of the Rapids Prince
Whether as a privileged passenger on board or an admiring spectator on the shore, witnessing the Rapids Prince passing through the canal was always a memorable event.
Built in 1911, the Rapids Prince, along with two other white excursion boats, the Rapids King and the Rapids Queen, belonged to the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company.
In 1913, following its formation, the Canada Steamship Line purchased the fleet and became its operator. The Rapids Prince was the most famous and majestic of these white boats.
On board, passengers can enjoy a unique experience of “jumping” the rapids of the St. Lawrence River. This “jump” of the rapids begins in Prescott, Ontario, heading towards Montreal.
The Rapids Prince used the Soulanges Canal to navigate upstream toward Ontario or when the river’s water level was too low for a safe descent through the rapids. Each time it passed through the canal, curious onlookers gathered to admire the vessel and wave to its passengers on deck.
Guiding a vessel of over 1,000 tons through the rapids required highly skilled pilots with exceptional navigation abilities.
The Rapids Prince made its final rapid descent at the end of summer in 1949, under the command of the unforgettable Captain Joseph-Édouard Ouellet (1886–1963).
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