Garth Corigan, Pat Coriigan, P. Corigan Sr. and John Costly are all listed as Navvies or Labourers. While we don’t know specifically the role each played, we do know there were a number of Navvies working on the excavation of the Channel or Cut between Lakes Micmac and Charles. The channel is approximately 1390 meters long and it had to be deep enough to provide for a minimum depth of water of 8’. While the excavation of the entire channel would be challenging, it is difficult to imagine the effort required to carve the channel through the bedrock which they encountered along what was referred to as the “Deep Cut”. We can picture these men wearily making their way home each night to one of the stone huts along the “Cut”. On some evenings they would gather at the “Work Camp” where they could share in a time of song and dance. As you make your way along the trails which parallel the “Cut” you are following in the footsteps of the Navvies.
-Bernie Hart
In this photo you can see the remains of one of the buildings found along the trail in Shubie Park.
Visitors enjoying the "Deep Cut" from the water and the trail.