The history of Sault Ste Marie has always been intertwined with the rapids. The narrative of its industrial past, livelihood, and workforce initiates with the whitefish, transitions to the fur trading dynasties, the colossal industry founded by Francis Clergue, and today’s canals function as arteries for the Great Lakes commerce. The narrative encapsulates the trials of the labourers during the canal’s construction and their subsequent adjustment to mechanization. The narrative concludes with present-day steel production and the abolition of the twelve-hour workday.

Journey with us as we navigate through Sault Ste Marie’s past, utilizing vintage photos and artworks to view the Sault from the perspective of those who once graced these lands.