Colonel By Valley

Colonel By Valley
Valley
Colonel By Valley
Coordinates:45°25′35″N75°41′52″W
Location	Ottawa,Ontario,Canada
Offshore water bodies	Rideau Canal
Geology	Valley
Elevation	45 m (148 ft)
Topo map	NTS31G5Ottawa

TheColonel By Valley,also known asEntrance Valleyis avalleylocated at the confluence of theRideau Canaland theOttawa River,in the heart ofOttawa,Ontario,Canada.The valley is flanked on the west byParliament Hilland on the east by theChateau Laurier.The valley is home to a series oflocks,known as the "Ottawa Locks"in the canal, as it descends into the Ottawa River. The valley is also home to the Commissariat Building, home of theBytown Museum,the oldest stone building still standing in the city.

In celebration of the city's 150th anniversary, the valley was officially named in 1976 for Lieutenant-ColonelJohn By,who engineered the canal. TheCanadian Geographical Names CommitteeandParks Canadainitially vetoed the name, as it did not consider the region to be a valley. However, a member of Heritage Ottawa, author and historian Bob Haig insisted on giving it a name, and used a map from 1828 which called the area "Canal Valley"as proof, and the Government of Ontario decided on giving the name to the valley. A plaque was unveiled on September 26 1976,150 years to the day that By and theEarl of Dalhousie,the Governor of British North America, chose the site as the beginning of the canal.