Government funding will rehabilitate aging dam to protect public safety and create good‑paying jobs.
| NEWS | April 17, 2026 |
Blind River – The community of Blind River is benefiting from a provincial infrastructure investment to rehabilitate the Blind River Dam.
This funding is part of the government’s investment of over $11.5 million to rehabilitate four dams across the province to protect people and communities. These projects will create good-paying jobs in the community and ensure stronger, more resilient water control infrastructure that operates safely and reliably for decades to come.
“Ontario’s dams, including the Blind River Dam, play a vital role in supporting the province’s and specifically Algoma-Manitoulin while protecting communities from the risk of flooding. These infrastructure improvements will also ensure the dams continue to meet provincial public safety standards.” Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Bill Rosenberg
Ontario dams play a critical role in the province’s northern and rural economy and protect communities from potential flooding. Construction for the four projects is scheduled to take place over the next four years and will extend the useful service life of each dam for up to 100 years and ensure they continue to meet provincial standards for public safety.
“Strong, reliable dams help keep our waterways safe, protecting families and communities,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “Through today’s investment we are upgrading this essential infrastructure so that these dams continue to meet our high standards and operate safely and effectively for many years to come.”
The four dams being rehabilitated are:
- Ahmic Lake Dam in the Township of Magnetawan
- Blind River Dam in the Town of Blind River
- Graham Lake Dam in the Township of Front of Yonge
- Balaclava Dam in the Township of Greater Madawaska
This new funding builds on the province’s historic investments in dam infrastructure to protect public safety and brings Ontario’s total investment to more than $100 million to upgrade 20 dams across the province.
QUICK FACTS
- The Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 310 dams across the province.
- The province announced an investment of $22 million to repair 6 dams in 2023 and $75 million to repair 10 dams in 2024.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Ontario Investing Over $75 Million to Extend Lifespan of Dams Across the Province
- Ontario Investing in Rehabilitation of Six Dams Across the Province
| Media Contact Maria Votsis Minister’s Office Maria.Votsis@ontario.ca Media Relations Communications Services Branch MediaDesk.MNRF@ontario.ca | news.ontario.ca/mnr/en Disponible en français | |