The Shand Dam, on southwestern Ontario's Grand River, was the first multi-purpose dam in Canada, built for flood control and low flow augmentation to improve water quality during the dry summer months. The dam created a 12-km long reservoir (Belwood Lake) the centre of the Belwood Conservation area.Opening
Over 3500 people attended the opening on August 7, 1942. A huge street dance followed in Fergus, 5-km downstream from the dam. The Elora and Fergus post offices were provided with commemorative rubber cachet handstamps to mark the event. Examples of the special markings are shown in this post.
Fergus
Fergus, August 7, 1942
Fergus cachet
Elora
The Elora cachet was used on commercial mail after Shand Dam's opening day.
Elora to Elmira, August 13, 1942
Elora cachet