Save Georgian Bay’s Lighthouses

The days are numbered for the iconic lighthouses that have defined the Georgian Bay landscape for over a hundred years. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has deemed them as being ‘surplus’ to their needs, so most of the major lights on the Bay have either demolition or death by neglect in their future.

Above:  twilight settles over the Bustard Islands lighthouse and twin ranges, possibly for the last time.

Wait, what are you talking about? Are you serious?
We’re deadly serious.  Interpreting the letter of the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, the DFO has ignored the spirit of the Act and declared almost 1000 lighthouses across Canada to be surplus.

For a comprehensive listing of the status of all Georgian Bay navigational aids,
see the Georgian Bay Lighthouse Tracker.

You’ve got to be kidding.  Why?
The Coast Guard, to put it simply, doesn’t want to maintain the buildings any more.  Most of the Georgian Bay lights are wooden structures, in remote hard-to-get-to locations.  They would much rather erect simple steel towers that require minimal maintenance than be in the business of, shall we say, property management.  The HLPA was supposed to protect these historical structures, but instead could see the majority of them destroyed.

Above: the light at Pointe au Baril begins to glow as night settles over the Bay.

There must be something we can do.
In order to be saved, a lighthouse has to be nominated for heritage status by May 29 2012 with two things: a list of no less than 25 signed names, and a party willing to take over the structure and maintain it to heritage standards.  This is a financial burden that individuals and many smaller municipalities will be unable to take on.

Sign the petition now.
The Heritage Canada Foundation is organizing a petition to the federal government to provide funds to local groups and communities to save Canada’s lighthouses for future generations.  Without that assistance, we fear that most of the lighthouses on the Bay will be lost.  To date, only the Killarney light has been nominated for heritage status, and Pointe au Baril is in the pipeline.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE CANADA’S LIGHTHOUSES.

For well over a hundred years the lights of Georgian Bay have guided us safely home.  Help spread the word, and maybe for once we can return the favour.

Additional Resources:

• Guide to Preparing a Business Plan Acquiring a Surplus Lighthouse
• List of heritage-nominated lights
• List of active lights declared surplus
• Coast Guard list of lights, buoys, and fog signals in Georigan Bay
• Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (WikiPedia)
• Comprehensive status listing of Georgian Bay navigational aids

Additional Media:

• Preservation advocates battle to save more than 500 ‘surplus’ lighthouses (Toronto Star)
• Feds Want Lights Out At 32 N.B. Lighthouses (CBC podcast)
• Is It Lights Out For Canada’s Lighthouses? (Heritage magazine)
• Lighthouse Deadline Approaching (CBC)

Above, from left to right:  August stars streak over the Bustard Islands light and twin ranges, the Gereaux Island light, the light at Snug Harbour, and severe weather pounds the light at Red Rock.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 7:52 pm. It is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.