Government of Canada Announces New Heritage Lighthouse Designations

Three more lighthouses protected under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act

OTTAWA, Dec. 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, along with Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, continue to preserve heritage lighthouses across Canada with three more designations of heritage lighthouses.

With these new designations, a total of 95 lighthouses in eight provinces have now been protected under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act ? and more designations will follow.

Two of the designated lighthouses are located on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia: Gillis Point Lighthouse and Black Rock Point Lighthouse. Built of wood, both lighthouses guide vessels navigating the Bras D'Or Lakes. The third lighthouse, Green Point, is a cylindrical, cast-iron lighthouse located at Bay Roberts Harbour, in the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Among the 95 heritage lighthouses, 42 are to be managed by the federal government and 53 are to be managed by new, non-federal owners. Community-based organizations and other levels of government are currently working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to take over responsibility for the care and protection of many more lighthouses that are important to their communities.

Parks Canada is encouraging visitors to plan their trips and discover new and exciting destinations in 2017 by consulting Parks Canada's website, or downloading the NEW Parks Canada Mobile App, for a list of hidden gems and other unique and memorable ways to celebrate Canada 150.

Quotes

"The Gillis Point Lighthouse and the Black Rock Point Lighthouse are treasured symbols of our community. This heritage lighthouse designation will ensure that these lighthouses will be protected for generations to come. I am proud to recognize the designation associated with Cape Breton's industrial past, having guided shipments of coal and other goods from Sydney down through the calmer waters of the Bras d'Or Lakes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Both lighthouses are cherished landmarks by the local community and support the local fishing industry and pleasure boaters."

Mark Eyking,
Member of Parliament for Sydney --Victoria

"The Green Point Lighthouse has been in the community for decades and I am delighted with the fact that it is now designated a national heritage lighthouse. The lighthouse served both the inshore and Labrador fisheries, contributing to the growth of the local economy and surrounding communities. Today, Bay Roberts and Port De Grave continue to be busy marine ports with the lighthouse guiding numerous tankers, ferries, fishing and cargo vessels, and recreational boaters."

Ken McDonald,
Member of Parliament for Avalon, Newfoundland

Quick Facts

• The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, which is administered by Parks Canada, allows for the identification and protection of federally-owned lighthouses with heritage value. The federal government and other non-federal owners protect heritage lighthouses under the terms of this Act.
• The last time the federal government announced new heritage lighthouse designations (2) was on February 10th, 2017.
• These designations are made by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Related Products
Backgrounder: Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act ? Program Results and a Course for the Future
Backgrounder: Designated Heritage Lighthouses

Associated Links

Heritage Lighthouses of Canada
Parks Canada mobile application 
Parks Canada website

SOURCE Parks Canada