THUNDER BAY – The Lighthouse and Lake Superior have a long history. Ships on the Great Lakes in the past depended on Lighthouses to guide them away from danger.
On May 29, 2010, a new law came into effect to protect Canada’s maritime heritage. The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act was created so that lighthouses with significant heritage value may be designated as “heritage lighthouses.” Owners of designated heritage lighthouses will be encouraged to adopt the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada to ensure the ongoing protection of these historic places.
Communities or individuals may nominate a lighthouse for designation by submitting a petition to Parks Canada before May 29, 2012. The petition must be signed by at least 25 residents of Canada who are 18 years of age or older. Only federally-owned lighthouses are eligible for designation.
To learn more about the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act or obtain a nomination package (which includes a petition template), please visit Parks Canada’s Heritage Lighthouse Program website at www.parkscanada.gc.ca (under “National Historic Sites”), email lighthouses@pc.gc.ca or phares@pc.gc.ca, or call the Program office at 819-934-9096.