Difficulties in building the first lighthouses ...Lynx Images, Destroy, Future of our Lighthouses, Alone in the Night, Lighthouses, Shipwrecks, Great Lakes, Georgian Bay, Ghosts of the Bay, Enchanted Summers, North Channel & St. Mary's River, Muskoka, Ontario, Ghost Towns, Toronto, Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Rather than continuing to destroy the lighthouses, a more concerted effort must be made to ensure the transfer of responsibility from the Canadian Coast Guard to other interested bodies who will protect these historic structures. Our lighthouses are not only geographical landmarks, they mark a chapter in, and a tangible link to, the story of the creation of this country. So far only two lighthouses on Georgian Bay, Maintoulin Island and the North Channel are protected as Classified sites under Historic Sites and Monuments: the Cove Island tower, and the Griffith Island tower. The lightstations’ other buildings, including Cove Island’s fog plant, and Griffith’s dwelling are not declared heritage buildings. The 1857 Griffith dwelling, one of the earliest buildings in this region of Ontario, sits derelict. Losing these structures is short-sighted and unacceptable.
There are numerous inspiring examples of more far-sighted solutions to the perceived problem. As one American, aware of the situation said: "why do Canadians always see things as problems? Why don’t you see their potential?" In the United States, lighthouses are protected heritage structures, and, by becoming successful tourist draws, actually contribute significantly to local economies. They are focuses of community pride. For information on what communities have done with their lighthouses, the following organization is very helpful:
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association
P.O. Box 580
Allen Park, Michigan
48101
Some of the successfully-preserved lighthouses have been converted to museums and cottages. If you are interested in helping out or in seeking advice, the following organizations and individuals may be of interest:
Friends of Cabot Head
(saved the Cabot Head lighthouse from destruction, restored it, and now operates a successful museum)
RR#1
Miller Lake, Ont.
N0H 1Z0
Friends of Fathom Five National Marine Park
P.O. Box 66
Tobermory, Ontario
NOH 2RO
Contact: Robert Square
A mechanism must be created whereby responsibility is transferred from the Coast Guard to a body which can facilitate
finding local groups interested in preserving and maintaining these buildings. In addition, communities have the right to
be notified well in advance of any plans to destroy lighthouse buildings, so that alternate solutions can be found. A list
follows of elected officials to whom you can write to impress this point. Afterwards follows a list of community groups in
the region who have found alternative uses for the structures.
Elected officials:
The Honourable Fred Mifflin
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
House of Commons
Confederation Building
Room 207
Ottawa, Ontario
KIA OA6
The Honourable Sheila Copps
Minister of Heritage
Terrasses de la Chaudiere
Jules Leger Building
12th floor, 55 Eddy Street
Hull, Quebec
KIA OM5
Opposition Critics:
Vic Althouse
NDP critic for Fisheries and Oceans
House of Commons
East Block, Room 323
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OA6
Yvan Bernier
Block Quebecois Critic for Fisheries and Oceans
House of Commons
Confederation Building,
Room 915
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OA6
Jim Abbot
Reform critic for Hertitage
House of Commons
Confederation Building
Room 915
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OA6
Simon de Jong
NDP crtic for Heritage
House of Commons
Confederation Building
Room 446
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OA6
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