Heritage Lighthouse Program

In May 2008, Canada adopted a new law to protect heritage lighthouses: the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.

This Act is an opportunity for Canadians to participate in the conservation and protection of heritage lighthouses that form an integral part of Canada’s identity, culture and heritage.

The Act conserves and protects lighthouses in four key ways:

  • By providing a process for the selection and designation of heritage lighthouses, which includes a two-year public petition period to nominate any federally-owned lighthouse for designation.
  • By preventing the unauthorized alteration or disposition of lighthouses that are designated as heritage lighthouses.
  • By requiring that heritage lighthouses be reasonably maintained and altered only in keeping with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.
  • By facilitating sales or transfers of heritage lighthouses to promote an ongoing public purpose or new uses for them while ensuring their long term protection.

The designation of a heritage lighthouse may also include related buildings that contribute to the heritage character of the lighthouse, such as keepers’ residences and fog alarm buildings.

Discover how the petition, designation, and conservation processes work. If you are interested in nominating a lighthouse owned by the federal government that has not yet been nominated, you can refer to their Petition Process page to learn more. Petitions must be received by the Heritage Lighthouse Program on or before 29 May 2012.

For more information: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/progs/lhn-nhs/pp-hl/index.aspx