Lighthouses have long symbolized strength, safety and safe harbour, playing a crucial role in protecting mariners. Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation of Shaganash Island Lighthouse under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.
The Shaganash Island Lighthouse is a tall, square-tapered wooden lighthouse situated on Island No. 10, on the north shore of Lake Superior or gichigamiing (the Big Lake) as it is called by the Anishinaabe people of the region.
The Shaganash Island Lighthouse was established in 1910, though the original tower burned down. The current lighthouse was built in 1922 and operated both as a coastal light directing vessels to the city's harbour, and as a range light identifying safe passage through a rock-strewn channel. The Shaganash Island Lighthouse was an important navigational aid that supported silver mining, pulpwood, and fishing industries. By the mid-twentieth century, the pulpwood industry had receded and was replaced by growing recreational boat traffic that continues to navigate the lake today. It remains a well-known landmark and navigational aid.
With this new designation, 111 lighthouses in eight provinces have now been protected under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. They include some of the country's most architecturally and historically significant lighthouses, including the Fisgard Lighthouse in British Columbia, the Île du Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie in Quebec, and Point Amour in Newfoundland and Labrador, which are treasured symbols of our country's maritime heritage.
The Government of Canada continues to work in close collaboration with community groups and other levels of government to facilitate the designation of heritage lighthouses and ensure their protection for the benefit and enjoyment for generations to come. Designations under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act are made by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
