Fisgard Lighthouse in Colwood.
Photo Credit Deborah Hudson.

On May 29, 2015, Parks Canada announced that 74 lighthouses across Canada have been designated under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. Of the 74 across Canada, 21 lighthouses in B.C. were granted heritage status.

Petitions for consideration in the program were due in 2012. TLC made 11 applications and 3 were successful: Fisgard Lighthouse in Colwood, Egg Island Lighthouse at Port Hardy, and Boat Bluff Lighthouse on Sarah Island in the Kitimat-Stikine area.

Find out more about the lighthouses granted heritage status under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act on the Parks Canada website.

Boat Bluff Lighthouse on Sarah Island in the Kitimat-Stikine area

Originally established in 1907, the Boat Bluff Lighthouse is situated within a picturesque lightstation setting against the rugged backdrop of the Pacific Northwest mountains and forest. The light guides vessels through a heavily trafficked portion of the Inside Passage.

Egg Island Lighthouse in Port Hardy

The Egg Island Lighthouse is a tall, square tapered, steel frame skeleton tower, located on an island of the same name which, from a certain distance, is said to resemble a hen’s egg on the horizon. The designation includes seven ancillary buildings showcasing traditional red and white exterior colour schemes.

Fisgard Lighthouse in Colwood

The Fisgard Lighthouse is a 17.1-metre (56 feet) tapered, cylindrical tower surmounted by a multi-faceted lantern and attached to a two-storey keeper’s dwelling. Constructed in 1859-1860 to mark the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour, it is the first and oldest lighthouse on Canada’s Pacific Coast.

About the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act

In May 2008, Canada adopted a new law to protect and conserve 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 by preventing the unauthorized alteration or disposition of lighthouses that are designated as heritage lighthouses and by promoting an ongoing public purpose or new uses for them while ensuring their long term protection.