Recent News Return to News!
November 28, 2016: Métis-sur-mer Acquires Pointe-Mitis Lighthouse
Over five years after submitting its proposal to the government of Canada, the municipality of Métis-sur-Mer is the new owner of the Point-Mitis Lightstation, including the lighthouse itself and three accessory buildings. The acquisition was preceded by the heritage designation of the site earlier in the summer in response to a petition filed by Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence (HLSL) in 2010 under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. The municipality will now work closely with the Association des Résidents de la Pointe du Phare (ARPP), the not-for-profit group that will manage the site, to restore the buildings and make the site accessible to the public while maintaining its aesthetic and scientific value.
The lighthouse, located at the gateway to the Gaspé region, was built over a hundred years ago, replacing the original one built in 1874. After the light was automated in 1978, the buildings were used as a research facility by the Canadian Forest Service until 1995. Largely unused since, the buildings have suffered from deferred maintenance and will require extensive renovations. Contaminated soils were, however, removed and replaced in 2010.
Federal funds of $150,000 have already been received to begin the renovations as well as other work, including the removal of the mercury used in the operation of the light mechanism. Now that the acquisition is complete, the ARPP will resume fundraising efforts, which have already resulted in almost $100,000 in private donations and pledges. Once renovations are finished, the buildings will be rented as accommodations and workspace for scientific, cultural and educational activities. Although the site was not previously accessible to the general public, current plans allow limited access to certain areas of the site on a daily basis with greater access on select days and during special events.
For further information, please contact Ladd Johnson (laddjohnson@pharemetislighthouse.org / 418.998.6622) orStéphane Marcheterre (metissurmer@mitis.qc.ca / 418.936.3255). To learn more about the lighthouse and the project to preserve it, please go to www.metislighthouse.ca/english/ and www.savemetislighthouse.org.
Over five years after submitting its proposal to the government of Canada, the municipality of Métis-sur-Mer is the new owner of the Point-Mitis Lightstation, including the lighthouse itself and three accessory buildings. The acquisition was preceded by the heritage designation of the site earlier in the summer in response to a petition filed by Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence (HLSL) in 2010 under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. The municipality will now work closely with the Association des Résidents de la Pointe du Phare (ARPP), the not-for-profit group that will manage the site, to restore the buildings and make the site accessible to the public while maintaining its aesthetic and scientific value.
The lighthouse, located at the gateway to the Gaspé region, was built over a hundred years ago, replacing the original one built in 1874. After the light was automated in 1978, the buildings were used as a research facility by the Canadian Forest Service until 1995. Largely unused since, the buildings have suffered from deferred maintenance and will require extensive renovations. Contaminated soils were, however, removed and replaced in 2010.
Federal funds of $150,000 have already been received to begin the renovations as well as other work, including the removal of the mercury used in the operation of the light mechanism. Now that the acquisition is complete, the ARPP will resume fundraising efforts, which have already resulted in almost $100,000 in private donations and pledges. Once renovations are finished, the buildings will be rented as accommodations and workspace for scientific, cultural and educational activities. Although the site was not previously accessible to the general public, current plans allow limited access to certain areas of the site on a daily basis with greater access on select days and during special events.
For further information, please contact Ladd Johnson (laddjohnson@pharemetislighthouse.org / 418.998.6622) orStéphane Marcheterre (metissurmer@mitis.qc.ca / 418.936.3255). To learn more about the lighthouse and the project to preserve it, please go to www.metislighthouse.ca/english/ and www.savemetislighthouse.org.
