Charlottetown’s Brighton Beach Front Range Lighthouse receives designation under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, September 12, 2013 -- The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced the designation of one more lighthouse under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. The Brighton Beach Front Range Lighthouse in Charlottetown was designated on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

“Our Government is committed to protecting for future generations as many examples as possible of these important symbols of our heritage,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “I’m delighted to add Charlottetown’s Brighton Beach Front Range Lighthouse to the growing list of lighthouses that are being protected under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.”

“Lighthouses are key symbols of Canada's maritime heritage,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. “Islanders and all Maritimers can be pleased that the Brighton Beach Front Range Lighthouse will be protected and conserved for the benefit and enjoyment of present generations and those that follow. We will continue to work with communities across Canada, like the City of Charlottetown, to preserve our traditional lighthouses.”

Canadians have nominated hundreds of lighthouses to be considered for designation under the Act. Seven lighthouses have now been designated across four provinces. The Brighton Beach Front Range Lighthouse is the first to be designated in Prince Edward Island.

"I am thrilled that the Brighton Beach lighthouse is being designated under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act and that the City of Charlottetown will be protecting it for the future," stated Carol Livingstone, President of the PEI Lighthouse Society. "Our lighthouses have provided protection for over a hundred years and it is now time for us to give protection to these iconic structures. It is especially fitting that the first lighthouse to be designated in the province is located in Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island.”

Built in 1889, the Brighton Beach Front Range Lighthouse has supported the maritime economy of Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island for nearly 125 years. Today, the lighthouse is a highly valued symbol of Charlottetown’s Brighton Ward and of the city as a whole. As part of its designation under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, the lighthouse will be acquired by the City of Charlottetown. Charlottetown will ensure the protection and conservation of the Brighton Beach heritage lighthouse for the future.

"The City of Charlottetown is committed to ensuring the protection and conservation of the Brighton Beach Front Range Lighthouse for the enjoyment of future generations," said Mayor Clifford Lee. "I want to recognize Councilor Rob Lantz and the residents of Brighton for the tremendous amount of time and effort put into this project, which is why the City has agreed to take on ownership of the lighthouse. We are thrilled that this beacon will continue to light the coastline of Charlottetown for years to come."

The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act allows for the identification and protection of federally-owned lighthouses on Canada’s coastal and inland waters that have significant heritage value. The Act, which was adopted in May 2008 and is administered by Parks Canada, helps ensure the heritage character of these heritage lighthouses is protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.

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Information:
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
www.twitter.com/parkscanada

Backgrounder associated with this News Release.

Heritage Lighthouse Designations in Prince Edward Island