Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior

Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior Inc. (CLLS), an umbrella organization represents a movement to restore, preserve, maintain and promote lighthouses to the general public. Incorporated under the Ontario Historical Society, CLLS’s duty is to provide the public access to these unique heritage locations.

The lighthouse trail under CLLS’s stewardship will continue to maintain three lighthouses leases in the region. Porphyry, Shaganash and Trowbridge Lighthouses which will be maintained by the group and provides a  catalyst for community groups, government departments, tourists and heritage users to engaged.

As the majority of surplus lighthouses fall further into disrepair, time is of the essence. Restoring the navigational history and sharing the stories an important priority. Through this membership driven organization, work is being done to not only support our history, but also allows the public to access the environment we live in.

The organizations stretches from US/ Pigeon River Boarder (near Thunder Bay) and follows the shoreline to Sault Ste. Marie, approximately 800 km to the east and south. Simply stated, the Canadian Lighthouses on Lake Superior.

2012

• Founding Committee with founder Susan Visser, Paul Capon, Bob McKay, Paul Morralee,

Archie Hoogsteen and D. Berube

• Public Meeting held at Thunder Bay Public Library to build consensus (36)

• Heritage Lighthouse Preservation Act 2009 referenced to begin petition process

• Petitioned DFO for access to ten light stations from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie

2013

• Board Structure– created organization governance with membership

• Ontario Historical Society– discussion on provincial Incorporation

• Events– 1st Annual Lighthouse Symposium – Breakout groups, speakers

• Documentary– Lighthouse Trailfilm showcases north shore of Lake Superior Lighthouses

• Lease: Porphyry Island with Friends of Porphyry community group under Department of

Fisheries and Oceans Canada for five year term.

2014

• Incorporated as not for profit under Ontario Historical Society, CRA Charitable Status Approved

• Volunteer Hours 450

• Revenues $1,489

• Lease: Shaganash Light (5 years) , Porphyry Island (ongoing)

• Membership 73, Newsletters, Rendezvous Events

• Stakeholders: Thunder Bay Yacht Club, Silver Islet Yacht Club, Wilderness North, Wisk

Air Helicopters, Archie’s Fishing Charters, Lake Superior Water Trail, TransCanada Trail

Network, Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, Lakehead University, TbayTel, Ontario Parks,

Ontario Historical Society, Tourism Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Yacht Club, Thunder Bay Public Library

• Events– 2nd Annual Lighthouse Symposium, Show Lighthouse Trail Documentary

• Activities– Lakehead University University Projects (10) Pie Island Lighthouse – discussion with Fort William First Nations, Silver Islet Dock- express interest to develop in the future, Friends of

Battle Island discussions

2015

• Lease: Porphyry & Shaganash (ongoing)

• Stakeholder Addition: Thunder Bay Salmon Association, Save Our Shipwrecks, Superior

Underwater Club (SOS), Hearth of the Continent, Magic 99.9 and Country 105 FM

• Developed: Risk Management Plan, visitor welcome policy, interpretive programs

• Canada Summer Jobs – 1 student hired for summer

• Volunteer Labour 1,286 hrs

• Visitors to Lighthouse 266

• Operations: included painting of boathouse, dock rehabilitation, update of grounds,

Website, Facebook are infilled with content, started with Meridian booking platform,

cleared grounds, painted homesteads, graveyard, cars, fuel berm, created assets

inventory.

• Activities– Maintain relationship with Battle Island, Silver Islet Dock – work with Silver

Islet Yacht Club on reopen

• Survey – conducted with 67 people on the island, and 166 on mainland.

• Membership -70 visitor experience enhanced through tour and boathouse history walk,

• Events– First Annual Fundraising Dinner, film night at the marina, 2nd Rendezvous on the

water with the TBYC, at Porphyry with SUNORA visit first year, Outward bound visited

for the second year

2016

• Lease: Porphyry, Trowbridge, Shaganash

• Volunteer hours 1,281 hrs

• Visitors 345

• Membership 72 single and families, Outward bound, photography groups, SUNORA

Regatta, outward bound, development of new flora booklet

• Events- Annual Fundraising Dinner, First Annual Spring Cleanup held at Porphyry and

Trowbridge

• Programs: Canada Summer Jobs – Students (2) and Artist in Residence – First Season (4)

• Shareholders: Ministry of Environment, Great Lakes Community Guardian Fund,

Thunder Bay Port Authority, Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, Lakehead

University Recreation and Tourism, Thunder Bay Public Library

• Operations– boathouse painted, new outhouse locations, shore clean up, Docking

facilities enhanced

• New safety Signage: Gallery & Theatre and CBC Film about family and

mini museum, House Rentals 8 nights, due to a major rescue on Lake Superior safety

signage updated.

• Visitor Survey N.19

• Media Coverage– Created Lighthouse Dispatch Series for the Chronicle Journal (10)

articles published, created extensive radio contest with local radio station.

2017

• Volunteer hours 1,833 hours

• Visitors 550

• Membership 55 including single and family

• Programs: Artist in Residence Program (4) and Canada Summer Students attend (2)

• Events- Annual Spring Cleanup held at Porphyry and Trowbridge, continues with book

clubs and outward bound groups, Canada 150 celebrations, TransCanada Celebrations,

Annual TBYC Sunora and Rendezvous Event, Silver Islet Yacht Club has a Rendezvous,

more book clubs attend with “the Lightkeeper’s Daughters’ Jean E. Penziwol, Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, brings home the Alexander Henry Icebreaker and aids to navigation.

• Operations- Coastal walking trail, more docking, new mooring ball, compost toilets

installed. Lake Superior Water Trail signs (3) are added, Visitor Experience Signs (6) by

parks Canada installed at Porphyry,

• Survey N.22

• Activities: Byth Academy from Toronto does a major field trip

• Media- Lighthouse Dispatches (8) articles written for local paper, Facebook Posts 49

2018

• Membership– 100 single and 24 family

• Volunteer Hours 2,557

• Events– Fundraising Dinner, Annual Spring Cleanup held at Porphyry and Trowbridge

• Programs– Artist in Residence Program (4) Canada Summer Jobs (3) students, New Host

Keeper Program

• Visitors – 660 new lighthouse tour with new host keeper program

• Operations: New visitor reception area and gift shop, new sauna built, repaired building

steps, added 80′ of docking, Shaganash Island light is remediated of lead paint, and

repainted,

• Stakeholders: Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, Silver Islet Harbour Association- lighthouse

group becomes a partner at the table to take over docks at Silver Islet. Destination

Ontario, Superior Country (membership),

• Outreach – FB Posts 123, Lighthouse Dispatched (14) with local paper

• Analysis- K Gibbons and Dr. Rosenthal do a strategic visitor experience review of site,

•Survey N.70

• Excursions – New Lightkeepers Tour with charter companies: Sail Superior from Tbay

and Archie’s Charters from Silver Islet

• Alexander Henry Museum Ship– Exhibit opened with museum room and professionally

produced panels and two 15ft lighthouse towers to book end 200 foot ship.

• Media- Lighthouse Dispatches (14) Facebook 150 posts, Instagram (48)

• Award from Ontario Historical Society – Scadding Award of Excellence.

2019

• Visitors 633

• Volunteer Hours 2,254

• Membership 144 with 130 single and 14 families

• Programs: Host Keeper(13), Artist in Residence (4), Canada Summer Jobs (3)

• Visitor Experience– New Brochure, Postcard Giveaways, Orientation Map, Branding Signage,

• Operations: new golf cart and storage shed, new propane fridge, additional 60ft of

docking, new anchor system, new boathouse bbq.

• Media– FB Posts 220, Lighthouse Dispatches (14), Instagram (10), Parks Canada assists

with building visitor interpretive narrative (v.6)

• Lease: Porphyry and Trowbridge updated to a ten-year lease

• Events: Annual Fundraising Dinner, New Speakers Series, new Lighthouses Festival of

Music, Ocean Bridge Parks Canada Program added,

• Survey N.15

2020

•

• Visitors 841

• Volunteer Hours 1,654

• Membership

•Programs: Host Keeper(17), Artist in Residence (0), Canada Summer Jobs (2)

Events: Speaker Series, SUNORA Event, Corn Roast Butterfly Festival, Ocean Bridge

Parks Canada event, Cancelled: Fundraiser, Film Night, 3 Speakers Nights,

• Programs: Host Keeper, Canada Summer Jobs, Summer Experience Program

• Excursions: Prince Arthurs Landing Charter Lighthouse Tour, Silver Islet Charter Lighthouse Tour

• House Rentals, Room Rentals, Camping

• Survey N.78 and 15 stakeholders for Lighthouse Strategic Plan

2021

• Visitors 940

• Volunteer Hours 1,654

• Membership 54 single memberships

• Survey N.15 (done online)

•Events: Speaker Series, SUNORA Event, Corn Roast Butterfly Festival, Canadian Wildlife Federation – onsite environmental study. Parks Canada event, Cancelled: Fundraiser, Film Night, 2 Speaker Series presentation.

• to be updated