Heritage Lighthouses of Canada

Petition Process

The petition process allows the public to nominate for designation those lighthouses which they consider to possess significant heritage value.

The Minister must consider for designation all federal lighthouses for which a petition is received between May 29, 2010 and May 29, 2012.

A petition must specify the lighthouse in question and be signed by at least 25 residents of Canada who are 18 years of age or older. The names and addresses of the petitioners must appear on the petition. Petitions must be addressed to the Minister responsible for Parks Canada (the Minister of the Environment). The initiator of the petition should make a copy of the petition for their records, and send the original to the Heritage Lighthouse Program office.

The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act contains special provisions pertaining to the designation of lighthouses that are surplus to federal operational requirements. A surplus lighthouse may only be designated if a person or body submits a written commitment to buy or otherwise acquire the lighthouse and to protect its heritage character in the event that it is designated as a heritage lighthouse. This commitment does not need to accompany the initial petition, but will be required in order for the lighthouse to be designated.