Thunder Bay group petitions to keep lighthouses

A grassroots group in Thunder Bay wants to make sure guiding lights on Lake Superior, don't go dark.

The group "Friends of Trowbridge Lighthouse" is trying to save 10 lighthouses in the region after the federal government declared the structures surplus.

Group member Paul Capon said the lighthouses are worth saving.

"To lose them would be [to lose] a part of the history of this area [and] that would be a shame," he said.

"You wouldn't want to lose them. They're quite distinctive. Secondly, they have great tourism potential."

Could soon be condemned

The Friends of Trowbridge hope the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will transfer the lighthouses to the organization for caretaking. They will submit a business plan to the government by November.

"If you look at their official website, under their question and answers, they say they are going to hold [the lighthouses], basically until they fall into disrepair," said Diane Berube, another member of the group.

"And when they fall into disrepair, then they'll be taken down."

Group members are casting their hopes on working with the university, municipalities and First Nationsalong the north shore to help preserve and maintain the lighthouses.

"A lot of these buildings are getting close to the point of being condemnable now," Berube said.

"They haven't been looked after in 15 or so years. It wouldn't be hard for the government to say: condemned, and take them down."

The Friends of Trowbridge Lighthouse plan a community meeting for Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Waverly Resource Library.