Lighthouses of Canada: Eastern Québec

The nation of Canada was created by the British North America Act in 1867 with Québec as one of the four original provinces. Québec is descended from New France, the French empire in North America, which fell to Britain during the Seven Years War (1756-63). Today Québec is the largest of Canada's ten provinces by area and second-largest by population. It retains its French heritage and has French as its official language. The heart of the province is the valley of the St. Lawrence River and Estuary. The St. Lawrence is one of the world's greatest inland waterways: ocean-going ships sail the river to Montréal and many continue on the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes. Below Québec city the river widens into an increasingly broad estuary (the largest estuary in the world).

Québec is divided into 17 administrative regions (régions administratives). Outside of the major urban areas Québec is further divided into 86 county-level regional county municipalities (municipalités régionale de comté). This page lists lighthouses of the south shore of the estuary downstream from Québec city as well as the Gaspé Peninsula, which extends out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Îles de la Madeleine located in the Gulf about 175 km (110 mi) southeast of the Gaspé Peninsula. This area includes the two administrative regions Bas-Saint-Laurent (Lower Saint Lawrence) and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

French is the sole official language in Québec. The French word for a lighthouse, phare, is often reserved for the larger coastal lighthouses; a smaller light or harbor light is called a feu (literally "fire," but here meaning "light") or a balise (beacon). The front light of a range (alignement) is the feu antérieur and the rear light is the feu postérieur. In French île is an island, cap is a cape, pointe is a promontory or point of land, roche is a rock, récife is a reef, baie is a bay, estuaire is an estuary or inlet, détroit is a strait, rivière is a river, and havre is a harbor.

Aids to navigation in Canada are maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard, an agency of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. In 2008 Parliament passed the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act to designate and protect historic lighthouses.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. CCG A-numbers are from the Atlantic Coast list of the List of Lights, Buoys, and Fog Signals of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Admiralty numbers are from Volume H of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 110.

General Sources
Quebec Canada Lighthouses
Photos and text, including travel directions, by Kraig Anderson.
Sentinelles des Mers - Autres Pays
Photos and text by Guy Détienne.
Lighthouses in Quebec, Canada
Fine aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Quebec
Photos of Quebec lighthouses posted by C.W. Bash.
Lighthouses in Quebec
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Online List of Lights - Canada
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. Photos for this area are by Michael Boucher.
Lighthouses of the St. Lawrence
Ted Fitzgerald's August 2001 feature article in Lighthouse Digest covers a dozen lighthouses between Cap des Rosiers and Rivière-du-Loup.
La Route des Phares du Québec
An attractive site (in French) with visitor information on most of the traditional lighthouses.
Phares/Lighthouses
Historic lighthouse photos posted on Flickr.com by the Québec office of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Leuchttürme Kanadas auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.
List of Lights, Buoys, and Fog Signals
Official Canadian light lists.
GPSNauticalCharts
Navigation chart information for the lower St. Lawrence and Gaspé.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for the lower St. Lawrence and Gaspé.


La Martre Light, La Martre, September 2023
Instagram photo by Wil DaMesa


Pointe à la Renommée Light, L'Anse à Valleau, August 2023
Instagram photo by Reveva06

Bas-Saint-Laurent (Lower St. Lawrence) Region Lighthouses

Rivière-du-Loup Municipality Lighthouses
Rivière-du-Loup is a historic town of about 20,000 residents; it is the terminal for ferries crossing the St. Lawrence to Saint-Siméon and the highway junction point where the eastbound Trans-Canada Highway turns south to New Brunswick.

** Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie (Brandy Pot) (1)
1862. Inactive since 1964. Approx. 15 m (50 ft) round cylindrical tower rising from the center of 1-1/2 story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; building roofs and lantern roof are bright red. A 2023 photo is at right, Peter Wicki has a 2023 photo, another fine photo is available, Lighthouse Digest has Michel Forand's photo, Nik Kugler has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view of the station. Lighthouse Digest featured the lighthouse in January 2005. This lighthouse deteriorated rapidly after being deactivated; Anderson has a Canadian Archives photo showing its poor appearance in 1977. Founded in 1979, the Société Duvetnor purchased the Pèlerins Archipelago and leased the historic lighthouse. In 1989 the Society restored the lighthouse using historic photos and the original plans. A replica lantern was installed and the lighthouse was opened to the public as a bed and breakfast inn. The company also offers guided tours of the island and lighthouse departing from its dock in Rivière-du-Loup harbor. Located at the east end of the island, off Rivière-du-Loup. Site and tower open to guided tours. Owner/site manager: La Société Duvetnor Ltée (Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie). . ARLHS CAN-601.
* Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie (Brandy Pot) (2)
1964. Active; focal plane 36 m (119 ft); yellow light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 12. 5 (41 ft) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower. Étienne Morin has a 2023 photo showing both the old and new lighthouses and Trabas has Boucher's closeup photo. Located close to the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. CCG A-1827; Admiralty H2164; NGA 6684.

Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie Light, Rivière-du-Loup, March 2023
Instagram photo by Société Duvetnor
* [Pointe de la Rivière du Loup (4?)]
Date unknown (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 8 m (26 ft) "pipe swing pole," according to the Coast Guard. Nathan Price has a view of the pier, an aerial view (pier on the left) is available, and Google's satellite view and street view do not reveal this small structure. The first lighthouse here was an 11 m (36 ft) square wood tower. In 1930 this was replaced by a lantern on a pierhead building seen in the postcard view provided by Michel Forand. Located at the ferry terminal at the end of the Pointe de la Rivière du Loup, a long spit projecting into the river at Rivière du Loup. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Traverse Rivière-du-Loup Saint-Siméon. ARLHS CAN-1164; CCG A-1826; Admiralty H2162; NGA 6692.
** Île Verte (Green Island)
1809. Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft); white flash every 5 s. 17 m (55 ft) round cylindrical stone tower, painted white; lantern painted red. Canada's third oldest lighthouse. Fog signal building houses historical displays. Two keeper's houses are operated as a bed and breakfast inn. Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent posted the 2021 photo at right, André Mecteau has a 2017 photo, Myrique Baumier has a closeup photo, Samuel Delmas has a 2021 photo, Wikimedia has photos, a more distant view is available, Lighthouse Digest featured this light station in February 2006, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The island is accessible by ferry from Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, off QC 132 near the mainland village of Île Verte, but only a few cars can be carried. Located on the north side of the island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) from the ferry terminal. Site and tower open. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Île Verte. . ARLHS CAN-244; CCG A-1761; Admiralty H2146; NGA 6724.

Île Verte Light, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, August 2021
Instagram photo by Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent

Témiscouata Municipality Lighthouse
* Cabano
1999. Active (privately maintained); white light, characteristic unknown. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) hexagonal tower with round lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern and gallery painted red. Guylaine Bégin has a good closeup and Google has a satellite view. Cabano is a town on the east side of Lac Témiscouata roughly halfway between Rivière-du-Loup and the New Brunswick border. Cabano merged with a neighboring town in 2010 to form the city of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac. Located on the south pier, near the marina in Cabano. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Ville de Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac.

Rimouski-Neigette Municipality Lighthouses
Rimouski is a city of about 50,000 residents and an important regional center for the Gaspésie region.

Île Bicquette
1844. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); sector lights: white flash every 6 s and/or red flash every 2 s, depending on direction of approach. 22.5 m (74 ft) round masonry tower, painted white; lantern and watch room painted red. Light station buildings now house a weather station. Patrick Matte has a 2014 photo, Martin Bussieres has a photo, Wikimedia has distant views, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view of the station. DFO has an aerial photo taken around 1980. Located on a small island near the larger Île du Bic, on the south side of the river about 40 km (25 mi) west of Rimouski. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Environment Canada (Îles de l’Estuaire National Wildlife Area). ARLHS CAN-237; CCG A-1748; Admiralty H2084; NGA 6768.
* Port de Rimouski Range Rear (2?)
Date unknown (station established 1926). Active; focal plane 20.5 m (67 ft); red light, 0.5 s on, 0.5 s off. 19 m (62 ft) square skeletal mast carrying a trapezoidal daymark painted orange with a black vertical stripe. Trabas has Boucher's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The front light is on a shorter skeletal mast 700 m (0.44 mi) north. Located just off the Boulevard Jessop (QC 132) at the Rue Saint-Germain on the south side of Rimouski. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CAN-1161; CCG A-1735; Admiralty H2074.1; NGA 6784.
* Rimouski (3)
Date unknown (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 14.5 m (48 ft); green light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 12.5 m (41 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. Trabas has Boucher's photo and Google has a street view and an indistinct satellite view. The original light was a lantern mounted on a waterfront shed; the shed was demolished in 1953 and the light moved to a skeletal tower. Located at the end of the ferry wharf in Rimouski. Site open, tower closed. CCG A-1733; Admiralty H2072; NGA 6776.
**** Pointe-au-Père (Father Point) (3)
1909 (Henri de Miffonis) (station established 1859). Inactive since 1975 (a decorative light was established in 2004). 33 m (108 ft) 16-sided cylindrical concrete tower with eight pyramidal buttresses; original 3rd order Fresnel lens. Lighthouse is white; lantern and watch room painted red. Dennis Jarvis's photo is at right, Anderson's page has photos, David Lougheed has a 2020 photo, John Clement Howe has an excellent photo, Annie Leclerc has a 2022 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The first lighthouse was privately built; the second (1867) was the square masonry tower seen in Huelse's historic postcard view (ca. 1906). In 1975 the light was transferred to a pyramidal steel skeletal tower, which is still standing but has also been deactivated. The light station has been expanded to include a maritime museum recognizing more than 1000 people who died when the Empress of Ireland wrecked near here in 1914; the submarine HMCS Onandaga is also on display. Located at the end of Rue Père-Nouvel, off QC 132 about 10 km (6 mi) east of Rimouski. Site open; museum and tower open daily early June through mid October; the museum is also open Thursday through Sunday late February through early June. Owner: Parks Canada. Site managers: Site Historique Maritime de la Pointe-au-Père . ARLHS CAN-394.
* Pointe-au-Père (Father Point) (4)
1975. Inactive since about 1998. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with gallery. The tower is seen in the street view at right and in many other photos of the historic lighthouse, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located northeast of the 1909 lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty H2070.

Pointe-au-Père Light, Rimouski, September 2021
Google Maps street view

La Mitis Municipality Lighthouse
* Pointe Mitis (Métis-sur-Mer) (2)
1909 (station established 1874). Active (maintained by the municipal government); focal plane 21 m (69 ft); three white flashes every 7.5 s. 21 m (69 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower. Original 3rd order Chance Brothers Fresnel lens, still rotated by the original mechanism. Two 1-1/2 story wood keeper's houses formerly used by the Canadian Forest Service as a research station; one is now available for weekly vacation rental. Henri Willox has a good closeup photo, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Jolene Fauchon has a 2021 photo, Patrick Matte has a more distant view, Wandelst Bruno has a 2022 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Jonny Davis has a street view and Google has a satellite view. The original light was on a square pyramidal wood tower. The present tower was originally round; it was reinforced with additional concrete in 1924, giving it the current hexagonal profile. Ownership of the station was transferred to the municipality in 2016 and in 2018 the station was leased to a preservation group, the Association des Résidents de la Pointe du Phare de Métis-sur-Mer (ARPP). The Association is seeking support for restoration of the lighthouse and the other buildings. Located at the end of a private road off QC 132 about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) west of Métis-sur Mer. Limited parking is at the start of the road and there's a walk of about 1 km (0.6 mi) to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator: Ville de Métis-sur Mer. Site manager: Métis Lighthouse. . ARLHS CAN-376; CCG A-1707; Admiralty H2048; NGA 6800.

Matane Municipality Lighthouse
**** Matane (2)
1907 (station established 1873). Inactive since 1951. 20 m (67 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower, painted white; lantern is red. The 1-1/2 story keeper's house is the tourist information center for Matane. A 2023 photo is at right, Wikimedia has photos, Romaine Pelletier has a fine photo, Jonathan Hutton has a 2021 closeup, Bash has a 2008 photo, a view from the river is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Huelse has a historic postcard view in which the surroundings of the station are more rural than they are today. The station was purchased for $1 by the Société d'Histoire de Matane in 1952 and transferred to the city in 1962. The lighthouse was closed for restoration in the spring of 2019 but reopened during the summer. Located on the Avenue du Phare (QC 132) near the Boulevard Dion on the west side of the city. Parking provided. Site open, museum open early June through early October, tower open to guided tours late June through mid August. Owner: Ville de Matane. Site manager: Musée maritime de Matane . ARLHS CAN-956.

Matane Light, Matane, August 2023
Instagram photo by julie_dragonfly

Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Region: Gaspésie (Gaspé Peninsula) Lighthouses

Gaspésie is a broad peninsula bounded on the north and east by the estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence; on the south it is separated from New Brunswick by the Baie des Chaleurs. The interior of the peninsula features an extension of the Appalachian Mountains known as the Chic-Chocs.

Haute-Gaspésie Municipality Lighthouses
* Cap Chat (2)
1909 (station established 1871). Active (privately maintained); focal plane 41.5 m (136 ft); white flash every 6 s. 13.5 m (44 ft) square cylindrical wood tower. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery bright red. 3rd order Barbier, Bénard and Turenne Fresnel lens. 2-story wood keepers house available for overnight accommodations. Martial Perreault's 2020 photo is at right, James Hatcher has a good 2005 photo, Trabas has Boucher's closeup, Bash has a 2008 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Luc Villeneuve has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. The tower was originally attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, as seen in Huelse's postcard view. The light was deactivated officially in 2007 but subsequently relit. The light station is currently operated as a resort and spa, with several modern chalets in addition to the historic keeper's house. Located off QC 132 about 3 miles west of Cap-Chat. There's a walk of about 300 m (0.2 mi) from parking to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator/site manager: Phare Cap-Chat . ARLHS CAN-089; CCG A-1685; Admiralty H1860; ex-NGA 6832.

Cap Chat Light, Cap-Chat, July 2020
Google Maps photo by Martial Perreault
**** La Martre (2)
1906 (station established 1876). Active; focal plane 39.5 m (130 ft); four long flashes (2 s each), separated by 3 s of darkness, every 30 s. 19 m (63 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower. Lighthouse painted red with one white vertical stripe. The original 2-story wood keeper's house serves as the town hall and welcome center; the fog signal building houses a small museum and gift shop. Wil DaMesa's photo appears at the top of this page, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Carol Bleau has a 2014 photo, Bash has a 2008 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This picturesque lighthouse was preserved for many years by its former keeper Yves Foucrault. Located on a steep hill just off QC 132 in the village of La Martre. Site open; tower open to guided tours daily mid June to early September. Owner/operator: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Municipalité de La Martre (Musée des Phares). Site manager: Musée des Phares . ARLHS CAN-266; CCG A-1657; Admiralty H1842; NGA 6848.
**** Cap de la Madeleine (2)
1907 (station established 1871). Active (privately maintained); focal plane 44.5 m (146 ft); three white flashes (separated by 4.5 s) every 27 s. 11 m (37 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower attached to a small workroom. Lighthouse painted white with red trim. The 3rd order Barbier, Benard & Turenne Fresnel lens was replaced as the active light about 2000 but is still mounted in the lantern. The original keeper's house was replaced by two modern houses in 1956. A 2022 photo is at right, Dennis Jarvis has a photo, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Lighthouse Digest has Michel Forand's photo, Catherine Larivière has a 2021 photo, Wikimedia has numerous photos, Bash has a 2008 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view of the station. The light station includes a museum, restaurant, tourist center, and a research facility. Located at the end of Route du Phare off QC 132 in Rivière-la-Madeleine. Site open, museum open and tower open to guided tours Monday through Friday in June and every day in July, August, and September. Owner/operator: Municipalité de Sainte-Madeleine de la Rivière-Madeleine. Site manager: Association Touristique Ste-Marie Madeleine. . ARLHS CAN-081; CCG A-1651; Admiralty H1828; NGA 6868.

La Côte-de-Gaspé Municipality Lighthouses
* Pointe à la Renommée (L'Anse à Valleau, Fame Point) (3)
1975. Active; focal plane 95 m (312 ft); white flash every 10 s. 33 m (108 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery. Google has a satellite view and a distant street view from route 132. This light is an important guide for ships entering the St. Lawrence estuary around the south side of the Île d'Anticosti. Located on the hilltop about 1.5 km (1 mi) northwest of l'Anse-à-Valleau. Site status unknown. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. CCG A-1640; Admiralty H1800; NGA 6900.

Cap de la Madeleine Light, Rivière-la-Madeleine, August 2022
Instagram photo by inabat23
**** Pointe à la Renommée (L'Anse à Valleau, Fame Point) (1)
1880. Inactive since 1907. 11m (36 ft) square wood tower attached to the front of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lantern removed and replaced by a pyramidal roof. Archives Canada has a 1907 photo showing the old and new lighthouses. Located adjacent to the 1907 lighthouse (next entry).
**** Pointe à la Renommée (L'Anse à Valleau, Fame Point) (2)
1907 (station established 1880). Inactive since 1975. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower attached by a covered walkway to the 1880 keeper's house; 1st order Fresnel lens mounted in the lantern. Entire lighthouse painted red. The active light is nearby on a 31 m (103 ft) skeletal tower. A 2023 photo is at the top of this page, there's a good photo by Rodolphe Lottaz, Serge Robert has an excellent photo, a 2021 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Denis-Carl Robidoux has a drone view and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The lighthouse was dismantled and removed in 1977. In 1981 it was reassembled in front of the Coast Guard headquarters in Québec city, where it remained it was returned to its original site in 1997. The light station also includes a historic early radio station (1904). In 2021-22 the town spent $420,000 for new exhibits in the lighthouse and radio station. The surrounding area is a nature reserve with hiking trails. Located atop a cliff off QC 132 about 5 km (3 mi) west of L'Anse à Valleau. Site open, tower open for guided tours daily from early June through mid October. Owner: Comité Local de Développement de L'Anse à Valleau. Site manager: Site Historique de Pointe-à-la-Renommée . ARLHS CAN-392.
* Cap des Rosiers
1858. Active; focal plane 41.5 m (136 ft); white light, 15 s on, 5 s off. 34 m (112 ft) round limestone tower, faced with brick, painted white; lantern roof is red. Olivier Laurent's 2023 photo is at right, Wikimedia has numerous photos, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Marc Longtin has a 2021 photo, Bash has a 2008 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is Canada's tallest lighthouse and one of only a few tall mid-19th century stone towers built in Atlantic Canada. Unfortunately the lighthouse is endangered. In late 2014 there were disturbing reports that the lighthouse is in urgent need of restoration, with cracks in the masonry being widened by freeze and thaw cycles. Restoration at that time could have cost $3-5 million and neither the federal government nor the town of Gaspé had the necessary funds. In June 2017 the lighthouse had to be closed for emergency repairs; it reopened in July. The site is managed by a non-profit organization, the Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse Historic Site Committee, in cooperation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The town of Gaspé is lobbying to have the light station transferred from Fisheries and Oceans to Parks Canada. By 2021 various politicians and an Internet petition campaign were calling for action; estimation restoration costs were now over $7 million. In July 2023 Fisheries and Oceans ordered the tower closed to visitors due to deteriorating conditions inside the tower. Located on the cape at the village of Cap des Rosiers, off QC 132 east of Gaspé and surrounded by Forillon National Park. Site open (free); tower closed indefinitely. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Site historique maritime du Phare de Cap-des-Rosiers . ARLHS CAN-085; CCG A-1621; Admiralty H1768; NGA 6936.

Cap des Rosiers Light, Gaspé, August 2023
Instagram photo by Olivier Laurent
Cap Gaspé (3)
1950 (station established 1873). Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white; lantern is red. A 2023 photo is at right, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Richard Brockbank has a good closeup, Tony Luo also has a good closeup, Fisheries and Oceans has an aerial photo illustrating the spectacular site, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Petr Vymětal has a street view, and Bing has a satellite view. The original wood lighthouse was destroyed by fire in 1890; Huelse has a historic postcard view of that lighthouse. The second (1892) lighthouse was also wooden; Anderson's page has photos of both of the early lighthouses. Located at the end of a long peninsula at the very tip of the Gaspé Peninsula; accessible by a hike of 8 km (5 mi) round trip (in good weather it's possible to reach the lighthouse by bicycle). Parking is available at the trailhead. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Parks Canada (Forillon National Park). . ARLHS CAN-087; CCG A-1426; Admiralty H1762; NGA 6944.
Gros Cap aux Os
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); red flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. A distant view (a little over halfway down the page) and a second distant view are available and Bing has a distant satellite view. Located on a prominent headland on the north side of the Baie de Gaspé. Probably accessible by a hiking trail. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Parks Canada (Forillon National Park). CCG A-1420.5; Admiralty H1756; NGA 6956.
Île Plate (Gaspé) (3?)
Date unknown (station established 1883). Active; focal plane 20.5 m (67 ft); white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower carrying two rectangular orange daymarks. Michele Curcio has a very distant view from the mainland and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse, a square wood tower attached to a keeper's house, was replaced in 1924. It is not known when the lighthouse was demolished. Note: there is another Île Plate Light on the north coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Located on a small island off Pointe Saint-Pierre, at the south entrance to the Baie de Gaspé. Accessible only by boat, but the light can be seen from QC 312 at Pointe Saint-Pierre. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CAN-782; CCG A-1412; Admiralty H1738; NGA 6980.

Le Rocher-Percé Municipality Lighthouses
Percé is a small town near the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, famous for its proximity to Rocher Percé, a massive rock with a large natural arch located just offshore.

Cap Gaspé Light, Gaspé, August 2023
Instagram photo by fabemilie71
[Cap Blanc (Percé) (1)]
1874. Inactive since 1915. This was originally a 6 m (20 ft) square wood tower with lantern and gallery. The first story of the lighthouse has been relocated as a privately owned storage building. Anderson has a historic photo of the lighthouse and a photo of the salvaged lower portion/storage building; it has a pyramidal roof, is covered with shingles, and is painted beige with blue trim. Google has a 2022 street view and a satellite view. Located on the north side of QC 132 just west of the Nature Océan campground. Site closed (private property) but the building can be seen easily from the road.
* Cap Blanc (Percé) (2)
1915 (station established 1874). Inactive since 1956. 7 m (24 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white with red trim. Michel Lavigne has the photo seen at right, Wikimedia has a photo by Dennis Jarvis, Myrique Baumier has a closeup photo, Piranavan Vivekanandan has a 2021 photo, Martin Walser also has a closeup, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The cape is famous for a natural arch, for which the town of Percé is named; David Behrens has a photo of the lighthouse seen through the arch. The Ville de Percé was seeking ownership of the decommissioned lighthouse and may have acquired it, since the tower appears to have been repainted recently. Located off QC 132 about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) west of Percé, adjacent to a campground, Camping du Phare à Percé. Accessible by a short walk through the campground. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-955.

Cap Blanc Light, Percé, August 2020
Google Maps photo by Michel Lavigne
* Cap d'Espoir (2)
1939 (station established 1873). Active; focal plane 25.5 m (84 ft); four long white flashes (2 s each) every 30 s.14 m (46 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white; lantern is red. Several light station buildings survive and have been sold to the Lalonde family; the 4-bedroom principal keeper's quarters is available for vacation rental by the week. A 2023 photo by Nick D'Aloise is at right, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Audrey Le Louët has a 2019 photo, Myrique Baumier's October 2007 photo shows the lighthouse in need of paint, Bash has a 2008 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This light marks the north side of the broad entrance to the Baie des Chaleurs (Chaleur Bay). The lighthouse was repainted and refurbished in late 2008, although the paint is already flaking off in Josée Bourdon's March 2009 photo. Located at the end of Route du Phare, several miles off QC 132 in Percé. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Les Maisons du Phare. . ARLHS CAN-086; CCG A-1403; Admiralty H1718; NGA 7004.
[Newport Point (3)]
Date unknown (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); yellow flash every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) square skeletal tower. Brigitte Bachand has a 2019 photo and Google has a distant street view and an indistinct satellite view. The original lighthouse was a wood "pepperpot" tower. Located on a small island, connected to land by a causeway, on the east side of the harbor at Newport. Site status unknown. ARLHS CAN-1125; CCG A-1389; Admiralty H1700; NGA 7060.

Cap d'Espoir Light, Percé, November 2023
Instagram photo by Nick D'Aloise
Port Daniel Ouest (2)
1918 (station established 1907). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal pyramidal concrete tower, painted white; lantern is red. Lightphotos.net has Karl Agre's closeup photo, Trabas has Boucher's photo, Maxime Dupont has a 2019 photo, a 2008 photo is available, Bob Charlton has a closeup from the early 1960s, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse, a 9 m (30 ft) square wood tower, was destroyed by fire sometime in 1915-16. In 2016 the Coast Guard advertised for bids on a contract to restore the lighthouse. The lighthouse is located on a sharp promontory close to a former chalet resort (Chaleur Chalets) off Route de la Pointe in Port Daniel. However, the resort closed in 2017 and access to the lighthouse is now through private property. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-781; CCG A-1379; Admiralty H1680; NGA 7072.

Bonaventure Municipality Lighthouses
* [Paspébiac (6?)]
Date unknown (station established 1870). Active; focal plane 10.5 m (35 ft); green flash every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) square skeletal mast. Google has a street view but the small light is not conspicuous in Google's satellite view. The first lighthouse was at the end of spit that shelters the harbor; it had to be moved twice due to erosion. The Lighthouse Digest photo is of the fifth lighthouse, located on the town wharf; it has apparently been replaced by a mast. The current light is at the end of the west breakwater. This breakwater is not walkable but there's a good view from the east breakwater or the waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CAN-978; CCG A-1373.3; Admiralty H1665; NGA 7093.
** Pointe Bonaventure (relocated to Bonaventure River)
1902 (relocated from Pointe Échouerie in 1907). Inactive since 1998. 7.5 m (25 ft) square pyramidal wood tower painted white with red trim; lantern is red. A photo is at right, Lightphotos.net has Karl Agre's closeup photo, Jean-Francois O'Kane has a 2021 photo, another photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a distant street view and a distant satellite view. In 2005 the lighthouse was relocated to a town-owned park, beach and campground on the west side of the Bonaventure River a few miles east of Bonaventure, just off QC 132. Parking available. Site open, tower open for climbing in season. Owner/site manager: Ville de Bonaventure. . ARLHS CAN-779; ex-Admiralty H1658.

Pointe Bonaventure Light, Bonaventure, May 2020
Instagram photo by monblogquebec
* Pointe Duthie (reconstructed)
1903 (reconstructed in 1989). Inactive since 1914. 10 m (33 ft) white square pyramidal wood tower, painted white with red trim. Richard Boudreau has a 2021 photo, Sylvie Paré has a 2020 photo, and Google has a satellite view. In 1918 the lighthouse was relocated in two sections to a nearby farm, where the upper section was destroyed by fire. The lower section was used as a storage shed for many years. In 1989 the Gaspésian British Heritage Centre acquired the surviving sections of the lighthouse and reconstructed it at its present location. The Centre closed in 2017 and apparently the property is now owned by the town of New Richmond. The lighthouse was restored in 2019 or 2020 and is open to visitors. Located in a historical park on Perron Boulevard, off QC 132 in New Richmond. Walking distance through the park is about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) one-way; horse-drawn carts available. Owner/site manager: Ville de New Richmond. ARLHS CAN-985.

Avignon Municipality Lighthouse
* Carleton (Pointe Tracadigache) (4) (replica)
1984 replica of 1911 lighthouse (station established 1872). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red flash every 5 s. 8 m (28 ft) square pyramidal wood tower painted white with red trim; lantern is red. A 2023 photo by Alexandre Havez is at right, Trabas has Boucher's closeup photo, Eric Constantineau has a good photo, Bash has a photo, G. Massicotte has a street view, and Google has a n indistinct satellite view. The 1911 lighthouse burned in 1970 and was replaced by a skeletal tower; the present replica was built by community effort in 1984. Located on Pointe Tracadigache, near the Carleton campground off QC 132 in Carleton-sur-Mer. Site open, tower closed. Owner:/site manager: Ville de Carleton-sur-Mer. . ARLHS CAN-964; CCG A-1365; Admiralty H1638; NGA 7108.
* [Carleton Wharf (3?)]
Date unknown (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); yellow light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) square skeletal mast. Trabas has Boucher's photo and Google has a distant satellite view. Anderson has a Canadian Archives photo of the original lighthouse, a 6.5 m (21 ft) square pepperpot tower. It burned in 1957 and was replaced by a skeletal tower. The modern light has been relocated to the end of an extension of the breakwater of Carleton. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. CCG A-1364; Admiralty H1640; NGA 7112.

Carleton Light, Carleton-sur-Mer, July 2023
Instagram photo by Alexandre Havez

Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Region: Îles-de-la-Madeleine Lighthouses

The Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands in English) comprise a small archipelago in Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence. The islands lie roughly 100 km (60 mi) northeast of Prince Edward Island, the same distance northwest of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, and about 175 km (110 mi) southeast of the Gaspé Peninsula of Québec. Despite their proximity to the first two provinces the Îles de la Madeleine were settled by French colonists and have always been part of Québec, except for a few years (1763-1774) when they were administered by Newfoundland.

The permanent population of the islands is about 12,800. They are accessible by air or by car ferry from Souris, Prince Edward Island. A paved road, QC 199, runs the length of the islands.

Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine Territory Lighthouses
Rocher aux Oiseaux (Bird Rocks) (5)
1967 (station established 1870). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white light, 2 s on, 6 s off. 11 m (35 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a hexagonal concrete base. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. A 1996 photo of the station is available and Wikipedia has a 1943 aerial view, but Bing has only a distant satellite view of the island. This light station, one of the most isolated and difficult in all of Canada, has a complex history described in a May 2004 Lighthouse Digest article by Jeremy D'Entremont. Bird life on the island was so dense as to pose a significant health hazard for the keepers, who also had to deal with extreme isolation and frequent bad weather. Despite these difficult conditions the station was staffed until 1987. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1887 by a hexagonal wood tower. In 1908 the wood tower was raised on a square 1-story concrete base. The wood section was replaced by a new wood section in 1967, and more recently the wood stage has been replaced by the present skeletal tower. Located on a small island in the Rochers aux Oiseaux about 30 km (18 mi) northeast of Grosse-Île. Accessible only by boat; special permission is needed to land on the island, which is an important bird sanctuary. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-040; CCG A-1478; Admiralty H0882; NGA 8432.
Île Brion
1905. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 3 s. 14 m (45 ft) octagonal pyramidal wooden tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. Danielle Langlois's closeup photo is seen at right, Gilles Chênevert has a nice photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. Île Brion is an island about 16 km (10 mi) north of the Îles de la Madeleine. Most of the island is a wildlife refuge, but the vicinity of the lighthouse is excluded from the refuge and is open to visitors. Visits from private boats are not encouraged but excursions to the island are available. Located at the western end of of the island. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-774; CCG A-1479; Admiralty H0886; NGA 8424.
Phare de l'Île Brion
Île Brion Light, August 2006
Wikimedia public domain photo by Danielle Langlois
 
* Île du Havre aux Maisons (Cap Alright)
1928. Inactive since 2015. 8 m (27 ft) square pyramidal wooden tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim. Wikimedia has several photos, Paul Demers has a 2022 photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Currently this is the only lighthouse in the islands identified as a Heritage Lighthouse. A 2017 photo by Janice Holz shows the lighthouse freshly painted and in apparent good condition. Located at the end of the Chemin des Échoueries, off QC 199 at the southeastern point of Île du Havre aux Maisons. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-775; ex-CCG A-1496; ex-Admiralty H0900; ex-NGA 8460.
 
* Île d'Entrée (Entry Island) (4)
1969 (station established 1874). Inactive since 2015. 14.5 m (48 ft) octagonal pyramidal wooden tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house (1905) falling into ruins. A 2018 photo of the abandoned lighthouse is available, William Lamontagne has a 2021 photo, a page for the lighthouse has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Anderson's page has photos of the original lighthouse, the second (1909) lighthouse, and the third (1927) lighthouse. Probably endangered. Île d'Entrée is a small island northwest of Havre Aubert. Located on the south side of the island, which is accessible by passenger ferry from Cap-aux-Meules. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-777; ex-CCG A-1509; ex-Admiralty H0894; ex-NGA 8476.
* Île du Havre-Aubert (L'Anse à la Cabane, Amherst Island, Cap du Sud)
1871. Inactive since 2011. 16.5 m (54 ft) hexagonal wooden tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. 2-story wood keeper's house (1951), painted white with a red roof. A 2021 photo by Jessica Langlois is at the bottom of this page, Robert Fortin has a 2022 photo, Corey Hallisey has a September 2006 photo, Nadia Brodeur has a 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The light was deactivated in December 2011. Sometime in 2012-2014 the lighthouse and keeper's house were relocated northwest across the road to escape erosion of the edge of the cliff. François Lemelin's 2020 photo shows the lighthouse repainted and in apparent good condition. Located at the end of the Chemin du Bassin south of Havre Aubert, at the south end of the islands. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-772; ex-CCG A-1500; ex-Admiralty H0906; ex-NGA 8400.
* Cap-aux-Meules (Grindstone, Pointe Hérisse, Étang-du-Nord) (4)
1987 (station established 1874). Inactive since 2015. 11.5 m (38 ft) round fiberglass tower with lantern. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Carmelita Beltran's photo is at right, Wikimedia has a 2010 photo, Craig Wilson has a 2003 photo, Philippe Richard has a photo, Guy Beaudet has a 2017 photo, Noé Redon has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1912. In 1967 the historic lighthouse was replaced by a slender metal tower, which was replaced by the present fiberglass lighthouse in 1987. Probably endangered. Located At Pointe Hérisse, on the west side of Île du Cap aux Meules. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-961; ex-CCG A-1488; ex-Admiralty H0912; ex-NGA 8408.

Cap-aux-Meules Light, Étang-du-Nord, August 2020
Instagram photo by Carmelita Beltran

 

Information available on lost lighthouses:

  • Gaspé (Gaspé Basin) (1871-1911), Gaspé Basin. This light has no modern counterpart. ARLHS CAN-971.
  • Grande Rivière (1885-1954), Baie des Chaleurs. This light has no modern counterpart. ARLHS CAN-778.
  • Île Blanche Pillar (White Island Reef) (1956-1995), center of the St. Lawrence River off Cacouna. This lighthouse was demolished and replaced by a buoy (CCG A-1823.8). ARLHS CAN-974.
  • Janvrin Shoal (1911-1932), Gaspé Basin. This light has no modern counterpart. ARLHS CAN-1118.
  • Maria (1914-1925), Baie des Chaleurs. The lighthouse was lost when the pier on which it stood was destroyed by a storm. The light has no modern counterpart. ARLHS CAN-1123.
  • Paddy Shoal (1911-1938), Gaspé Basin. The lighthouse was destroyed by ice. This light has no modern counterpart. ARLHS CAN-1128.
  • Pointe au Maquereau (1874-2006), Baie des Chaleurs. The original lighthouse was replaced after it burned in 1905; the second lighthouse was replaced by a skeletal tower in the 1960s; the skeletal tower was removed in 2006. ARLHS CAN-981; ex-Admiralty H1692; ex-NGA 7064.
  • Pointe Basse (1911-1930s), Îles de la Madeleine. The most recent light, a 6 m (20 ft) skeletal mast, was removed in 2017. ARLHS CAN-1297; ex-CCG A-1495; ex-Admiralty H0902; ex-NGA 8464.
  • Port Daniel Wharf (1902-1950s), Baie des Chaleurs. There is no longer a light at this location. ARLHS CAN-1153.
  • Saint-Omer (1911-1960s), Baie des Chaleurs. This lighthouse has no modern counterpart. ARLHS CAN-1304.
  • Sandy Beach Point (1904-1960s), Gaspé Basin. This lighthouse has no modern counterpart. ARLHS CAN-1188.

Notable faux lighthouses:


Havre Aubert Light, Havre Aubert, August 2021
Instagram photo by Jessica Langlois

Adjoining pages: North: Northeastern Québec | South: Northern New Brunswick | Southwest: Southern Québec

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Posted September 12, 2003. Checked and revised February 24, 2024. Lighthouses: 33. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.