Lighthouses of Canada: Eastern Nova Scotia

The nation of Canada was created by the British North America Act in 1867 with Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia as the four original provinces. Nova Scotia is the province at the extreme southeastern corner of Canada. The southern and eastern parts of the province lie on a peninsula facing the Atlantic to the east and the Bay of Fundy to the west. To the north the peninsula is joined to the rest of Canada by an isthmus that separates the Bay of Fundy on the south from Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the north. Cape Breton Island lies to the northeast, separated from the main part of the province by the narrow Strait of Canso.

In the 17th century Nova Scotia was called Acadia as a part of New France, the French empire in North America. Britain conquered Acadia in 1710 during Queen Anne's War and established the Nova Scotia colony in the peninsula. Cape Breton Island continued as a French colony until it was also conquered by Britain in 1758 during the Seven Years War (1756-63).

For its size Nova Scotia has an extraordinarily long coastline and a very large number of lighthouses, roughly 170 in all. The Directory covers these lighthouses on five pages. This page includes lighthouses of the east coast in two county-level units, Guysborough County and the Halifax Regional Municipality; this includes the coast from the Canso Strait in the north to St. Margaret's Bay in the south.

Aids to navigation in Canada are maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard. In 2008 Parliament passed the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act to designate and protect historic lighthouses.

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

General Sources
Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society
This outstanding web site has a wealth of photos, information, and news.
Nova Scotia Canada Lighthouses
Excellent photos plus historical and visitor information from Kraig Anderson's LighthouseFriends.com web site.
Nova Scotia
Lighthouse photos from visits by C.W. Bash in 2008.
Lighthouses in Nova Scotia
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia; included is a large collection of photos by Dennis Jarvis.
World of Lighthouses - Canada Atlantic Coast
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Lighthouses in Nova Scotia, Canada
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Leuchttürme an der kanadischen Ostküste
Photos of Nova Scotia lighthouses taken in 2004 by Bernd Claußen.
Ocean Wanderers - July 2012
This blog post by Mark and Rhonda Henneberry includes rare photos of offshore lighthouses on this coast.
Online List of Lights - Canada
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. Many of the photos for this area are by Klaus Potschien.
Leuchttürme Kanadas auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.
List of Lights, Buoys, and Fog Signals
Official Canadian light lists.
GPSNauticalCharts
Navigational chart information for Nova Scotia.
Navionics Charts
Navigational chart for Nova Scotia.


George's Island Light, Halifax, July 2023
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Thomas Rogers


1963 Port Bickerton Light, Port Bickerton, April 2021
Instagram photo by Cooper Lee Bombardier

Guysborough County: Guysborough District Lighthouses

Chedabucto Bay Lighthouses
#Eddy Point (4)
1989 (station established 1851). Demolished in 2003. The lighthouse, a 12 m (39 ft) round fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery, was deactivated and demolished in 2003. NSLPS has a photo of the former lighthouse and Google has a satellite view of the site. Earlier lighthouses were built here in 1851, 1895, and 1929; Anderson's page has photos of the 1895 and 1929 lighthouses. The 1937 keeper's house was sold and removed in 1988; its location is not known. Located on Eddy Point, at the southern entrance to the Strait of Canso from Chedabucto Bay. Site open. ARLHS CAN-167; ex-CCG A-689; ex-Admiralty H3420.
* Eddy Point Range Rear
2003. Active; focal plane 26.5 m (87 ft); white flash every 4 s; also a continuous yellow light seen only along the range line. 19 m (62 ft) triangular skeletal tower carrying a trapezoidal slatted daymark painted blue with a red vertical stripe. Bash has a photo, Trabas has Potschien's photo, and Google has a satellite view. The range lights replaced the historic Eddy Point lighthouse and guide eastbound vessels leaving the Strait of Canso. The front range light is on a similar but shorter tower. Located about 500 m (0.4 mi) south of the former Eddy Point lighthouse. Site status unknown, but the light can be seen from the end of Eddy Light Road. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. CCG A-689.4; Admiralty H3421.1; NGA 9420.
Guysborough (3)
1981 (station established 1846). Inactive since 1996. 9 m (30 ft) round fiberglass tower, painted white with two narrow red horizontal bands. Jordan Crowe has a closeup 2010 photo and Google has a distant satellite view. The original lighthouse burned in 1904. Lighthouse Digest has Michel Forand's historic photo of the second (1905) lighthouse, a 2-story wood keeper's house with a lantern on the roof. Located on private property on the southwest side of the entrance to Guysborough Harbour. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-1217.
Queensport (Rook Island) (2)
1936 (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12.5 m (41 ft): lantern and gallery mounted on the center of the roof of 2-story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern and roof are red. Oliver Paoli's 2023 photo is at right, Wikimedia has Jarvis's photo, Ron Pettitt has a photo, Bash has a 2008 photo, Trabas has Potschien's photo, Lighthouse Digest has a photo by Jim Phillips, and Google has a satellite view. Apparently a sibling of Isaac's Harbour Light. In 1991 the Dept. of Transportation announced its intention to dismantle the lighthouse, triggering local efforts to save and restore it. The Municipality of Guysborough painted and restored the exterior of the building. The site is managed by a local organization, Keepers of the Beacon. The Keepers also operate the Out of the Fog Lighthouse Museum in Guysborough, where a fine collection of lighthouse artifacts was on display. The lighthouse has Federal Heritage status. Located on Rook Island, a small island in Chedabucto Bay between Guysborough and Canso. Accessible only by boat but visible from a popular picnic area on NS 16. Site open, tower closed. The museum is open Thursday through Monday, mid June through mid September. Site manager: Keepers of the Beacon. . ARLHS CAN-425; CCG A-683; Admiralty H3456; NGA 9492.

Queensport (Rook Island) Light, Queensport, August 2023
Google Maps photo by Oliver Paoli

Canso Area Lighthouses
Canso is a village at the easternmost tip of mainland Nova Scotia and on the south side of the entrance to Chedabucto Bay. The harbor is protected by the Canso Islands, the site of French fishing bases as early as the 15th century and the location of a British fort built in 1720.

Canso Harbour (Hart Island) (3)
Date unknown (station established 1872). Inactive since the 1960s. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical wood tower attached to a 1-story wood fog signal building. Lantern removed. Building painted white; the roof is red. Jarvis has a photo, Lighthouse Digest has a photo by Jim Phillips, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was replaced by the small beacons of the Hart Island Range (CCG A-679/679.1); both can be seen in Jarvis's photo. Located on Hart Island marking the northern entrance to Canso's harbor, about 800 m (1/2 mi) northeast of the town's waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Parks Canada (Canso Islands National Historic Site). ARLHS CAN-1366.
* Canso Range Front
1905. Active; focal plane 10 m (34 ft); continuous yellow light. 8.5 m (28 ft) square pyramidal vinyl-clad wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line. The original lantern of this lighthouse was removed in 1968. Bash has a 2008 photo showing the still-headless lighthouse, Trabas has Potschien's older photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Later in 2008 the lighthouse was moved back from the water's edge to its present location and a replica lantern was installed. Located off the east end of Union Street in Canso. Site and tower closed (private property), but accessible by permission and easily visible. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-634; CCG A-672; Admiralty H3460; NGA 9528.
* Canso Range Rear
1905. Active; focal plane 28.5 m (94 ft); continuous yellow light. 17 m (56 ft) square pyramidal vinyl-clad wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line; the lantern roof is also red. Katie Prescott's 2023 photo is at right, Bash has a 2008 photo, another closeup photo is available, Jarvis has a photo, Trabas has Potschien's photo, Marinas.com has excellent aerial photos, and Google has a 2012 street view a satellite view. Located off Wilmot Street 384 m (1260 ft) west of the front light, behind the Eastern Memorial Hospital in Canso. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-077; CCG A-673; Admiralty H3460.1; NGA 9532.
Cranberry Islands (Cranberry Island South, Canso Harbour) (3)
1978 (station established 1929). Inactive. 2-story wood duplex keeper's house in dilapidated condition. Sandy Lumsden Gallant has a 2020 photo, Tristan Barnes has a foggy view from the sea, Jarvis has a distant view, Trabas has Potschien's distant view, and Google has a satellite view. The first light station in the Canso area was established at the north end of the island in 1818 and there were several towers at that location before the light was brought to the south end in 1929. The 1929 lighthouse, a 2-story keeper's house with lantern centered on the roof, was replaced in 1971 with a skeletal tower with square central cylinder. In 1977 that tower was relocated to Jeddore Rock (see below). The station was inactive for a short time in 1977-78 while the present lighthouse was built. The abandoned lighthouse is clearly endangered. Located at the south end of Cranberry Island about 3 km (2 mi) east of Cape Canso, marking the southern entrance to Chedabucto Bay. Accessible only by boat; visible from the foot of Union Street in Canso. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-153.

Canso Range Rear Light, Canso, August 2023
Instagram photo by Katie Prescott
Cranberry Islands (Cranberry Island South, Canso Harbour) (4)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (55 ft); white flash every 15 s. 14.5 m (48 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a rectangular daymark colored white with two red bands at the top and bottom. Two fog horns (2 blasts every 60 s, sounding in unison). Sandy Lumsden Gallant has a 2020 photo and Tristan Barnes has a foggy view from the sea. Located near the historic lighthouse.Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. CCG A-668; Admiralty H3458; NGA 9540.

Tor Bay Area Lighthouses
Tor Bay is an elliptical bay on the south side of Nova Scotia's eastern peninsula. Scattered with islands and shoals, it is dangerous to navigate.

White Head Island (Whitehaven Harbour) (4)
1978 (station established 1854). Inactive since 2018. Active; focal plane 18 m (60 ft); white light, 2 s on, 4 s off. 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical tower attached to a 1-story fog-signal building. Lantern removed. The 1-story keeper's house has been demolished. The Henneberrys have a photo (3/4 the way down the page), Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This is one of two Whitehead Island lighthouses in Nova Scotia; the other one is in Argyle Bay near Pubnico (see the Southern Nova Scotia page). The original lighthouse was replaced in 1934, by a fiberglass tower in 1970, and then by the present lighthouse in 1978. In 2018 the light was moved to a 10.6 m (35 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band (focal plane 18 m (60 ft); white light, 2 s on, 4 s off). The 1978 lighthouse should now be listed as endangered. Located on the southwest side of the island off Whitehead Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-532. Current light: CCG A-659; Admiralty H3474; NGA 9584.
[Three Top Island (3?)]
Date unknown (station established 1879). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. The Henneberrys have a photo (next to last photo on the page) and Google has a satellite view of the station. This light marks the entrance to Whitehaven Harbour. The original lighthouse, a square tower attached to a keeper's cottage, was replaced in 1927 by a 2-story keeper's house with a lantern centered on the roof. That lighthouse has been demolished; foundation ruins remain. Located on the southeast corner of Three Top Island, in Tor Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1242; CCG A-657; Admiralty H3476; NGA 9588.
[Hog Island (Port Felix) (3)]
1988 (station established 1902). Active; focal plane 10.5 m (35 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. Fog horn (2 s blast every 20 s). Google has a satellite view. The historic lighthouse, a 2-story keeper's house with lantern on the roof, has been demolished; a helipad occupies its former foundation. It was replaced in 1988 with a 9 m (30 ft) fiberglass tower, painted white with two narrow horizontal red bands. Located on the east end of the island in Tor Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-228; CCG A-654; Admiralty H3478; NGA 9596.
* Charlos Harbour Range Rear (relocated)
1901. Inactive since 1988. Approx. 7.5 m (25 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern, painted white with red trim. The former front range light has been destroyed. Jarvis's 2018 photo is at right. Bash has a photo taken in July 2008 and Google has a 2009 street view a fuzzy satellite view. Bash reported that the lighthouse was relocated to the north side of NS 316 at the west end of the village of Charlos Cove, near the church. Since then local residents have worked to restore it. Located on highway NS 316 in Charlos Cove. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-637.
Berry Head (Tor Bay) (3)
1985 (station established 1876). Active; focal plane 12.5 m (41 ft); continuous white light. 5.5 m (19 ft) square tower with lantern rising from a small wood fog signal building, painted white. Fog horn (3 blasts every 60 s). Foundation ruins of the original lighthouse, replaced in 1951, are next to the modern light. Trish McCormick has a 2021 closeup photo, Jarvis has a distant 2018 view, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Derek Hendsbee has photos from a 2011 visit; he reports that hiking to the lighthouse is difficult. Located on a headland at the western entrance to Tor Bay. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-033; CCG A-646; Admiralty H3484; NGA 9628.

Charlos Harbour Range Rear Light, Charlos Cove, May 2018
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Dennis Jarvis

Isaac's Harbour Area Lighthouses
Country Island (3)
1965 (station established 1873). Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft); white light, one long (2 s) flash every 20 s. 13.5 m (45 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white; lantern is red. The keeper's houses were demolished in 2004. Allison Manthorne has a 2007 photo, the Henneberrys have a photo (halfway down the page), Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1927 by a 2-story keeper's house with lantern centered on the roof. The island, an important bird nesting area, is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service and is closed to the public. Located on the south side of the island about 7 km (4.5 mi) southeast of Seal Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-752; CCG A-639; Admiralty H3504; NGA 9648.
* Isaac's Harbour (2)
1929 (station established 1874). Inactive since 2009. 13 m (42 ft): lantern and gallery centered on the roof of a 2-story wood keeper's house. The Coast Guard proposed to demolish the lighthouse in 1990, but it was saved after being listed as a federal heritage building. Lighthouse painted white; lantern and roof are red. A 2023 photo is at right, Dennis Jarvis has a 2010 photo, Alfred Langley has a 2019 photo, Megan Adams Brooks has a photo, Bash has a 2008 view, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. In June 2018 the lighthouse received Heritage designation. Later in 2018 the lighthouse was sold and its new owner has begun a thorough restoration. Located at the end of Isaac's Harbour Road, off NS 316 south of Isaac's Harbour; Anderson found that the road was gated 600 m (0.4 mi) from the lighthouse. Site and tower closed but the lighthouse can be seen from the end of the access road. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-251; ex-CCG A-637; ex-Admiralty H3510; ex-NGA 9660.

Isaac's Harbour Light, Isaac's Harbour, July 2023
Google Maps photo by Rich

Guysborough County: Saint Mary's District Lighthouses

Port Bickerton Area Lighthouses
#Fisherman's Harbour (1)
1905. Inactive since 2011, when the lighthouse was demolished. This was a 7.5 m (25 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. Jarvis has a 2010 photo, Bash has a 2008 photo, Lighthouse Digest has Bob Crawford's photo, Trabas has Potschien's photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Much to the horror of Canadian lighthouse fans the Coast Guard demolished this lighthouse with little warning in 2011. The Coast Guard claimed it had "formal discussions with the [Fisherman's] Harbour Authority" but local residents are certain this is not the case. The lighthouse was replaced with a light (focal plane 7 m (23 ft); green flash every 4 s) on a short skeletal mast. Google has a satellite view. Stung by public criticism of this loss the Coast Guard in recent years has tended to replace small historic lighthouses with replicas made of more durable composite materials. Located on a sand spit off the waterfront in Fisherman's Harbour. Accessible only by boat (portions of the spit are covered by water), but visible from the waterfront. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-177. Active light: CCG A-634; Admiralty H3512; NGA 9664.
**** Port Bickerton (2)
1930 (station established 1901). Inactive since 1963. 13 m (42 ft): lantern and gallery centered on the roof of 2-story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; roofs are red. A 2021 photo is at right, Ron Dunningtonhas a good 2010 photo, another good closeup is available, Bash has a 2008 photo, Jarvis has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view of the station. The original lighthouse here, a 7 m (23 ft) pepperpot tower, was destroyed by fire. The 1930 building was stripped of its lantern in 1963 but remained in use as the keeper's house until 1988, when it was converted to be the office of a biological research project. In the mid 1990s this station closed and the lighthouse was fully restored, with a new lantern, by the Port Bickerton and Area Planning Commission. It was opened as a lighthouse museum in June 1997. In 2014 the restored assistant keeper's house was opened for an artist in residence program; if no artist is present the house is available for vacation rental. Located off NS 211 in Port Bickerton. Site open; museum and tower open daily from July 1 through September 30 (admission fee). Owner: Municipality of the District of St. Mary's. Site manager: Port Bickerson Lighthouse Interpretive Centre . ARLHS CAN-1286.
* Port Bickerton (3)
1963 (station established 1901). Active; focal plane 20.5 m (67 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story wood fog signal building. Lighthouse covered with white siding; lantern painted red. Fog horn (2 blasts every 60 s). A 2021 photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has Potschien's photo, Bash has a 2008 photo, another photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Bing has a satellite view. In 2012 the St. Mary's Council requested ownership of the lighthouse, and the property was transferred to the municipality on 15 June 2013. Located adjacent to the 1930 lighthouse, off NS 211 in Port Bickerton. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Canadian Coast Guard. Owner: Municipality of the District of St. Mary's. Site manager: Port Bickerson Lighthouse Interpretive Centre. ARLHS CAN-404; CCG A-629; Admiralty H3514; NGA 9684.
Liscomb Island (2)
1921 (station established 1872). Active; focal plane 21.5 m (72 ft); white flash every 10 s. 14 m (45 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. Fog horn (3 s blast every 30 s). Jordan Crowe has a 2010 photo, the Degree Confluence Project has a nice photo taken from the water, the Henneberrys have another photo (3/4 the way down the page), Marinas.com has aerial photos, Anderson has a historic photo, and Google has a satellite view. The keeper's houses were demolished in 1986. Located on Cranberry Point, on the southwest side of the island, marking the entrance to Liscomb Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-277; CCG A-615; Admiralty H3526; NGA 9736.

1930 Port Bickerton Light, October 2021
Instagram photo by iyah.guevarra
[Marie-Joseph (Thrumcap Island) (2?)]
Date unknown (station established 1905). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 4 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. No photo available but Google has a distant satellite view. The history of this station is unclear; the original lighthouse survived at least until the 1950s. Located on an islet in the entrance to the harbor of Marie-Joseph. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1385; CCG A-612; Admiralty H3530; NGA 9748.

Halifax Regional Municipality Lighthouses

Sheet Harbour and Spry Bay Area Lighthouses
Beaver Island (3)
1985 (station established 1846). Active; focal plane 20 m (65 ft); white flash every 7 s. 11.5 m (38 ft) round fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is white; lantern painted red. 1-story fog signal building. Fog horn (6 s blast every 60 s). Megan Phillips has a 2023 photo of the lighthouse in action, the Henneberrys have a 2012 photo (2/3 the way down the page) and Bing has a fuzzy satellite view of the station. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1954 by a 10 m (33 ft) square wood tower; it was demolished along with the keeper's houses in 1985. Located 10 km (6 mi) offshore between Sheet Harbour and Port Dufferin. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-028; CCG A-602; Admiralty H3534; NGA 9772.
* Sheet Harbour Passage Range Front
1915. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); continuous white light. 8 m (27 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line; lantern also painted red. Ross McPhee has a 2023 closeup photo, Bash has a photo, Jarvis has a great closeup, Trabas has Bash's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located off Back Cove Road in Sheet Harbour Passage. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-456; CCG A-598; Admiralty H3542; NGA 9784.
* Sheet Harbour Passage Range Rear
1915. Active; focal plane 20 m (65 ft); continuous white light. 9 m (29 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line; lantern also painted red. Jarvis has a 2010 photo, Trabas has Bash's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located off Passage Road in Sheet Harbour Passage. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-612; CCG A-599; Admiralty H3542.1; NGA 9788.
Sheet Rock (3)
1980 (station established 1879). Active; focal plane 23.5 m (77 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round fiberglass tower, painted white with two horizontal red bands. Jarvis has distant 2018 view, Henneberrys have a photo (a little over halfway down the page), Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1936 by a 2-story keeper's house with lantern centered on the roof; foundation ruins of that lighthouse are visible in the aerial photos. It was burned when it was decommissioned in 1980. Located on a small island in the entrance to Sheet Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-457; CCG A-594; Admiralty H3541; NGA 9778.

Range Front Light, Sheet Harbour, September 2023
Instagram photo by Katie Prescott
Spry Bay Sector (Range Front)
1916. Inactive since 2020. 7.5 m (25 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Jarvis's 2018 photo is at right, Lighthouse Digest has a photo by Jim Phillips, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a distant satellite view. This light was originally the front light of the Spry Bay Range. The rear light was replaced by a skeletal tower in 1970 and then discontinued in 1987, when the front light was converted to a sector light. The light was deactivated in December 2020. The abandoned lighthouse should be considered endangered. Located near the eastern entrance to Spry Harbour. Accessible by hiking a power line easement from the end of a gravel road off NS 7 about 1.3 km (0.8 mi) east of Spry Bay. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-474; ex-CCG A-591; ex-Admiralty H3557; NGA 9814.

Popes Harbour and Owl's Head Area Lighthouses
[Popes Harbour (2?)]
Date unknown (station established 1877). Active; focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); red light, 2 s on, 10 s off. 7 m (23 ft) triangular skeletal mast carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. The Henneberrys have a photo (1/3 the way down the page) and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The Nova Scotia Archives has a historic photo of the original lighthouse, a square tower attached to a keeper's house. The historic lighthouse remained until the 1960s. Located on the western tip of Harbour Island, off the entrance to Popes Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1386; CCG A-589; Admiralty H3560; NGA 9816.
[Ship Harbour (Wolfes Island)]
Date unknown (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); green light, 2 s on, 10 s off. 6 m (20 ft) triangular skeletal tower carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. No photo available but Linda Fahie has contributed photos of two former lighthouses at this station; the original lighthouse was replaced in 1949. Google has a satellite view. Located on Wolfes Point at the northeastern corner of Wolfes Island, marking the entrance to Ship Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1288; CCG A-585; Admiralty H3564; NGA 9820.
 

Spry Bay Light, Spry Harbour, September 2018
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Dennis Jarvis
 
[Owl's Head (2)]
1960s (station established 1912). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) skeletal mast carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. The Henneberrys have a photo (halfway down the page) and Google has a satellite view of the station. The original lighthouse, with a lantern and gallery centered on the roof of a 2-story wood keeper's house, was deactivated in the late 1960s. It was reported in use for some time as a private summer residence, but both the photo and the satellite view show that it does not survive. Located on a sharp promontory at the entrance to Ship Harbour. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-1282; CCG A-583; Admiralty H3566; NGA 9824.
#Egg Island (2)
1962 (station established 1865). Demolished in 2016. This was a 14.5 m (48 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with an enclosed square central cylinder, all painted white; very similar to the Jeddore Rock Light shown at right. The lantern was removed in 1970; the solar-powered light was displayed from a short skeletal mast at one corner of the gallery. The Henneberrys have a photo (halfway down the page) and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse, an octagonal wood tower, was replaced after being heavily damaged by fire. In 2016 the tower was demolished and replaced by a 4 m (13 ft) square skeletal tower colored red with a white horizontal band (focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); white light, 2 s on, 6 s off). Located atop a rocky island about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Owl's Head. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-168. Active light: CCG A-580: Admiralty H3568; NGA 9836.

Halifax Harbour and Sambro Area Lighthouses
Jeddore Rock (3)
2012 (station established 1881). Active; focal plane 29 m (96 ft); white light, 2 s on, 10 s off. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower. Anderson has a view from the sea by Christine and Tom Cardaci and Google has a satellite view. This tower replaced the 1971 lighthouse (relocated from Cranberry Island in 1977), a 16 m (52 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with enclosed square central cylinder, all painted white. A photo of the 1971 lighthouse is at right and the Henneberrys have a photo (almost halfway down the page). Rip Irwin found the roof of the lantern of the original lighthouse lying on the ground where it had been discarded. Located atop a rocky islet about 6 km (4 mi) southeast of French Point. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-254; CCG A-570; Admiralty H3570; NGA 9848.
Jeddore Rock Light
1971 Jeddore Rock Light (replaced)
Fisheries and Ocean Canada photo
French Point (Pleasant Point, Musquodoboit Harbour Range Rear)
1904. Active; focal plane 14 m (47 ft); continuous red light. 9.5 m (31 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square cylindrical base. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Nathalie D'Auteuil has a 2017 photo, Trabas has Potschien's photo, a 2020 closeup is available, Lighthouse Digest has Dana Rushton's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Formerly the rear light of a range. The lighthouse was deteriorating for many years but it has been restored recently by the Coast Guard. Located on Kent Road in Musquodoboit Harbour, east of Halifax. Site and tower closed (private property). Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-334; CCG A-569; Admiralty H3579; NGA 9852.
Devil's Island (Devil's Island East) (1)
1877. Inactive. 14 m (46 ft) octagonal wood tower, painted white; the lantern was removed in 1978, and the light was then displayed from a short mast atop the tower. 2-story wood keeper's house in ruins. Abuelo Piloto has the 2021 photo seen at the bottom of ths page, Brian Watters has a 2017 photo, the Henneberrys have a 2012 photo (1/3 the way down the page), Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The Devil's Island West Light, established in 1852 and deactivated in 1958, was only 160 m (175 yd) southwest. Endangered: the light was removed from the tower early in 2009. Local residents protested its removal and petitioned the Coast Guard to take steps to preserve the deteriorating lighthouse. The light (red light, 2 s on, 4 s off) was moved to a 6.5 m (21 ft) square skeletal tower at the southern tip of the island; the Henneberrys have a photo of that light (1/3 the way down the page), Trabas has a very distant view by Klaus Wolfgang, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an island off Hartlen Point marking the eastern approach to Halifax Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-158. Active light: CCG A-545; Admiralty H3596; NGA 9892.

French Point Light, Musquodoboit Harbour, September 2018
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Dennis Jarvis
* Maugher Beach (McNabs Island) (2)
1941 (station established 1828). Active; focal plane 17 m (57 ft); yellow flash every 30 s. 17.5 m (58 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; the lantern is painted red. The keeper's house was demolished in 1987. The name is pronounced "Major Beach." Corey Seeman's 2018 photo is at right, Kenneth Zirkel has a photo, Trabas has Bash's photo, Jarvis has a view across the harbor, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is the major landmark for ships arriving in Halifax. Friends of McNab's Island supports preservation of the area, which includes the historic Fort McNab. The original light was placed atop the Sherbrooke Tower, a Martello defensive work; Huelse has a postcard view. The Sherbrooke Tower was demolished in 1944. Located on an islet off the west side of McNab's Island, in the center of the entrance to the harbor; the islet is connected to McNabs Island by a long pier. Accessible by passenger ferry from Dartmouth. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park. . ARLHS CAN-308; CCG A-527; Admiralty H3607; NGA 9932.
Halifax Harbour Middle Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); continuous red light. 22 m (72 ft) triangular cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a large trapezoidal slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe. Anderson has a closeup photo, trees hide most of the tower in Klaus Wolfgang's photo posted by Trabas, and Google has a satellite view. This range is the second range for vessels entering Halifax Harbour. The front light is on a 4.5 m (14.5 ft) tower 322 m (1050 ft) south. Located in a forest near the northwestern tip of McNab's Island. Site status unknown. Site manager: McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park. CCG A-528.1; Admiralty H3606.1; NGA 9928.
George's Island (Halifax Harbour Inner Range Front) (3)
1917 (station established 1876). Active; focal plane 17.5 m (58 ft); continuous white light. 16 m (54 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line; the lantern roof is red. Fog horn (3 s blast every 30 s). Oil house. A 2023 photo by Thomas Rogers is at the top of this page, Bash has a 2008 photo, Trabas has Bash's photo, Alastair Price has a 2021 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Brian Watters has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. This is the third range for vessels entering Halifax Harbour. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the second lighthouse, which was built in 1903 and destroyed by fire in 1916. The island is the site of historic fortifications, which are being restored. In August 2019 the government announced a $3.6 million project to develop visitor facilities so the island could be opened to the public by the end of 2020. Located on the west side of George's Island opposite downtown Halifax. Accessible only by boat, but visible from the Halifax waterfront (Irwin says the best view is from Pier 21). Site and tower closed. Site manager: Parks Canada (George's Island National Historic Site). . ARLHS CAN-193; CCG A-538; Admiralty H3618; NGA 9944.

Maugher Beach Light, Halifax Harbour, August 2018
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Corey Seeman
* Halifax Harbour Inner Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white flash every 10 s. 17.5 m (57 ft) triangular cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a large trapezoidal slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe. Trabas has Michael Boucher's distant view and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located in Sinnot Hill Park in Dartmouth. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. CCG A-539; Admiralty H3618.1; NGA 9948.
Sandwich Point Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); continuous green light. 14.5 m (48 ft) triangular cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a large trapezoidal slatted daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe. Trabas has Michael Boucher's distant view and Google has a street view and an indistinct satellite view. This is the first range for vessels entering Halifax Harbour. The front light is on a 6 m (20 ft) skeletal tower. Located just off John Brackett Drive (NS 253) in Herring Cove on the west side of the harbor. Site and tower closed, but the tower is easily seen from the road. CCG A-523.5; Admiralty H3602.1; NGA 9920.
Herring Cove (Tribune Head) (3?)
1976 (?) (station established 1886). Active; focal plane 19.5 m (64 ft); continuous green light. 10.5 m (34 ft) triangular cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a rectangular slatted daymark painted red with a white horizontal band. Trabas has Michael Boucher's distant view and Bing has a satellite view. The original light on a post was replaced by a square wood tower in 1894. Located on a steep headland in Herring Cove. Site and tower closed (private property). ARLHS CAN-880; CCG A-522; Admiralty H3604; NGA 9908.
* #[Chebucto Head (2)]
1940 (station established 1872). Inactive since 1967. 2-story square wood keeper's house, originally with lantern centered on the roof. The house remained in service as the keeper's residence until the 1960s. Anderson has a historic photo and Lightphotos.net has Larry Myhre's photo. In 2004 the Chebucto Head Lighthouse Society leased the building from the Coast Guard for preservation and restoration. Tragically it was destroyed by fire less than two weeks later, on 24 May 2004. Ron Dunnington has a June 2008 photo of the ruins, which appeared to be untouched since the fire. The Society initially hoped to reconstruct the lighthouse but this effort has been abandoned. Site open. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1383.
* Chebucto Head (3)
1967 (station established 1872). Active; focal plane 49 m (162 ft); white flash every 20 s. 14 m (45 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; the lantern is painted red. Fog horn (2 blasts every 60 s). Kayla Murphy's photo is at right, Chris Campbell has a good photo, Trabas has Potschien's closeup photo, Simon Lam has a 2019 photo, Jarvis has a distant view, C.M. Hanchey has a good 2007 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Abdullah Alayafi has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Chebucto Head is the west entrance to Halifax Harbour. Located atop a cliff at the end of Duncan's Cove Road off NS 349. Parking provided. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-133; CCG A-513; Admiralty H3600; NGA 9904.

Chebucto Head Light, Duncans Cove, June 2021
Instagram photo by Kayla Murphy
Sambro
1758. Active; focal plane 43 m (142 ft); white flash every 5 s. 25 m (82 ft) octagonal stone tower, faced with wood shingles, with lantern and gallery; DCB-36 aerobeacon. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands; lantern is red. Fog horn (three 2 s blasts every 60 s). The magnificent 1st order Fresnel lens used from 1906 to 1968 is on display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. The keeper's houses, long in poor condition, burned in 2008. A 1-story oil house survives. Tim L'Esperance's photo is at right, Pratik Asati has a 2022 photo, Lighthouse Digest has a photo by Chris Mills, Jarvis has a good 2010 photo, a 2007 photo is available, Wikimedia has additional photos by Jarvis and others, Trabas has Jim Smith's view from the sea, Marinas.com has excellent aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This is the oldest lighthouse in the Americas and one of the most famous and important light stations in Canada. The tower was extended 6.5 m (22 ft) in 1906. There was a major restoration in 1998; Lighthouse Digest also has Chris Mills's article on this work. In September 2003 Sambro took a direct hit from Hurricane Juan. The oil house was undermined and the storm surge came within a few feet of the tower and keeper's house. In late 2005 the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society expressed serious concern about the condition of the station. In 2007 the Coast Guard announced it could no longer rely on the underwater power cable to the lighthouse; the light was converted to solar power and the foghorn was deactivated. In November the Nova Scotia legislature passed a resolution censuring the Coast Guard for its "careless disregard" of the station and the nation's maritime heritage. In response to this and other criticism a larger solar power system was installed in early 2008 and the foghorn was reactivated. On 14 September 2008 the keeper's house was destroyed by fire, probably set by vandals. In 2014 there was incresing concern about the condition of the lighthouse and bills were introduced in Parliament to save it under management of Parks Canada. In May 2015 federal officials announced a $1.5 million allocation for restoration of the lighthouse. The project was carried out in 2016. The Sambro Island Lighthouse Heritage Society is working for the preservation of the light station. Located on Sambro Island about 3 km (2 mi) off the mouth of Halifax Harbour. Site and tower closed, although the lighthouse can be seen on boat tours from Ketch Harbour. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-442; CCG A-507; Admiralty H3632; NGA 9968.
* Sambro Harbour (Bull Point) (2)
2016 (station established 1899). Active; focal plane 10.5 m (34 ft); continuous green light. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal vinyl-clad tower with lantern and gallery, colored white with a red band at the top. Anderson Bruce MacDonald has a closeup photo of the new lighthouse and Bing has a satellite view. The new lighthouse replaced a similar wood tower. The original lantern was removed in 1971. Jarvis has a photo of the original lighthouse, Trabas has Potschien's photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located at the end of Bull Point Road, off NS 349 in Sambro. Accessible by a short walk from parking provided at the end of the road. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-441; CCG A-505; Admiralty H3644; NGA 9980.

Sambro Light, December 2020
Instqgram photo by Dennis Jarvis
#Pennant Harbour (Pennant Point) (2)
1991 (station established 1903). Inactive since 2016 and later demolished. This was an 8 m (27 ft) round white fiberglass tower. No lantern. Jarvis has a closeup photo, Lighthouse Digest has a photo by Bob Crawford, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was a standard "pepperpot" wood tower. Located at the end of a dirt road off NS 349 (West Pennant Road) in Pennant. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-373; ex-CCG A-501; ex-Admiralty H3646; ex-NGA 9996.

St. Margaret's Bay Area Lighthouses
* Terence Bay (Tennant Point) (2)
1903 (station established 1885). Active; focal plane 14.5 m (48 ft); continuous red light. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim. The present lantern is a replica; the original lantern was removed in 1980. A 2023 photo is at right, a 2019 photo is available, Iaroslav Kourzenkov has a 2021 photo, Jarvis has a 2008 photo, a 1999 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Area landowners who built houses in the area during the 1990s sought to block public access to the light station, so the Terence Bay Lighthouse Committee was formed in 2000 to re-establish the historic right of access. The lighthouse took some damage during Hurricane Juan in September 2003, losing some of its shingles. By 2011 the committee was working to acquire title to the lighthouse and perhaps restore the lantern. In 2015 the lighthouse was granted Heritage status. A boardwalk must be built to provide reliable access to the lighthouse. The transfer of ownership has been stalled since 2014 by negotiations with a neighboring landowner over the easement allowing access to the lighthouse; this matter was still stalled as of early 2020. In 2018 the Coast Guard restored the tower and added a replica lantern. Located on a dramatic rocky headland beyond the end of Sandy Cove Road in Terence Bay. Accessible by walking a gravel path through a residential area; take care to avoid private property. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-495; CCG A-498; Admiralty H3650; NGA 10004.
Betty Island (3)
1981 (station established 1875). Active; focal plane 19 m (63 ft); white light, 4 s on, 11 s off. 9 m (30 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. Fog horn (6 s blast every 60 s). Lighthouse Digest has Bob Crawford's photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse replaced the 1939 lighthouse, a 2-story keeper's house with lantern centered on the roof; that building was demolished in December 1986 but foundation ruins remain. Located on an island off Prospect Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-034; CCG A-495; Admiralty H3652; NGA 10016.
[Dover (Callaghan Island) (3)]
Date unknown (station established 1892). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 4 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) triangular skeletal mast carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. No photo available; Google has an indistinct satellite view. The original lighthouse was a square wood tower attached to a keeper's house; it was replaced by a skeletal tower in 1954. Located at the southeast end of an island in the entrance to Dover Harbour. Accessible only by boat. ARLHS CAN-1384; CCG A-488; Admiralty H3658; NGA 10028.

Terence Bay Light, Terence Bay, March 2023
Instagram photo by mrssarahbear
*** Peggy's Point (Peggy's Cove) (2)
1915 (station established 1868). Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); red flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. Stefan Rohbeck's 2023 photo is at right, Bash has a 2008 photo, Wikimedia has many photos, Trabas has a closeup by Thomas Philipp, a nice 2010 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Google has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Although there are many similar lighthouses in eastern Canada this is a genuine star: one of the world's most visited and most photographed lighthouses. The site is certainly very picturesque, and from 1978 to 2009 the base of the tower was occupied during the summer by a small post office, very convenient for visitors sending postcards. It has always been named the Peggy's Point Light officially, although it is much better known as Peggy's Cove, the name of the nearby village. In early 2009 there was a brief controversy when Fisheries and Oceans stated it did not have funds to repaint the lighthouse. After a public outcry contractors were hired to paint the tower in July; David Carter has a photo taken during this project. In 2012 the lighthouse was again in need to paint and repairs, and this time there was no agreement on who should provide the funds. The local painter's union stepped up to do the repainting and they repeated that contribution in 2017. In 2021 a $3 million viewing platform was built adjacent to the lighthouse. Located on a rocky headland at the end of Peggy's Point Road in Peggy's Cove; although a large parking lot is provided, conditions can be crowded in midsummer. Site open, lower level of the tower open during the summer. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-369; CCG A-487; Admiralty H3660; NGA 10040.
Indian Harbour (Paddy's Head)
1901. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous white light. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. Alain Girard has a 2019 photo, Jarvis has a winter 2008 photo, Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. In 2013 the Friends of Paddy’s Head Lighthouse Society was formed to work for preservation of the lighthouse. A restoration was completed in 2018; the tower was clad in vinyl siding and a replica lantern replaced the deteriorated original. Located on St. Margaret's Bay beyond the end of Paddy's Head Road at Indian Harbour. Accessible only by a rather strenuous walk. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-247; CCG A-482; Admiralty H3663; NGA 10060.

Peggy's Point (Peggy's Cove) Light, November 2023
Instagram photo by Stefan Rohbeck
[Croucher Island (3?)]
Around 2020(?) (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 27.5 m (90 ft); white flash every 12 s. 10.5 m (35 ft) skeletal mast carrying a daymark colored red with a white horizontal band. No photo of the present light is available but Google has a satellite view. Nova Scotia Archives has a historic photo of the original lighthouse taken in 1933. The light was relocated about 40 m (130 ft) south of the old location around 2020. Located on an island in the northeast corner of St. Margaret's Bay. Accessible only by boat. ARLHS CAN-898; CCG A-480; Admiralty H3664; NGA 10064.

Sable Island Lighthouses
One of Canada's most remote outposts, Sable Island is a long, slender, sandy island located in the open Atlantic about 150 km (95 mi) southeast of mainland Nova Scotia and about 240 km (150 mi) east of Halifax. The island is crescent shaped and nearly 42 km (26 mi) long but nowhere more than 2 km (1.25 mi) wide. Low and sandy, the island is migrating rapidly eastward, about 60 m (200 ft) per year. Since the lighthouses were automated in 1960 there have been no long-term residents on the island, but Environment Canada and Parks Canada maintain a staff at all times at the Sable Island Station. The island is protected as the Sable Island National Park Reserve. Visitors are allowed on the island from June through October, but they must register -- in advance -- with Parks Canada. The Sable Island Station provides restrooms and drinking water, but visitors are on their own otherwise.

Sable Island West End (8)
1980s (station established 1872). Inactive since 2004 except for flashing red aircraft warning lights. 26 m (85 ft) square steel skeletal tower; the lower 2/3 is pyramidal and the upper 1/3 is cylindrical and carries large rectangular red and white daymarks. No lantern. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Brian Redmond has a 2022 street view, and Google has a satellite view of the station. The west end of the island retreats rapidly eastward, causing the light station to be relocated in 1883, 1888, 1916, 1940, 1951, 1971, and 1980; the station is now about 10 km (6 mi) east of its original location. Michel Forand has a postcard view of the 1888 lighthouse, an octagonal tower with four robust buttresses. The 1916 tower was a pyramidal skeletal tower with central cylinder; this design is common in the U.S. but rather rare in Canada. Anderson has a Nova Scotia Archives photo of the 1940 lighthouse, also a square skeletal tower with lantern, gallery and central cylinder. The light was deactivated in July 2004; given the rapid erosion in the area it must be considered endangered. Located near the western tip of the island. Accessible only by boat or airplane. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS SAB-002; ex-CCG 665; ex-Admiralty H3586; ex-NGA 9568.
Sable Island West Light
Sable Island West End Light
Canadian Coast Guard photo
Sable Island (East End) (3)
1975 (station established 1873). Inactive since 2012. 18 m (59 ft) square cylindrical steel tower with aluminum siding, lantern and gallery. Tower painted white with a red vertical stripe on each face; lantern painted red. The keeper's house, abandoned in 1960, has collapsed and largely disappeared under shifting sand dunes. Roger Savage's photo is at right, an excellent 2010 Coast Guard photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Brian Redmond's 2022 street view shows that most of the siding has fallen away. The original lighthouse, a 26 m (86 ft) octagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, was burned to the ground by a lightning strike in May 1934. From 1935 to 1975 this station also had a pyramidal skeletal tower with central cylinder; Lighthouse Digest has a photo. Long considered a major navigational aid, the former light had a range of 33 km (21 mi). Due to the rapid migration of the island the light station is now more than a third of the way westward from the east end. Accessible only by boat or airplane. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS SAB-001; ex-CCG 666; ex-Admiralty H3584; ex-NGA 9572.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

  • Beaver Harbour (1887-?), northeast of Sheet Harbour. There is no longer a light at this location. ARLHS CAN-1233.
  • Budget (Range Front) (1905-), Indian Harbour. The lighthouse was replaced by a skeleton tower, which was later removed. ARLHS CAN-1382.
  • Cole Harbour Range Front and Rear (1898-1952), Tor Bay. There was also a light shown from a window of a house overlooking the harbor. There are no lights at these locations today. ARLHS 1194-95.
  • Charlos Harbour Range Front (1901-1988?), Charlos Harbour. The range has been discontinued, and a single buoy marks the harbor entrance. The rear light survives (see above). ARLHS CAN-892.
  • Cranberry Island North (1818-1929), Canso. The light was moved to the south end of the island (see above).
Sable Island East Light
Sable Island East End Light, September 2005
ex-Panoramio photo copyright Roger Savage; used by permission
  • Devils' Island West (1852-1950), Halifax Harbour. The lighthouse was removed after being deactivated in 1950. ARLHS CAN-1197. A photo of the 1877 Devils' Island (East) Light is at right.
  • Halifax Terminals Breakwater (1931-1980s?), Halifax. There is no longer a light at this location.
  • Harbour Island (1908-1942), Country Harbour. The original lighthouse, a square dwelling topped by lantern room, was replaced by a mast light in 1923. There is no longer a light at this location. ARLHS CAN-1218.
  • Jeddore Harbour Range Front and Rear (1901-1950s), Jeddore Harbour. The range has been discontinued and the lighthouses removed. ARLHS CAN-1223-24.
  • Ketch Harbour (1905-1962), near Halifax. The lighthouse was demolished and replaced by a buoy. ARLHS CAN-1332.
  • McNab's Island Range Rear (1903-1976), Halifax Harbour. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1973 and demolished in 1976. The Halifax Harbour Middle Range Rear Light (see above) is near the former location of this lighthouse. ARLHS CAN-1280.
  • Redman Head (1909-1988), Little Liscomb Harbour. Destroyed by fire in 1988, the lighthouse was replaced by a buoy offshore. ARLHS CAN-1236.
  • Spry Bay Range Rear (1916-1970), Spry Bay. The rear light was replaced by a skeletal tower in 1970 and then discontinued in 1987, when the front light was converted to a sector light (see above).
  • Wedge Island (1879-?), near Liscomb. The lighthouse was replaced by a buoy offshore. ARLHS CAN-1244.

Devils Island Light, August 2021
Google Maps photo by Abuelo Piloto

Adjoining pages: North: Cape Breton Island | South: Southern Nova Scotia

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Posted June 2003. Checked and revised April 8, 2024. Lighthouses: 43. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.