Emily M.

Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Provincial Heritage Fair

Lighthouses of Canada

Canadian lighthouses and lighthouse keepers have looked after us for over hundreds of years. Due to financial cutbacks, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is selling a number of our Canadian lighthouses to reduce operation and maintenance costs. What does the future hold for our historical structures?

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing that I learned while creating my project is that lighthouses and range light buildings are not just a part of the beautiful Canadian coastline but they had a really important role throughout history. Lighthouses and lighthouse keepers were responsible for saving many lives as they navigated ships with precious cargo in and out of the ports of Prince Edward Island and around the World.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

One of the important lessons learned while doing my project is that with hard work and dedication anyone can gain respect. In a time when women were not truly respected, Maisie Adams became the only female lighthouse keeper on Prince Edward Island and the first in Canada. She did a great job for a total of 16 years while raising her three children as a single parent. A second lesson learned is that Canadians need to preserve the beautiful heritage of Canadian lighthouses if we are to pass this on for future generations to enjoy.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

In the past we needed lighthouses and lighthouse keepers to navigate shipping vessels safely into port as ships were one of the only ways to travel. With other means of transportation today like planes and vehicles along with new and improved technology in the shipping industry we are no longer dependant on lighthouses and lighthouse keepers. A larger variety of food and other goods are at our fingertips as they are shipped from further away in a very short time frame than in the past.