Some people in the Collingwood area have a new plan to preserve a local landmark.
The lighthouse on Nottawasaga Island is a landmark that has guided mariners on Georgian Bay to Collingwood harbour for more than 100 years. On Wednesday, a small group of volunteers set out across the ice to check the status of the historic structure.
Bing Jowett says the lighthouse is a precious piece of history.
“The heritage is very important to all of the young people coming along. What we can do now is preserve it because once it's gone, its gone,” says Jowett.
The stone exterior of the lighthouse was damaged when it was struck by lightning 11 years ago. Since then, the stone has been crumbling away.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada owns the lighthouse, but they are not interested in maintaining it any longer. The society is a new charitable organization that wants to save the lighthouse. On Wednesday, volunteers went to work, boarding up windows.
Doug Hackbart is a professional engineer who has been monitoring the lighthouse for the past three years. He says the stone exterior is breaking down rapidly and time is running out for the landmark.
“If we hadn't closed up the windows like we did today, within two years it would have pierced through to the inside and it would be passed repair. It either gets done now or it comes down by gravity,” he says.
Metal banding was installed nine years ago to help secure the stone. Hackbart says the exterior stone work needs to be replaced – something that will cost more than $1.5 million.
Robert Square has been working to preserve lighthouses on the great lakes for a decade. He says this lighthouse should be at the front of the line.
“It's a top priority. It’s pretty solid right now but the deterioration could accelerate quiet rapidly over the next couple of years,” says Square.
