Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior (CLLS) is a membership-driven organization that seeks to support history and provide public access to the environment we live in.
CLLS is an umbrella organization that represents a movement to restore, preserve, maintain, and promote lighthouses to the general public. The group is incorporated under the Ontario Historical Society, and its primary duty is to ensure that these unique heritage locations remain accessible to the public.
Under CLLS’s stewardship, the lighthouse trail will continue to maintain three lighthouse leases in the region: Porphyry, No. 10 (Shaganash) and Trowbridge Lighthouses. These lighthouses serve as a catalyst for community groups, government departments, tourists, and heritage users to engage in the preservation and promotion of these important landmarks. CLLS now owns No. 10 Island & Light Tower.
As surplus lighthouses fall further into disrepair, restoring their navigational history and sharing their stories is of utmost importance.
Milestones
2012
- Founding Committee with founder Susan Visser, Paul Capon, Bob McKay, Paul Morralee, Archie Hoogsteen and D. Berube
- Public Meeting held at Thunder Bay Public Library to build consensus (36)
- Heritage Lighthouse Preservation Act 2009 referenced to begin petition process
- Petitioned DFO for access to ten light stations from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie
2013
- Board Structure– created organization governance with membership
- Ontario Historical Society– discussion on provincial Incorporation
- Events– 1st Annual Lighthouse Symposium – Breakout groups, speakers
- Documentary– Lighthouse Trail film showcases north shore of Lake Superior Lighthouses
- Lease: Porphyry Island with Friends of Porphyry community group under Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada for five year term.
2014
- Incorporated as not for profit under Ontario Historical Society, CRA Charitable Status Approved
- Volunteer Hours 450
- Revenues $1,489
- Lease: Shaganash Light (5 years) , Porphyry Island (ongoing)
- Membership 73, Newsletters, Rendezvous Events
- Stakeholders: Thunder Bay Yacht Club, Silver Islet Yacht Club, Wilderness North, Wisk Air Helicopters, Archie’s Fishing Charters, Lake Superior Water Trail, TransCanada Trail Network, Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, Lakehead University, TbayTel, Ontario Parks, Ontario Historical Society, Tourism Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Yacht Club, Thunder Bay Public Library
- Events– 2nd Annual Lighthouse Symposium, Show Lighthouse Trail Documentary
- Activities– Lakehead University University Projects (10) Pie Island Lighthouse – discussion with Fort William First Nations, Silver Islet Dock- express interest to develop in the future, Friends of Battle Island discussions
2015
- Lease: Porphyry & Shaganash (ongoing)
- Stakeholder Addition: Thunder Bay Salmon Association, Save Our Shipwrecks, Superior Underwater Club (SOS), Hearth of the Continent, Magic 99.9 and Country 105 FM
- Developed: Risk Management Plan, visitor welcome policy, interpretive programs
- Canada Summer Jobs – 1 student hired for summer
- Volunteer Labour 1,286 hrs
- Visitors to Lighthouse 266
- Operations: included painting of boathouse, dock rehabilitation, update of grounds, Website, Facebook are infilled with content, started with Meridian booking platform, cleared grounds, painted homesteads, graveyard, cars, fuel berm, created assets inventory.
- Activities– Maintain relationship with Battle Island, Silver Islet Dock – work with Silver Islet Yacht Club on reopen
- Survey – conducted with 67 people on the island, and 166 on mainland.
- Membership -70 visitor experience enhanced through tour and boathouse history walk
- Events– First Annual Fundraising Dinner, film night at the marina, 2nd Rendezvous on the water with the TBYC, at Porphyry with SUNORA visit first year, Outward bound visited for the second year
2016
- Lease: Porphyry, Trowbridge, Shaganash
- Volunteer hours 1,281 hrs
- Visitors 345
- Membership 72 single and families, Outward bound, photography groups, SUNORA Regatta, outward bound, development of new flora booklet
- Events- Annual Fundraising Dinner, First Annual Spring Cleanup held at Porphyry and Trowbridge
- Programs: Canada Summer Jobs – Students (2) and Artist in Residence – First Season (4)
- Shareholders: Ministry of Environment, Great Lakes Community Guardian Fund, Thunder Bay Port Authority, Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, Lakehead University Recreation and Tourism, Thunder Bay Public Library
- Operations– boathouse painted, new outhouse locations, shore clean up, Docking facilities enhanced
- New safety Signage: Gallery & Theatre and CBC Film about family and mini museum, House Rentals 8 nights, due to a major rescue on Lake Superior safety signage updated.
- Visitor Survey N.19
- Media Coverage– Created Lighthouse Dispatch Series for the Chronicle Journal (10) articles published, created extensive radio contest with local radio station.
2017
- Volunteer hours 1,833 hours
- Visitors 550
- Membership 55 including single and family
- Programs: Artist in Residence Program (4) and Canada Summer Students attend (2)
- Events- Annual Spring Cleanup held at Porphyry and Trowbridge, continues with book clubs and outward bound groups, Canada 150 celebrations, TransCanada Celebrations, Annual TBYC Sunora and Rendezvous Event, Silver Islet Yacht Club has a Rendezvous, more book clubs attend with “the Lightkeeper’s Daughters’ Jean E. Penziwol, Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, brings home the Alexander Henry Icebreaker and aids to navigation.
- Operations- Coastal walking trail, more docking, new mooring ball, compost toilets installed. Lake Superior Water Trail signs (3) are added, Visitor Experience Signs (6) by parks Canada installed at Porphyry,
- Survey N.22
- Activities: Byth Academy from Toronto does a major field trip
- Media- Lighthouse Dispatches (8) articles written for local paper, Facebook Posts 49
2018
- Membership– 100 single and 24 family
- Volunteer Hours 2,557
- Events– Fundraising Dinner, Annual Spring Cleanup held at Porphyry and Trowbridge
- Programs– Artist in Residence Program (4) Canada Summer Jobs (3) students, New Host Keeper Program
- Visitors – 660 new lighthouse tour with new host keeper program
- Operations: New visitor reception area and gift shop, new sauna built, repaired building steps, added 80′ of docking, Shaganash Island light is remediated of lead paint, and repainted
- Stakeholders: Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, Silver Islet Harbour Association- lighthouse group becomes a partner at the table to take over docks at Silver Islet. Destination Ontario, Superior Country (membership),
- Outreach – FB Posts 123, Lighthouse Dispatched (14) with local paper
- Analysis- K Gibbons and Dr. Rosenthal do a strategic visitor experience review of site
- Survey N.70
- Excursions – New Lightkeepers Tour with charter companies: Sail Superior from Tbay and Archie’s Charters from Silver Islet
- Alexander Henry Museum Ship– Exhibit opened with museum room and professionally produced panels and two 15ft lighthouse towers to book end 200 foot ship.
- Media- Lighthouse Dispatches (14) Facebook 150 posts, Instagram (48)
- Award from Ontario Historical Society – Scadding Award of Excellence.
2019
- Visitors 633
- Volunteer Hours 2,254
- Membership 144 with 130 single and 14 families
- Programs: Host Keeper(13), Artist in Residence (4), Canada Summer Jobs (3)
- Visitor Experience– New Brochure, Postcard Giveaways, Orientation Map, Branding Signage
- Operations: new golf cart and storage shed, new propane fridge, additional 60ft of docking, new anchor system, new boathouse bbq.
- Media– FB Posts 220, Lighthouse Dispatches (14), Instagram (10), Parks Canada assists with building visitor interpretive narrative (v.6)
- Lease: Porphyry and Trowbridge updated to a ten-year lease
- Events: Annual Fundraising Dinner, New Speakers Series, new Lighthouses Festival of Music, Ocean Bridge Parks Canada Program added
- Survey N.15
2020
- Visitors 841
- Volunteer Hours 1,654
- Membership
- Programs: Host Keeper(17), Artist in Residence (0), Canada Summer Jobs (2)
- Events: Speaker Series, SUNORA Event, Corn Roast Butterfly Festival, Ocean Bridge Parks Canada event, Cancelled: Fundraiser, Film Night, 3 Speakers Nights
- Programs: Host Keeper, Canada Summer Jobs, Summer Experience Program
- Excursions: Prince Arthurs Landing Charter Lighthouse Tour, Silver Islet Charter Lighthouse Tour
- House Rentals, Room Rentals, Camping
- Survey N.78 and 15 stakeholders for Lighthouse Strategic Plan
2021
- Visitors 940
- Volunteer Hours 1,654
- Membership 54 single memberships
- Survey N.15 (done online)
- Events: Speaker Series, SUNORA Event, Corn Roast Butterfly Festival, Canadian Wildlife Federation – onsite environmental study. Parks Canada event, Cancelled: Fundraiser, Film Night, 2 Speaker Series presentation.
2022
- Visitors 905
- Volunteer Hours 2,045
- Membership 80
- Programs: Host Keeper( ), Artist in Residence ( ), Canada Summer Jobs ()
- Events: Speaker Series, SUNORA Event, Corn Roast Butterfly Festival, Parks Canada event
- Programs: Host Keeper, Canada Summer Jobs, Summer Experience Program
- Excursions: Silver Islet Charter Tours Prince Arthurs Landing Charter Lighthouse Tour
- Other Activities: House Rentals, Room Rentals, Camping, Tent Rentals
2023
- Visitors 1,040
- Volunteer Hours 2,099
- Membership 81
- Programs: Host Keeper( ), Artist in Residence ( )
- Events: Speaker Series, 150th Pt. Porphyry Celebrations, SUNORA Event, Corn Roast Butterfly Festival, Parks Canada event, Spring Clean-ups at Porphyry & Trowbridge
- Programs: Host Keeper, Artist in Residence, Parks Canada “Paint Superior” Program
- Excursions: Silver Islet Charter Tours, Prince Arthurs Landing Charter Lighthouse Tour
- Other Activities: Took Ownership of No.10 Lighthouse Island, House Rentals, Room Rentals, Camping, Tent Rentals
- Survey N.42 Canadian Red Cross Recovery Fund – Volunteer
