More than 150 local residents and descendants of lighthouse keepers assembled at the Pointe Metis to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Metis Lighthouse on Sunday, July 19th. At an event organized by Heritage Lower St. Lawrence, the large crowd explored the remarkable site and historic buildings and viewed a new web site dedicated to exploring the lighthouse and its history. Those present joined the effort of Heritage Lower St. Lawrence to have the Metis lighthouse declared a historic lighthouse and protected under the Act to protect heritage lighthouses that becomes law on May 29th, 2010. More than 1,000 signatures have already been collected on the petition asking the government of Canada to recognize the historic importance of the lighthouse and provide funding for its maintenance and restoration. To join the effort to preserve and protect the lighthouse, click here.

 The Metis Lighthouse figures prominently in local iconography, appearing on calendars, tablemats, licence plates, and in the name of the regional school board -- the commission scolaire des Phares. The first lighthouse on the site was constructed in 1874 and the present lighthouse was built 100 years ago, opening on April1, 1909. The Metis Lighthouse has attracted generations of artists, photographers and scientists. But unlike other lighthouses in the region that have been transformed into museums, tourism kiosks, or interpretation centres, the Metis Lighthouse remains enigmatic, easy to see but hard to reach.

The new websites, http://www.metislighthouse.ca/ and http://www.pharedemetis.ca/, explore the many facets of the lighthouse. Narrated by historian and director of the RefordGardens, Alexander Reford, and Paul Gendron, a grandson of lighthouse keeper Octave Gendron, the website explores the lighthouse tower from bottom to top, visiting the various working parts, and culminating in spectacular views of the prism and of the surrounding landscape from the top.

The new website was created by Alexander Reford, who has compiled information on the subject and inhabitants for nearly 10 years. For Paul Gendron, his fascination is “bred in the bone.” It began with visits to the lighthouse when his grandfather was the lighthouse keeper from 1936 to 1954. In recent years, he has collected information on the lighthouse keepers, many of whom have contributed photographs and anecdotes for this website.  Website creator and photographer Martin Bond’s fascination with lighthouses and the sea comes from his childhood summers spent on the Gaspe Coast at his grandparents. Since then, he has photographed many Quebec lighthouses in 360 degree photographs. Video vignettes by Jimmy Valcourt of Majicam add to the visual tour. Testimonials by descendants of lighthouse keepers J. Jules Martin, Jules-Gabriel Martin, Octave Gendron, and Évariste Ferguson bring the story of the lighthouse and its keepers to life.

In 2008, Heritage Lower St.Lawrence published The Metis Lighthouse and a French-language version, Le Phare de Métis, in collaboration with Montreal publisher Price-Patterson. The book of 48 pages is illustrated with more than 40 photographs, drawings and paintings. It is available through the new website. Copies are also available for $10 at the Heritage Lower St. Lawrence office located  at the Metis Beach School, 468 rue Beach, Métis-sur-Mer or by calling (418) 936-3239.

Heritage Lower St.Lawrence is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing services to the English-speaking communities of the Lower St.Lawrence region. The organization is also active in preserving and promoting local heritage.

- Article from Sonia Levesque, l'Information