Lake Huron’s historic Chantry Island just off of Southampton will soon have a new owner.
The island — along with its landmark lighthouse — will soon be owned by the Town of Saugeen Shores.
Council has approved in principle, plans to buy Chantry Island for one dollar from the federal government.
It’s part of a federal “invest to divest” program.
Ottawa has put over 200 thousand dollars into upgrades to the island in the past three years, and another 125 thousand is being offered for repairs to the lighthouse.
Under the transfer, the federal government will carry out the repair work and allow the Marine Heritage Society to continue to operate lighthouse tours during the summer.
Saugeen Shores will become responsible for public safety on the island and will continue to accomadate the Canadian Coast Guard’s use of the lighthouse as a navigational beacon.
Support from council for the transfer is unanimous and the Marine Heritage Society is excited about it too.
Deputy Mayor Doug Freiburger urges residents to ensure a strong future for the lighthouse by supporting the Community Investment Fund.
Marine Heritage Society Director Gordon Webb says Chantry Island and the lighthouse are an icon of the community.
Questions however have been raised about how future renovations to the lighthouse would be paid for, and even about its future status.
Community Services Director Mike Myatt says the decision council has made is a proactive, positive step to ensure Chantry Island is properly protected for decades to come.
He says it would be sad if the federal government ever decided to declare the lighthouse surplus for navigational purposes, but protection could then be sought under the new Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.
The entire process to make that happen would take three to five years.
Webb isn’t worried about the future.
He says town staff are working now to ensure the means are there to protect the lighthouse in the future and to make sure the money is in place, without being a responsibility shouldered by taxpayers.