Range Lights

There are 40 (20 pairs) of range lights in the PEI lighthouse family.  Each pair of range lights includes a front range and a rear range and mark the entrance to a harbour.  Range lights were used by boat captains to pilot their craft safely into harbour by visually lining up the front and rear range lights to get their heading.  For this reason, the front range is typically shorter and the rear range is taller. Range lights often have a vertical red stripe on them as day marks to help the pilot visually line up the pair of lights to find their heading.

One range light – Leard’s Front Range in Victoria-by-the-Sea has been converted to the Victoria Seaport Museum.

Summerside Outer Back Range Light

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Built in 1991, this square, pyramidal tower is topped with an enclosed square lantern. The lantern deck is surrounded by a simple metal railing. A broad red fascia surrounds the lantern deck supported by an extension of the structure forming an angled cornice.

The tower is 9m (29.5 feet) tall, and its vinyl siding reflects the traditional Canadian Coast Guard colours of white tower with red trim. It has a white trapezoidal day mark with a red vertical stripe mounted on the seaward side of the gallery.

The roof and the trim on the door are painted red. The door has a classical pediment.

Located in the western end of Summerside, the range lights guide shipping into the outer areas of Summerside Harbour.

Driving Directions:

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North Cape Coastal Drive - From Route 2 turn onto Water Street at Reads Corner. Continue heading west on Water Street until you reach a juncture with South Drive. At this point you will see this range light.

GPS Coordinates: 46 23 43.1N 63 48 35W 028degrees 57 430.3 meters from the front range.

Technical Data
  • Status: Active
  • LOL number: 1018.2
  • Date Built: 1991
  • Nominal Range: 18 NAUTICAL MILES
  • Focal Height: 14.8m, 48'5"
  • Light: Red Fixed
  • Flash Pattern: Visible in line of range year round.
  • Tower height: 10.1m, 33'1"

 

Lighthouse Keepers

There were no keepers. This light was always electrified.

Current Owners/ Operators:

Currently owned by the Government of Canada.The City of Summerside has submitted a petition for ownership under the Parks Canada Heritage Lighthouse Program.