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 Front 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 along the western end of the Summerside boardwalk, it gives an excellent view of the Indian Head Lighthouse.

Driving Directions:

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North Cape Coastal Drive - From Route 2 turn at Reads Corner onto Water Street. Continue heading west until you reach MacKenzie Dr. You can see it adjacent to the boardwalk.

Grounds open/tower closed.

GPS Coordinates: 46 23 43.1N 63 48 35W

Technical Data
  • Status: Active
  • LOL number: 1018.1
  • Date Built: 1991
  • Electrification and De-staffing Dates: This has always been electrified.
  • Nominal Range: 18 NAUTICAL MILES
  • Focal Height: 9.3m
  • Light: Red fixed
  • Flash Pattern: Light is visible in line of range year round
  • Tower height: 9.0m

 

Historic Data:

Built in 1991 this outer range light has never had a keeper.

Due to recent erosion the the bank has been re-enforced to meet Coast Guard standards.

This outer range light gets many visitors due to the construction of the Summerside Board Walk.

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.