Caisse Alliance is helping to power up the Farquhar Island Lighthouse with a $50,000 contribution towards installing solar panels.
Built by Callander residents Ryan and Erin Farquhar, the lighthouse has become “an iconic Callander landmark,” Caisse Alliance noted. The community has embraced the lighthouse, and it is also officially recognized by the Canadian Coast Guard. It is fully operational, and helps boaters find their way.
See: The future is bright for Callander’s new lighthouse
“This has been a labour of love,” Erin Farquhar said of the project. She mentioned the original lighthouse, which was demolished in the storm of 2006, and how rebuilding the landmark has been a “humbling” experience.
“We’re just so thrilled to have the support of the community,” she added. She noted how the other day she was passing the beach at Memory Tree Park – which has a prime view of the lighthouse – and saw a woman before her easel, capturing the lighthouse in her painting.
The image warmed her heart, as do the many photos shared of the lighthouse throughout the community. “People are proud of it,” Erin said, “they’re proud to say they live here, they’re proud when they come down Callander Bay Drive and see the lighthouse. We’re all feeling so proud of it.”
As are the folks at Caisse Alliance. "As a socio-economic player, the Caisse is committed to the sustainable development of its regions and is proud to support community projects such as the Farquhar Island Lighthouse, which have a positive long-term impact," said Pierre Dorval, President of Caisse Alliance.
See: Farquhar Lighthouse will provide guiding light this spring
Each year the Caisse provides $100,000 to each of its six regions to support local projects and initiatives. Our region includes Bonfield, Mattawa, and North Bay. A volunteer board accepts applications for projects that would benefit from the funding, and each year the board decides how to dole it out.
Louise Moyer is the chair of the regional committee for the Nipissing Caisse. One of the main criteria the board looks for is “Will this impact many people in the community?” and for Moyer, the lighthouse has done just that – “it’s a beautiful sight when you come in from the South end.”
Further “There aren’t too many of them left that are functional,” Moyer noted of the lighthouse.
Grégoire Lefebvre, Chair of the Board of Directors of Caisse Alliance, added that "The $50,000 was allocated through the Caisse Alliance Fund and the Green Fund, mainly managed by the Board of Directors and the regional cooperative committees. This infrastructure project is an excellent investment that enhances the safety of our fellow citizens in Lake Nipissing's Callander Bay and restores the community's emblem."
During yesterday’s cheque presentation at the island, Ryan Farquhar gave some details about the lighthouse. Overall, the structure stands 45 feet from the basement floor, and 50 feet from the water. The foundation runs deep, with 16 inches of concrete atop four feet of B-type stone. It was important for the Farquhars to buy materials for the project locally and hire local builders. Ryan is especially grateful “to our dear friend Don Sequin and the whole Tight Line crew for a perfectly executed construction, and most importantly, their commitment to safety in the workplace.”
The Farquhars funded the entire lighthouse project themselves, “so we are very appreciative of Caisse Alliance awarding us the Green fund of $50,000 toward the solar portion of the project,” Ryan said.
“The whole project from start to finish was local,” Ryan added, “and today is a very special day.”
“This project, initiated by Ryan and Erin Farquhar, is a prime example of community cooperation and is invaluable to all Callander residents and Lake Nipissing users,” added Mathieu Shank, Caisse Alliance’s Regional Manager for Nipissing East.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
