Part 4-Gaspe Road Trip: Even Lighthouses Need a Little Guidance
As we drove along the beautiful Gaspé coast, there were a few lighthouses along the way, but one had already caught my attention before we even left home: Pointe-à-la-Renommée.
Lighthouse at Pointe à la Renommée
I had done a little research on some of the lighthouses that guided our path, and for some reason, this one stood out to me more than the others.
For one, it was red, not something you see very often in my home province of New Brunswick. Two, it had an actual house attached to it. And if you’ve been following me for a while, you know that as a kid, I dreamed of living in a lighthouse.
So, naturally, Pointe-à-la-Renommée was one that was really drawing me in.
But there was a third reason, one I knew nothing about before we arrived. And that story wouldn't reveal itself until we were got there.
Pierre, our guide, was so full of expression and knowledge. He had a way of bringing the story to life. You could tell he wasn't just repeating facts; he really knew & cared about the story.
I'm not a huge history person, and you probably won't find me spending hours reading plaques and dates when I'm travelling. But listening to this story, I got emotional. There was also a short video that brought more to the story; the work, the planning and, a little bit of divine guidance that helped bring the lighthouse back to where it belonged. And behind it all was the tenacity of three women who refused to give up until they got the job done.
Pierre our very animated guide.
The women who brought it home
After being abandoned for several years, the lighthouse was uprooted from where it had stood since 1907 and moved in 1977 to the Canadian Coast Guard base near Petit Champlain in Quebec City.
And that’s where it stayed for 20 years.
The locals missed the lighthouse. And, according to the story told in the video, the lighthouse seemed to miss them too.
Priscilla Poirier, her sister and a group of women from the region took on the challenge of getting the lighthouse back to where it belonged. Their idea was bigger than simply bringing it home. They wanted to restore the site and turn it into a tourist destination that could create jobs and bring people back to the area.
Even though others had tried and failed, they were not going to take no for an answer. They were determined.
It took the group of volunteers almost five years to raise the funds needed to move the lighthouse the nearly 650 kilometres back from Quebec City. Five years.
I can't even imagine the amount of work, planning and persistence that went into that.
But they did it.
In 1997, the lighthouse finally made its long journey home. And when it arrived, it was painted red; its original colour.
Today, the site has seasonal jobs, guided tours and hiking trails, and has become an important stop for visitors exploring the area.
And standing there, looking at that lighthouse, I couldn't help but think about the women who refused to accept that it couldn’t be done. They had a vision. They worked together. They kept following the leads, trusting their instincts and taking the next step.
Take it one step at a time
Even when they heard no. Even when things got complicated. Even when the way forward seemed a little too steep, they kept going. And that got me thinking…
Maybe sometimes you don't need to see exactly where you are going or how it's going to happen. You just need to keep taking the next step and let the light guide you to a clearer vision.
Once again, the universe had given us a little nod.
Gaspe coast line
More information:
Pointe à la Renommée: https://www.pointe-a-la-renommee.ca/en/history
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pointealarenommee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointealarenommee/
