After we left Percé, we travelled south around the Bay of Chaleur and into New Brunswick. We spent the night in the town of Dalhousie. In the morning after breakfast in an unlikely place, a Canadian Legion on the recommendation of someone in our hotel, we found another lighthouse. Again, I could not resist.

The Inch Arran Point Front Range Lighthouse in Dalhousie is what is called “square-tapered” and stands 11 metres (36 feet) tall. It was first built in 1870, but replaced in 1972 about a few hundred  metres to the west of where the current version stood. It is found on a flat tidal plain overlooking the famous Baie des Chaleur which played an important role in the history of Canada after settlement by the French.  This land is the most northern part of New Brunswick just south of the Restigouche River.

One of the locals insisting on taking our photograph.

Like so many lighthouses, it was built by Canada immediately after Confederation as the government wanted to expand the lighthouse system to improve navigation on Canada’s coasts to facilitate commerce. It was used to guide vessels into Dalhousie harbour.

Members of the Arsenault family kept the light here for sixty-five years, between 1870 and 1935.

According to real lighthouse afficionados, it stands out for its birdcage-style lantern gallery which consists of thin curved metal spars that arch around the lantern. Apparently, this feature is unique among extant lighthouses in Canada and this is the most distinctive character defining elements of this lighthouse.  To me its most important aspect on this day was how it stood out against the marvelous blue sky and water. I particularly loved its reflection in the water.  On the trip so far, I thought it was in the best light of any of the lighthouses I had seen so far on this trip.

The simplicity of the beauty without unnecessary embellishments became the favoured design for Canadian lighthouses.

I was also very fond of the small maple tree in the foreground. I think maples are a symbol of the beauty of Canada as are its lighthouses which, by definition, provide light into a dark and dangerous world. That’s what lighthouses do!

While admiring the view, we met someone from Manitoba who grew up here. often return to admire it just as I had. We agreed that if you don’t like lighthouses you don’t like life in Canada. According to Heritage Canada,

“the Inch Arran Lighthouse continues to serve regional and local shipping needs and, in clear weather, can be seen from a distance of more than 25 kilometres… [and] has an extremely high landmark value for Dalhousie and is a recognized symbol of the community. Residents have incorporated the lighthouse into their municipal identity and many think highly of the lighthouse’s services to the area.”

Gulls can be a pain, but they are undeniably beautiful birds.

We spent an enjoyable hour here on our journey across the country.