Description of Historic Place

The Light Tower at Cap de Rabast, also known as Pointe Nord, is located on the north coast of Anticosti Island in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. The tapered tower is a tall, white, octagonal, structure constructed of concrete with a flared cornice and a red-painted, multi-sided lantern. Its main decorative features are the pedimented cap over the doorway and the triangular lintels over the vertically-aligned windows. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Light Tower is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Light Tower is closely associated with improving aids to navigation in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. The lighting of the north coast of Anticosti Island helped improve maritime transportation by making the passage safer for the vessels taking the shorter route from the Strait of Belle Isle to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Until the establishment of these lights and one at Petite-Ile-au-Marteau, in 1915, navigation in the Jacques Cartier Strait had been confined largely to the local fishing fleet and ships coming to supply local residents.

Architectural Value
The Light Tower is valued for its good aesthetic qualities and functional design. It was one of a number of octagonal, reinforced concrete structures built by the Department of Marine and Fisheries during the early years of the 20th century. Built with good craftsmanship and materials, it is well suited to the constraints of its function and of the site. The triangular lintels over the windows lighten the building’s austere appearance.

Environmental Value
The Light Tower reinforces the maritime character of its coastal island light station setting and is a familiar landmark in for all mariners and fishermen in the area.

Sources: Margaret Coleman, Lighttower, Cap de Rabast (North Point), Anticosti Island, Québec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 89-187; Lighttower, Cap de Rabast, Anticosti Island, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 89-187.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Light Tower should be respected.

Its good aesthetic and functional design and good craftsmanship and materials, for example: the tall massing, which consists of a white concrete, octagonal tapered tower with a flared cornice that supports a lantern; the reinforced concrete construction; the pedimented cap over the doorway and the triangular lintels over the vertically aligned windows; the gallery guardrail and the red-painted, multi-sided, metal lantern.

The manner in which the Light Tower reinforces the maritime character of its coastal island light station setting and is a familiar landmark in the area, as evidenced by: its overall scale, massing, design and materials, making it an integral part of the maritime landscape; its high visibility and its role as a marker of the associated coastal environment.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The lighttower at Cap de Rabast, also known as Pointe Nord, is located near the west end of the north coast of Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It was built in 1917-1918 by the Department of Marine and Fisheries. The station initially consisted of a double dwelling, and a fog alarm building. The lighttower is now owned by the Canadian Coast Guard. See FHBRO Report 89-187.


Reasons for Designation

The lighttower at Cap de la Table was designated Recognized for historical and environmental reasons.

The lighting of the north coast of the island helped improve maritime transportation by making the passage of vessels taking the shorter route from the Strait of Belle Isle to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River safer.

The presence of the lighttower reinforces the maritime setting of the site. Since its construction, the lighttower has been a landmark for all mariners and fishermen, and forms an integral part of the landscape.


Character Defining Elements

The heritage value of the lighttower derives from its method of construction and from its strategic location for navigation in Jacques Cartier Strait.

This reinforced concrete octagonal tower is 72 feet high. Built in the style developed in the early part of the century, it is well suited to the constraints of its function and of the site. The pedimented cap over the doorway and the triangular lintels over the windows are decorative elements which lighten the building's austerity.

A regular maintenance program should ensure the preservation of all historic elements of the lighttower, structure and lantern. Conservation specialists should be consulted before any repairs are done on the concrete. Although it is the only original building, the lighttower, with the two dwellings built in the 1950s, forms a coherent whole which should be preserved.