History

Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site

Pointe-au-Père lighthouses

The fog alarm—from cannon fire to the electronic sound signal

A hub of navigational services

Main associated buildings

Thanks to its unique location, where internal waters meet the open sea, the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse station has long been one of the most important navigational aid centres in Canada. 

Pointe-au-Père lighthouses

© Claveau Fund, HR-13369, Musée régional de Rimouski
The fog alarm - from cannon fire to the electronic sound signal

© Claveau Fund, HR -13238, Musée régional de Rimouski
Pointe-au-Père : a hub of navigational services

© Claveau Fund, HR-13244.02, Musée régional de Rimouski
Main associated buildings

© Claveau Fund, HR -13367, Musée régional de Rimouski
Who was the “père” in “Pointe-au-Père”?

The name of the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse refers to the Jesuit father (père, in French), Henri Nouvel, who, after arriving in Canada in 1662, celebrated the first mass on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, in the vicinity of the point, on December 8, 1663. From that time on, the site went by the name of “Pointe-au-Père”—the French equivalent of “Father Point”. ».

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