Canada calls for lighthouse keepers. No citizenship is required, and a hefty salary offered
5:16 AM EST, January 19, 2024
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the governing body for Canadian lighthouses, relayed the duties of lighthouse keepers in an announcement. They are responsible for meteorological observations, radio communication, keeping the lighthouse and its immediate environment in good shape, painting the building, refilling diesel tanks, and testing fire equipment.
Technical aptitude in the operation, regular maintenance of equipment, and computer literacy are among the required skills, in addition to adaptive competencies.
Applications for keeper positions are open until the end of March, while applications for the position of assistant keeper in British Columbia are welcome until the year's end. There's no requirement for Canadian citizenship, only legal residency status and the necessary technical skills. What more should you expect?
Lighthouse keepers wanted in Canada, nationality not a factor
Canada's lighthouses and tourist attractions include the famed Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. The oldest lighthouse, dating back to 1734, is in Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Despite enduring several fires and reconstructions, the lighthouse still functions inside a building erected in 1923.
The oldest functional lighthouse, built in 1758, is located on Sambro Island at the entryway to the port in Halifax. Canadian historians highlight that lighthouses on the country's Atlantic side were built due to thriving trade between regions now part of Canada and Europe and, eventually, their necessity for navigation through the Great Lakes.
Between 1970 and 1996, 264 lighthouses were automated, and some of these heritage buildings became part of National Parks, serving as tourist attractions. In 1995, the Ottawa government proposed a plan to automate all lighthouses in Canada for cost reduction. However, significant opposition from locals and the Coast Guard curtailed the automation scale, and currently, 51 lighthouses retain their keepers and assistants: one in New Brunswick, 23 in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 27 in British Columbia.
A lighthouse keeper in Canada doesn't need Canadian citizenship but requires legal residency status. According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans website, you can apply without a Canadian address. The annual salary for a lighthouse keeper varies between 45 and 70 thousand Canadian dollars.
