A popular Grand Manan lighthouse needs your help to win $50,000 in a national competition.
The Swallowtail Lighthouse is one of 10 heritage places competing in the Next Great Save.
Canadians will have the opportunity to vote for who they think should win the top prize.
Andrea Kelter, the supervisor of the Swallowtail Lighthouse welcome centre and gift shop, said she found out about the contest through her daughter.
“My daughter, Alexandra, had seen it on a daily newsletter that she receives at her job in Halifax,” Kelter said in an interview.
“She forwarded it to me and I just jumped out of my chair and went ‘whoa, this is amazing’ and immediately began to follow it up.”
The competition, put on by the National Trust for Canada, is meant to help a community save a heritage place that matters to them.
Kelter said the money would them undertake the largest capital initiative in the lighthouse’s 160-year history.
“We’re embarking on a half-million-dollar project to reshingle the entire light tower and also the keepers’ house,” she said.
The restoration work will protect the lighthouse and the keepers’ house from the elements and reduce ongoing maintenance costs, said Kelter.
Kelter and her team will have some local competition as they look to win the top prize. The Stone Church in Saint John is also one of the 10 finalists.
“I love the Stone Church. I think it’s one of the most beautiful outstanding buildings. I know it has some problems, but I think they can be resolved,” she said.
“I wish them all the best in the competition. Of course, I hope we win, but I want them to have a great run too.”
Voting will open Friday at 3 p.m. Atlantic Time and continue until Feb. 22. The winning project will be announced on Feb. 23.
Kelter said people can vote once per day for their favourite heritage place.
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