Number of Point Clark Lighthouse tours down 15 per cent in 2024, says township economic officer

The number of tours of the Point Clark Lighthouse was down 15 per cent last summer, while merchandise sales were up 26 per cent.

That’s the word from Amy Irwin, business and economic development officer, in her year-end report to Huron-Kinloss council at its committee-of-the-whole meeting, Monday morning, Jan. 13.

The lighthouse opened June 28 with a full complement of five seasonal employees - four staff and one co-ordinator - hired to conduct daily tours, organize a weekly children’s program every Friday afternoon, and host special events, such as a Lighthouse Speaker Series, National Lighthouse Day and a Paint Night.

Over the summer season, 2,308 people paid for a tour (1,559 adults and 749 children), 69 children attended seven children’s programs, 74 people attended four Lighthouse Speaker Series sessions, 19 people paid for the Paint Night, and more than 150 people were at the National Lighthouse Day.

The number of guests paying for a tour was down 15 per cent from 2023, stated Irwin, in her report. Children’s program attendance was down 27 per cent, speaker series attendance was up 27 per cent, while the Paint Night and Lighthouse Day statistics remained the same.

Merchandise sales were up 26 per cent from 2023, and overall revenue was up 11 per cent.

Irwin said the township collaborated with other small museums in Bruce County, on the creation of a Museum Road Trip brochure which was available on-site.

The year-end report indicated that 2024 was another busy year for the economic development team with a continued focus on economic development, business support and recruitment and tourism.

The highlights included:
 

• Securing grants for Christmas lighting and a new mural in downtown Ripley
• Supporting Lucknow’s Music in the Fields; the 2024 festival was the most successful to date, with more than 7,500 weekend tickets sold
• Assisting businesses with Spruce the Bruce grant applications and Huron-Kinloss Downtown Improvement Program
• Welcoming two new businesses in downtown Lucknow: King’s Pizza and Budzrus Lucknow; one in Ripley: the Thrive Network; and one relocating to Point Clark: Her Strength Studio
• Welcoming the first business in the Ripley Industrial Park: Acacia Fine Cabinetry
• Receiving a $32,000 Rural Economic Development (RED) grant for downtown revitalization in Ripley
• Continuing to promote Secrets of the Back Forty; this summer featured the Back Forty Bazaar in Ripley and Lucknow – the future of this event to be determined