Way Shoal is situated off the north shore of Ottawa River near the mouth of Riviere Blanche, about sixteen kilometres downstream from Ottawa. In 1870, the Department of Marine noted in its annual report the establishment of a lighthouse to guide mariners past Way Shoal:

A minor light was recently erected at Way Shoal on the north side of the Ottawa River, about 10 miles below the City of Ottawa. It is a fixed white light on the Catoptric system, elevated 33 feet above high water, and can be seen a distance of eight miles in clear weather. It was lighted for the first time on the 6th October, 1870, and has given much satisfaction, not only to the steamboat owners and proprietors of other craft running on the river, but also to the travelling public. This light was much needed, as there was only one lighthouse on the Ottawa River previous to this one being built; and others are still required to facilitate and assist the large trade, which is rapidly increasing, on that important river.

Way Shoal Lighthouse was a wooden tower, painted brown, that used two, flat-wick lamps set in sixteen-inch reflectors to produce its light. The cost of building and equipping the lighthouse came to $384.95. Antoine Mongeon was appointed the first keeper of the lighthouse at an annual salary of $100. A report in 1877 noted that Keeper Mongeon had a family of eleven. Charles Mongeon was appointed keeper of the lighthouse in 1888 and he served for roughly two decades as its keeper.

In 1906, the Department of Marine erected two sets of range lights to more effectively guide marines along this stretch of Ottawa River: Four beacon lights, to guide through the channel north of Way shoal, were established and put in operation on November 7, 1906. They show fixed white lights from pressed glass lens lanterns hoisted on poles, are visible eight miles in the line of range. The poles are made more conspicuous as day beacons by having diamond-shaped slatworks painted white on the top of each. The front light of the upper range stands on the bank of the river at a point 975 feet above the front light of the lower range, and about 2,100 feet below the mouth of the Blanche river. The back light of this range stands 490 feet from the front light, and the front light of the second range stands on the north bank of the river, 975 feet below Way channel front light.

These beacons were erected under supervision of Capt. Weir, C. G. S. Maisonneuve, and cost only $124. These range lights were known as Way Channel Range and Besserer Crossing Range. Way Shoal Lighthouse was discontinued not long after the new ranges were established. Moise Beauchamp served as keeper of the range lights from 1906 through at least 1937.

In 1913, a third range, known as Way Shoal Traverse Range, was also established in the vicinity. These range lights marked a channel across Way Shoal for towing logs and were only exhibited for a period of roughly three months each year during low water.

These three sets of range lights have been discontinued, and today there are no range lights along this stretch of the river.

Keepers: Antoine Mongeon (1870 – 1885), S. Mongeon (1885 – 1887), Charles A. Mongeon (1888 – 1908), Moise Beauchamp (1906 – at least 1937).

References

1. Annual Report of the Department of Marine, various years.

No navigational light exists at this location today.

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