Dorval is a municipality on the Island of Montreal that includes the Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. The municipality of Pointe Claire is situated just west of Dorval, and Lachine just to the east. Dorval Island is located just offshore in St. Lawrence River from Dorval and Pointe de Valois is the point on the eastern side of the large bay in Dorval known as Baie de Valois.

In 1860, three navigational aids were built to assist the trade between Lachine and Ottawa: two crib lights, one at Pointe Claire and the other at Green Shoal on Ottawa River, and a floating light at Point de Valois. In 1872, Arsene Glode, who had been keeper of Valois Lightship No. 1, also known as Pointe Claire Lightship No. 1., died and Benjamin Gloude was appointed the new keeper at an annual salary of $300.

In its 1874 annual report, the Department of Marine noted the need to replace the aging lightship with a lighthouse:

The lightship situated near Point Claire, Lake St. Louis, being deemed unfit for service, it was considered advisable to construct a pier on a shoal near the station of the lightship, and erect a light-house thereon. This work has been completed during the past season, and the lightship was withdrawn and the light on the pier put into operation on the 10th November last. This light is on the catoptric principle, and will probably be seen at a distance of nine miles. The cost of construction of pier and light-house up to the 30th of June last, was $1,492.50.

The total cost of the lighthouse came to $4,404.16. In 1877, Darius Smith, superintendent of lights above Montreal, visited the station near Dorval, which he called Pointe Claire Lighthouse No. 2 to distinguish it from Pointe Claire Lighthouse No. 1 just to the west, and noted that Benjamin Gloude was the keeper. Smith provided the following description of the lighthouse:

This light is a fixed white catoptric, burning three mammoth flat-wick lamps, with 15-inch reflectors.

The lighthouse is of wood and painted white, with an iron lantern six feet in diameter; size of glass, 30x 30 inches. This lighthouse is built on a wooden pier, and is 21 feet high, and 14 feet square at the base.

The pier is too low, and the north-east corner has sunk about two feet. The building should be raised by screws, and pier raised six feet. The south side and portion of the west side require to be plated with boiler plate to protect it from the action of the ice.

This light is well kept.

In 1879, Roderick Cameron of Lancaster was paid $3,750 to construct a new pier and lighthouse in Lake St. Louis near Dorval after ice had severely injured the existing pier. In 1886, ice seriously damaged the pier at Dorval and swept the lighthouse off the pier. The pier was rebuilt and a new lighthouse was placed upon it by the opening of navigation in 1887 to replace a temporary light that had been exhibited since the loss of the former light. The lighthouse built in 1887 consisted of a square wooden building with a small dwelling attached. The structure was painted white and had a red lantern room, from which a dioptric illuminating apparatus of a small size was used to display a light. Roderick Cameron built the new lighthouse for a contract price of $1,825.

Benjamin Gloude was listed as keeper of Dorval Lighthouse through 1919. He had also been responsible for nearby Pointe Claire Lighthouse since 1907.

Dorval Lighthouse was in existence through at least 1933, but there is no longer a light at this location. In 2021, AD 14 buoy was located near where Dorval Lighthouse had served.

Keepers: Arsene Gloude ( – 1872), Benjamin Gloude (1872 – 1919).

References

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

No light exists at this location today, though a lighted buoy is anchored nearby.

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