Nova Scotia lighthouses split $250K in crowdfunding prize money

This Lighthouse Matters organizers have announced nine winning lighthouses that will split $250,000 in cash prizes after voting ended yesterday.

Created by the National Trust for Canada and the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society as an online crowdfunding competition, online voting gave Canadians the chance to contribute to lighthouse preservation campaigns in Nova Scotia.

Over 219,000 votes were received since the campaign launched June 17.

• Lighthouse Matters crowdfunding aims to save N.S. landmarks

Three categories with capped winnings each had a first, second and third-place winner.

High Tide:

• 1st:Low Point Lighthouse ($75,000)
• 2nd:Gabarus Lighthouse ($50,000)
• 3rd:Cape Forchu Lighthouse ($25,000)

Ebb Tide:

• 1st:Annapolis Lighthouse ($40,000)
• 2nd:Henry Island Lighthouse ($20,000)
• 3rd:Sandy Point Lighthouse ($10,000)

Low Tide:

• 1st:Digby Pier Lighthouse ($15,000)
• 2nd:Neil's Harbour Lighthouse ($10,000)
• 3rd:Battery Point Lighthouse ($5,000)

"We couldn't possibly be more delighted," said Debbie Lee Pearson of the Low Point Lighthouse Society.

"We really are over the moon. Low Point Lighthouse sits precariously close to the embankment. So that is our immediate concern is to shore up that bank and keep the north Atlantic Ocean back."

In a statement released on Thursday, the National Trust for Canada announced it wants to crowdfund more money.

Any money that is contributed to lighthouses that didn't win a cash prize will be matched with every dollar up to $10,000. For lighthouses that did win a cash prize, continued contributions will matched by 50 cents to every dollar.

"We really want all these projects to be winners," said Natalie Bull, executive director of the National Trust for Canada.

The website will remain online for crowdfunding until July 31.