Swallowtail Lighthouse on Grand Manan might be one of New Brunswick's most iconic lighthouses, but the landmark is under threat of being lost if doesn't undergo major restorative work within the next year. To help raise funds, CHCO TV, New Brunswick's only independent community television station, teamed up with the Swallowtail Keepers Society to host "Tending the Light: A Telethon for Swallowtail" that took place on Sunday, April 16, 2023, from 2pm to 6:30pm live on CHCO's tv channel, Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

The live televised event was co-hosted by CHCO-TV's Vicki Hogarth, current Swallowtail lightkeeper Ken Ingersoll, Grand Manan Mayor Bonnie Morse, MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason, islander Glenn Foster, and Bart and Dawn Myers from the Swallowtail Keepers' Society. The telethon featured interviews with islanders who grew up in the lightkeeper's house at Swallowtail, as well musical performances by Saint John-based band Don't Tell Roy and an art auction of an original painting of Swallowtail by esteemed New Brunswick artist Jane Geurts. Anyone who called in during the telethon to make a pledge of $100 or more also received a signed limited edition print of the original painting.The number of prints in the limited edition was determined by the number of people who pledged $100 or more, making the print a souvenir of the telethon and of the restoration effort. The original painting was auctioned during the telethon to the highest bidder who bid $5000 before the end of the telethon.The telethon was originally scheduled to run for three hours but, due to the high volume of donations, ended up running for four and a half hours until 6:30pm.

Major donors such as Sean Dunbar of Picaroons, who named a beer after Swallowtail, and Robert Griffith representing the Rotary Club of Grand Manan also made guest appearances. Prior to the event, Swallowtail Keepers Society had already raised $160,000 towards their goal of raising $479,000 to fully restore the exterior of both Swallowtail lighthouse and the Keepers House. The telethon raised $55,000, meaning that the Keepers Society has officially raised $210,000 this year towards the restoration with more funds expected to come from the province in the weeks ahead. 

Those wishing to donate after the telethon can still make a contribution by visiting www.swallowtaillighthouse.com and clicking the “Donate Now” button.