22 replies to this topic

[Bingo]

Surplus Lighthouses

The federal government has announced that 976 unmanned light houses across the country are surplus, and could be replaced with simpler structures.

The beacon on the end of the Ogden Point breakwater is one that could be replaced.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans acknowledge the heritage value of such structures and says individuals, municipalities or non-profit groups can protect them by seeking heritage designation through Parks Canada.

Hertitage designation would be a smart approach for the Ogden Point light before another iconic piece of Victoria gets replaced.

http://www.timescolo...0283/story.html

[yodsaker]

Many of them are graceful and loaded with character and stories, they help define our coasts and bring some romanticism to a desperately unromantic country.
They'll be replaced by generic ugly steel towers with a computer box inside.
And so one more piece of our heritage is dumped to save pennies.
Meanwhile $1 billion or more is pissed away on a 3-day party for windbags and their planeloads of arselickers.
Feh!

[victorian fan]

A billion dollar boondoggle.
An artificial lake with canoes, trees, deck chairs and a fake dock, this may be the last straw. For heaven's sake, the meeting isn't a spectator sport.

Lose the lake, save the lighthouses.

[VicHockeyFan]

Yah, they ought to can the lighthouses. Tourism groups or preservationists or the like can take over the best few of them. Sounds reasonable.

[Bingo]

Senate committee recommends lighthouse staffing be maintained for now. - OTTAWA

"A Senate committee that travelled to two provinces to study lighthouse operations in the country is recommending Ottawa continue staffing the facilities for now.

The committee says the Department of Fisheries should halt its lighthouse destaffing plan and suggests future staffing decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis.

It says guidelines and consultations are needed to determine whether keepers should be maintained in Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia.

Senator Bill Rompkey, chair of the committee, says they were unanimously recommending continued staffing after hearing overwhelming support for lighthouse personnel on both coasts.

The committee also recommends a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis be done on the full range of services provided by staffed lighthouses.
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced the review and stalled plans to remove lighthouse keepers amid fierce criticism last year, as some argued the move would cost lives at sea".

Oh holy night, they have seen the light.

http://home.mytelus....&CatID=National

[Bernard]

All the arguments for keeping the lighthouses have to do with roles the lightkeepers are not responsible for. If the coast watch is an important thing, then there should be some other way that it gets paid for and no pretend that these roles make it worth keeping lightkeepers on staff

[HB]

Sheringham Point Lighthouse and grounds.

 

http://sooke.pocketn...2UQus0.facebook

[Bingo]

Before the causeway

 

[HB]

The Causeway has dozens of junk cars buried in it. The cars were brought from junk yards and places then rock and gravel onto. Same thing at Island View Beach many many cars buried to help control erosion on foreshore

[Mike K.]

Actually? How bizarre is that.

[HB]

Yes its true but no one talks about it probably because not many are aware.

Cars from junk yards were routinely used as fill in construction sites.

[todd]

It's not surprising almost all of the beautiful lighthouses in Canada are on the federal contaminated site list.

[HB]

Really?

 

 

Lets us see the list and specifically the list of lighthouses on contaminated sites.

Edited by HB, 25 February 2016 - 01:15 PM.

[todd]

Couldn't find Fisgard on the list Discovery, Trial, Sheringham and many more are.

 

http://www.federalco...fset=6&toc=show

[HB]

Thanks for the backup Todd. I must say I was surprised at the number of lighthouses in the list.

I suppose that diesel would be a contaminant on many of these sites but am most certain the the biggest issue is all of the spilled mercury .

The fresnel lenses and lights floated on a pool of mercury which was far more efficient than something that needed to greased often ,

Edited by HB, 25 February 2016 - 01:35 PM.

[Bingo]

Couldn't find Fisgard on the list Discovery, Trial, Sheringham and many more are.

 

http://www.federalco...fset=6&toc=show

 

I don't know how updated the list is because Rock Bay is still mentioned.

Every harbour has some degree of contamination in the seabed but is not an huge issue as long as it's not disturbed.

Esquimalt Graving Dock is also on the list but is continually contaminated every time they clean the hull of a ship.

Also on the list is Victoria Harbour, Lot 17: Victoria Harbour Floor; Point Ellice (Bay Street); Johnson Street; Point Ellice (Bay Street); East Selkirk; Macaulay

 

http://www.federalco...fset=6&toc=show

[todd]

I don't know how updated the list is because Rock Bay is still mentioned.

Every harbour has some degree of contamination in the seabed but is not an huge issue as long as it's not disturbed.

Esquimalt Graving Dock is also on the list but is continually contaminated every time they clean the hull of a ship.

Also on the list is Victoria Harbour, Lot 17: Victoria Harbour Floor; Point Ellice (Bay Street); Johnson Street; Point Ellice (Bay Street); East Selkirk; Macaulay

 

http://www.federalco...fset=6&toc=show

 

This one's a bit newer: http://www.federalco...fset=7&toc=show

[Victoria Watcher]

Still light: Portraits of a Trial Islands lighthouse keeper

 

 

 

Amidst threats of obsolescence, the Trial Islands lighthouse is still home to keepers continuing this work, and caring for the Island

 

https://www.capitald...e-keeper-photos

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 November 2022 - 04:16 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Want to be a lighthouse keeper? Coast Guard launches B.C. hiring process

 

https://vancouverisl...ocess-1.6231370

 

 

 

I nominate nparker.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 January 2023 - 01:12 PM.

[Nparker]

I'm not good with heights or bright lights.