Category Archives: Information

Prince Rupert’s New Coast Guard Vessel Arrives

Coast Guard, Information, Lighthouses, Ships, , , , , , , , ,
The Coast Guard vessel Cape Dauphin sits docked at the Seal Cove base.

By Shaun Thomas – The Northern View

Prince Rupert’s new Coast Guard vessel, the Cape Dauphin, was on display at the Coast Guard station today and those who work with the ship outlined the role it will play in search and rescue on the North Coast.

 She ship is a 47 foot cape-class vessel with a combined 900 horsepower. It can house a crew of four with a maximum speed of 25 knots and is designed to withstand 80 knot winds and 30 foot seas. The ship is also self righting, which means if it flips over in rough seas the engines won’t cut out and the boat will automatically roll back into the proper upright position.

 “This is the standard boat across the country and across the continent. America has about 200 and we have a significant number here in Canada. They fulfill their mission perfectly because of their speed and nimbleness,” said Kevin Tomsett, superintendent on small vessels.

 “They’re a good size and can get into a lot of the areas that other big boats can’t access.”

 The Cape Dauphin, named after a cape in New Brunswick, also features side decks that can be lowered to bring someone out of the water more efficiently and will carry the same medical equipment as the much larger Point Henry, which was decomissioned earlier this year. The two 450 horsepower engines are rated for fuel efficiency and longevity, with the Cape Dauphin able to cover 200 nautical miles on a tank of gas at full speed and the top 2,120 RPM, and up to 800 nautical miles at lower speed.

 A dedication ceremony for the ship will take place later this afternoon.

– photo by Shaun Thomas – The Northern View

Lighthouse History – 10 (1898-05-06 to 1899-11-28)

Construction, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Newspapers, , , , , , ,

The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

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Captain Gaudin says that in addition to the lighthouses for which tenders are already being invited, there may be a few new ones built on the northern coast but they will be small. Those which have been called for will be located at Cape Mudge, on Sister I, on Egg I, in Queen Charlotte Sound, on Fiddle Reef off Oak Bay and in Burrard Inlet narrows… [Colonist, 1898-05-06]

 

Dominion Government Steamer ‘Quadra’ leaves for Cape Beale and West Coast lighthousestations tomorrow. [Colonist, 1898-06-07]

 

Dominion Government Steamer ‘Quadra’ leaves for Cape Beale and other coast lighthouse points this morning. [Colonist, 1899-04-04]

 

Dominion Government Steamer ‘Quadra’ returned to port yesterday afternoon after a short and uneventful trip to Cape Beale and Carmanah, at which stations stores were landed. Captain Walbran reports that a heavy sea was running on the West Coast Tues, which moderated sufficiently the following day to permit of communication being made with the lighthouses. [Colonist, 1899-04-07] Continue reading Lighthouse History – 10 (1898-05-06 to 1899-11-28) →

Ontario – Point Clark Lighthouse

Automation, Coast Guard, Construction, Government, History, Information, Lighthouses, , , , , ,
– from Market Wire website
Parks Canada 

July 26, 2011 14:20 ET

Government of Canada to Restore Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site

 POINT CLARK, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – July 26, 2011) – The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced the award of a $622,000 contract to restore Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site.

“Last year, Parks Canada developed a plan to restore the Point Clark Lighthouse and reopen it to visitors,” said Minister Peter Kent. “Today I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is contributing to preservation of this regional icon of marine heritage.”

The Point Clark Lighthouse is one of six imperial lighthouse towers on Lake Huron and was first lit on April 1, 1859. The 87-foot limestone lighthouse structure is a style rarely seen elsewhere in Canada, and in 1967 was the first Ontario lighthouse to be designated as a National Historic Site by the Government Canada. Although owned by Parks Canada, the Lighthouse is operated as a popular tourist attraction by the Township of Huron-Kinloss.

“The Township of Huron-Kinloss is very excited about the restoration of the Point Clark Lighthouse”, said Mayor Mitch Twolan. “The Township Council, staff and citizens of Point Clarke are pleased that this beacon for tourism will remain tall and strong in our community.”

“Through Parks Canada, our government manages the finest network of protected heritage places in the world,” said Minister Kent. “The work at Point Clark Lighthouse will ensure this national treasure is protected and preserved for generations of Canadians to experience.”

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our treasured natural and historic places.

For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.

 

Contact Information

  •  

    Scott Currie
    Communications Manager
    Southwestern Ontario Field Unit
    Parks Canada
    519-573-2476

Lighthouse History – 09 (1893-01-21 to 1897-07-06)

Construction, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, On The Job, , , , , , ,

The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

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“Jan 24, 1893, 1 – I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by my wife, Adeline Victoria Grive, or any other person, without my written order. Joseph T Grive, Comox, Grantham Post Office. Walter H Piercy, Yellow Rock (Chrome Island – ed.) lighthouse keeper, died at Courtenay, TB. Leaves wife, 4 children. [Colonist, 1893-01-21*]”

“Dominion Government Steamer Quadra, Captain Walbran, leaves for the West Coast on lighthouse duty this week. Steamer Mischief leaves for the West Coast Fri. [Colonist, 1895-06-05]”

“Whether or not Dominion Government Steamer Quadra, which left here for West Coast yesterday, is on police patrol duty, is a question the authorities are reticent about answering. Captain Gaudin, Agent of Marine, when asked as to the Steamer’s mission yesterday, said that she had gone to complete some extensive work already started on one of the Coast lighthouses, and also to land coal at one. He expected her back in less than 2 weeks. [Colonist, 1895-06-15]” Continue reading Lighthouse History – 09 (1893-01-21 to 1897-07-06) →

Heritage Lighthouses

History, Information, Lighthouses, , , , , , , , ,

From Parks Canada website on Heritage Lighthouses.

“In May of 2008, Canada adopted a new law that will protect heritage lighthouses, the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act . It came into force on May 29, 2010. Given its expertise in heritage conservation, Parks Canada was assigned responsibility for the implementation of the Act.”

 

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From Heritage BC website:

“Under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act Canadians can now nominate lighthouses for designation and protection.  There is only a two-year window for the nomination process, however, until May 29, 2012.  Nominations will be considered by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.”

“So far, 56 lighthouses have been nominated, but only three from B.C.:  Point Atkinson, Sisters Islets and Sheringham Point.”

“Heritage BC and the provincial Heritage Branch have provided the federal Heritage Lighthouse Program with a list of community organizations and local governments that may have an interest in the 35 B.C. lighthouses identified by Parks Canada as having nomination potential.  Parks Canada is writing to these organizations and governments to inform them about the nominations process, and to discover if there is an interest in participating in information sessions.  Some sessions have already been held in the Maritimes and more may be scheduled on the west coast in September, if the level of interest warrants.”

For more information, contact Rick Goodacre
rgoodacre@heritagebc.ca

PDF letter LighthouseDesignation_2011-06-29 to Rick Goodacre from Heritage Canada

In answer to the above letter The Land Conservancy of BC wrote:

“Thanks for the reminder and update on this Rick.  The Land Conservancy of BC will be moving forward with a number of nominations in the coming weeks, and we are prepared to help coordinate a holistic approach to figuring out what we can/should be doing with respect to Lighthouse protection over the longer term.  That includes both the nomination process and then the much more detailed and involved process of taking on responsibility for those lighthouses that the Government will be declaring surplus (which is a lot).”

“At this stage, we want to gather information about who is interested in any specific Lighthouse(s).  If your organization, your community or your municipality has a specific interest in protecting the future of a Lighthouse in BC would you please get in touch with us.  Either contact myself or Deborah Hudson at:  ifawcett@conservancy.bc.ca   or  dhudson@conservancy.bc.ca , or call at (250) 479-8053.”

 Thanks everyone,

Ian Fawcett
Deputy Executive Director, TLC
Ph:   (250) 479-8053 or (250) 888-1608
Fax:  (250) 744-2251

************************************

Heritage Lighthouse Program 
(819) 934-9096
www.parkscanada.gc.ca

(cached snapshot of the Parks Canada website here)

(cached snapshot of the BC Heritage website here)

Lighthouse History – 07 – Carmanah Point (1888-04-21 to 1908-11-22)

Construction, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Newspapers, On The Job, , , , , , ,

The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

As I was collecting this information from the newspaper archive website, I noticed that many articles were in consecutive order and applied to Carmanah Point (earlier planned at Bonilla Point), so I collected them all together here. It is a bit long, but interesting, as it describes the building of a lighthouse from the ground up as they say. Take note of the dates at the end of each article. it surely was not done overnight. More extensive information can be obtained from the actual scanned copies of the newspapers themselves on the above website.

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Bonilla Point

 

“From all I [Colonist correspondent] can learn there is every prospect of a lighthouse and signal station being erected at Bonilla Point (eventually at Carmanah Point – ed.) at no distant day….  [Colonist, 1888-04-21]”

 

 

A lighthouse, steam fog alarm and signal and telegraph station will be erected at Bonilla Point. [Colonist, 1888-08-28]”

“William Smith, deputy minister of marine arrived for the purpose of visiting Bonilla Point and San Juan Harbour to determine the most suitable site for a lighthouse at the entrance to the Straits. Mr Gisborne, Superintendent of Government telegraphs will accompany him… [Colonist, 1888-09-02] Continue reading Lighthouse History – 07 – Carmanah Point (1888-04-21 to 1908-11-22) →

Lighthouse History – 06 (1878-07-19 to 1884-10-17)

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The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

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“The party who went to Alberni to survey a lighthouse land reserve have returned. (but which lighthouse? – ed.)They report about 170 Chinese miners at work, only 40 of whom pay the Government tax. [Colonist, 1878-07-19]

Died at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Aug 5, 1879, William Henry Bevis, aged 49, Native of Birkenhead, England, 3rd Son of late Captain Thomas Bevis, RN. Funeral will take place from Fisgard Lighthouse and from the Royal naval cemetery. Keeper of Fisgard lighthouse, deceased came to British Columbia in 1858, previous to which year he was employed in the capacity of purser on steamers running between Panama, Lima and Callao. Shortly after his arrival here he received an appointment in the Revenue Department and was stationed at Langley. In 1860 he accepted a position in the Police Force of this city, but the performance of his duties in this office was of brief duration, as in 1861, when the Fisgard light was first exhibited, he was appointed keeper, a position which he held until the hour of his death. His father was a commander in the English navy. A-Row-12-P-0057 [Colonist, 1879-07-26*]”

“Tender call, Wm. Smith, Deputy Minister of Marine &c., for Fraser River Lighthouse (Sandheads – ed.) [Colonist, 1881-02-16, p. 2]”

“PLUMPER PASS tenders invited for erection of wooden lighthouse (Discovery Island lighthouse – ed.) [Colonist, 1884-03-28, p. 3]”

“Tugboat Pilot with Captain Revely returned to Victoria, British Columbia, having been unable to discover anything of the lighthouse keepers, and the conclusion came to is that he, with his brother and a half-breed, have been drowned. The keeper’s name was H C Fraser, native of Pictou, Nova Scotia, aged 30, unmarried. Half-breed was Frederick Williams, aged c 19, of Metchosin. The pilot brought down the effects of the late keepers. two new keepers have been placed in the lighthouse, which will now beam as usual. The light is situated about five miles from shore where the shallowness of the water renders it very rough in stormy weather. (but which lighthouse? – ed.) [Colonist, 1884-10-17, p.3]”

Cape Scott Lighthouse Today

Beachcombing, British Columbia, Canada, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Photos, Wildlife, , , , ,
Cape Scott lighthouse today

Cape Scott lighthouse is located at the north end of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC) Canada. It is situated in Cape Scott Provincial Park.

To quote from the Provincial Park Website:

“Cape Scott Provincial Park is a truly magnificent area of rugged coastal wilderness that is located at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island, 563 kilometers from Victoria.

Established in 1973 and named after the site of a lighthouse that has guided mariners since 1960, Cape Scott is characterized by more than 115 kilometers of scenic ocean frontage, including about 30 kilometers of spectacular remote beaches . . . 

. . .  The lighthouse and the Cape are outside the provincial park boundary and are private property belonging to the Department of National Defence. The old trail and foghorn were built during World War 2 by DND staff to give access to the beach, etc. but as the old structures, boardwalk and suspension bridges deteriorated, they became dangerous and were removed by the Federal Government. BC Parks is not responsible for this trail and not allowed to trespass on this private property.”

The photos were taken by the lighthouse keeper Harvey Humchitt, and his assistant Todd Malezewski. More photos are available here.

Lighthouse History 04 – Cape Beale (1872-05-29 to 1909-01-23)

Construction, Equipment, History, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Newspapers, On The Job, , , , , , , , , ,
Cape Beale

The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

As I was collecting this information from the newspaper archive website, I noticed that many articles were in consecutive order and applied to Cape Beale, so I collected them all together here. It is a bit long, but interesting, as it describes the building of a lighthouse from the ground up as they say. Take note of the dates at the end of each article. it surely was not done overnight. More extensive information can be obtained from the actual scanned copies of the newspapers themselves on the above website.

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Lighthouse recommended at Cape Beale, will provide a first-class light and powerful fog whistle. [Colonist, 1872-05-29]

 

Steamer Sir James Douglas, with Mr Pearse, will sail for Cape Beale in a few days. Mr Pearse will select a site for the lighthouse to be erected at that point. [Colonist, 1872-10-22]

 

Dominion Government Steamer Sir James Douglas will sail for Cape Beale with Mr Pearse to select a lighthouse site. Cape Beale is a bluff about 125′ in height with a bold rocky shore against which the breakers incessantly beat. Access to the Cape can only be had by going outside the Straits and running into the mouth of Bamfield Creek where a snug little harbor exists. From Bamfield Creek a road or trail about 2 miles in length to the Cape will have to be made. [Colonist, 1872-10-26]

Continue reading Lighthouse History 04 – Cape Beale (1872-05-29 to 1909-01-23) →