A group of Oak Bay heritage advocates is looking to preserve one of the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 most iconic landmarks for generations to come.
The Trial Island lighthouse was built in 1906, and is one of 27 lighthouses in the province that are permanently staffed. Though it is not currently in danger of being shut down or defunded, there has been plenty of debate in recent years at the federal level about the future of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 lighthouses, including the one on Trial Island.
That uncertainty has led the Oak Bay Heritage Foundation to launch a campaign to have the signal tower and its associated buildings registered under the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (HLPA).
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e very much part of Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 and VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 heritage,B次元官网网址� said foundation member Gwen Ewan, who is spearheading the cause. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e part of the fabric of our community. TheyB次元官网网址檙e part of what makes us a maritime community.B次元官网网址�
The Trial Islands themselves are designated as an ecological reserve by BC Parks, but there is currently no such protection for the structures which sit on the rocky surface of the largest island.
Under the HLPA, citizens can nominate a lighthouse for protection by collecting at least 25 signatures on a petition which will then be submitted to Parks Canada for consideration. The foundation set up a booth at the Bowker Creek Brush-Up this past Sunday (Aug. 7) to do just that.
B次元官网网址淟ight stations are an important part of Canadian heritage,B次元官网网址� said Meredith Dickman, who has been the lightkeeper on Trial Island for the last six and a half years. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a source of identity for the mariners on the east and west coasts and a very strong part of the West Coast heritage.B次元官网网址�
The specific location of the Trial Island lighthouse is of particular significance, Dickman added.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the first thing that mariners and recreational boaters see when they are coming through and visiting Victoria and Vancouver,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淓ven the whale watching boats come by and tour around Trial Island.B次元官网网址�
When completed, the petition and all related documents will be sent to Parks Canada, which will review all the applications for HLPA designation before deciding which lighthouses are worthy of protecting. That review concludes in May 2012. A final announcement wonB次元官网网址檛 be made until May 2015.
Despite the long wait, Ewan is optimistic about Trial IslandB次元官网网址檚 chances.
B次元官网网址淎s of May 30, 56 lighthouses across Canada have been nominated,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淧arks Canada identified 35 that they thought were protection-worthy, and ours is one of those 35, so I think itB次元官网网址檚 pretty likely to get the protection.B次元官网网址�
editor@oakbaynews.com
