Lighthouses part of Canada's culture

Published: November 11, 2010 1:00 PM
Updated: November 11, 2010 1:41 PM

Its easy on southern Vancouver Island to allow lighthouses to become part of the scenery. Unless one is a boater, a person may simply take the presence of these light stations for granted.

But there is a certain romance with lighthouses. They are a part of our history, a slice of coastal living that we envision as part and parcel of experiencing the rugged life of a maritime resident.

A Senate committee is further looking into whether Canada's 51 remaining stations with lighthouse keepers need to be staffed.

No one would argue that having a live set of eyes available with the ability to take action in the event of a crisis isn't critical at times.

On the other hand, technology has improved since the first lighthouses were installed along our coastlines. The notion of setting up a series of cameras, perhaps linked to satellites, to monitor the waters off Vancouver Island, for example, doesn't seem like such an out-of-this-world solution.

But what of the actual light stations?

The revelation that the federal government has listed the majority of Canada's lighthouses as surplus had many Canadians collectively raising their eyebrows.

It's easy to envision high rollers buying the land cheap and erecting pricey spa-lodges on prominent waterfront properties currently anchored by lighthouses.

But is that what we want to see?

Other coastal communities and jurisdictions, the state of Oregon for example, have created successful models for saving these picturesque and culturally significant icons and utilizing them in a different way. Cultural tourism, facilitated by community groups and other agencies, could be the answer for saving the lighthouses of Canada's Pacific Coast.

The federal government, if it chooses to divest itself of these assets, must commit to work with interested groups to enhance the viability of lighthouses, either as working navigational aids, tourist attractions or both.

Once they're gone, they're gone forever.