http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/archives_2/vidday1.htm
This video was filmed by Alan Bibby in 1997. It features a visit by Dr.Joe McInnis to the islands to dive with students of Lester B. Pearson College.
Narration by Angus Matthews.
OUTPOST: RACE ROCKS
Marine Education Centre
See this file with stills and the script from OUTPOST
| Documents below: | 1894 | Memorandum from the Honourable the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Parks(Note confusion with Bentinck Island included?) |
| . | 1997 | Letter from Keith Anderson , land Officer to V. Poruka , Lightstation Services, Canadian Coast Guard re: Lighthouse reversion.
|
90-85
Race Rocks, British Columbia
Race Rocks Lighttower Vancouver Island
HERITAGE CHARACTER STATEMENT
The Race Rocks Lighttower was built in 1860 by the Crown Colony of Vancouver Island, with the assistance ofthe British Colonial Office. Its light was replaced in 1988. The manned station continues to serve its original function. The Canadian Coast Guard is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 90-85.
Reasons for Designation
The Race Rocks Lighttower was designated Recognized as a result of its environmental significance, its early association with the provision of navigational aids on the Pacific Coast, and its functional design and use of materials.
The Race Rocks Lighttower dominates its site, a small barren island located about twelve miles from Victoria in an area of strong tides and reefs. Given its important function in these treacherous waters, the Lighttower is a regional landmark among mariners.
The Lighttower, one of the first built on the west coast, was constructed in response to the increased maritime traffic arising from the Fraser River gold rush. By locating the
light on an island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, local authoritie s aided merchant and passenger ships headed to Victoria and naval vessels destined for the base at Esquimalt. The influx of settlers hoping to benefit from the gold strike quickly changed Victoria from a fur-trading fort to an inco rporated city, and ensured the continued need for a lighttower.
The Race Rocks Lighttower is one of a very few Canadian examples of its type. The design is derived from one commonly employed by the British for “Imperial” lighthouses associated with colonial trade routes. Built of local stone and by local craftsmen, the lantern and original light were supplied by the British.
Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Race Rocks Light tower is defined by its profile, functional design and materials, and by its importance in its environment.
The tall tapered profile of the Race Rocks Lighttower is typical of the “Imperial” design, with limited decorative detailing and stately proportions. The character of the Race
Rocks Lighttower is found in its robust stonework: large, rusticated blocks of granite composing the base and lanter n, and similarly finished sands tone in the body of the
tower. The raised door and lower-level windows are set in arched openings in the thick masonry wall, while the upper window-openings form small squares.
In 1962 the original lightkeeper’s residence, which was physically connected to the lighttower, was demolished. This required the provision of an exterior staircase to the second-floor tower entrance and some patching of the tower stonework. Care should be taken to avoid further changes to the tower’s profile.
Given the highly exposed site, remedial masonry work has been required on several occasions and will continue to be required periodically. Since the stonework determines to a large extent t he character of this structure, inspection and maintenance by qualified masonry conservation professionals should be undertaken regularly. The black and white identifying colour scheme is original, and should be retained. The interior stone stairway should be preserved, as should all original interior fittings.
The light station is the sole occupant of the eight-acre Race Rocks in the Juan de Fuca Strait. Secondary structures associated with its operation surround the lighttower, and merit preservation. The surging tides make the island relative ly inaccessible except by helicopter; the rugged isolated character of the site should be preserved.
1994.12.02
After a short interval after the departure of the Anderson’s in 1982, when Race Rocks lightstation was covered by relief keepers, Joan and Charles Redhead moved to the island and Charles took over as the Head Keeper at Race Rocks. They served more than the station during their tenure; they served muffins! Several generations of Pearson College students the world over still remember hot chocolate and muffins in their kitchen, after a cold scuba dive. Charles and Joan Redhead continued the strong interest in protecting the ecology of Race Rocks.
For a few years before retirement, they shared the island with the assistant lightkeepers Warren and Elaine Kennedy. All four keepers often turned out to greet the students as they came ashore. The keepers also often shared the island and boathouse slipway with stray elephant seals or sea lions that strayed from the large herds that hauled out on the outer rocks during the winter months.
In retirement in Vancouver and then Victoria, Charles and Joan remained in contact with the college. It was with sadness that we learned of the death of Charles in the spring of 1996. The students of the year 11 and 12 reunion have remembered Charles with a walnut tree planted in his honour on the Pearson College campus in June of 1996.
In 2012, we received he news that Joan Redhead had also passed away. Pearson College had now lost two devoted supporters.
From TheVictoria Times-Colonist, May 11, 2012:
REDHEAD, Joan Elizabeth April 28, 1927 April 30, 2012
Joan Redhead (nee Wilson) died suddenly in Victoria on Monday, April 30, 2012. Joan was predeceased by her husband Charles; her parents, Thomas and Doris Wilson (nee Shaw) and her brothers, Derrick and Bryan. She is survived by her sons, Alec and Peter (Sheila); her beloved grandchildren, Emily and Thomas as well as her sisters, Doreen Cartwright and Mary Blades and her brother John Wilson. Joan was born and raised at Bridlington, Yorkshire where she married her childhood sweetheart, Charles, in 1947. Joan and Charles emigrated to Vancouver with their young boys in 1957, retiring to Victoria in 1994. An active volunteer, compassionate and principled, Joan was devoted to her family and to her friends. We are left with our loving memories.
Return to the List of Lightkeepers File
These pictures were taken in the fall of 1982 when Trev and Flo Anderson visited the college after their retirement as lightkeepers at Race Rocks where they had built and launched this boat in the spring of 1982. Many students were able to have a sail with them that autumn before as Trev and Flo were practicing for their trip across the Pacific in the coming year.
In the fall of 1978, a small group of students of Lester B. Pearson College who were in marine science and diving, together with their teachers, Garry Fletcher and Marks McAvity and with the urging of the light keepers at Race Rocks, Trev and Flo Anderson, set about the task of seeking some form of permanent protection for the underwater and above water ecosystem at Race Rocks. The director of Parks for the Province of British Columbia, Tom Lee recommended that our concerns might be met by seeking Ecological Reserve Status for the area. He gave us the name of Dr. Bristol Foster who was then head of the Ecological Reserve Unit of the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing and we invited him to come out to dive with us at Race Rocks. Bristol was as impressed as we were with what he saw underwater and he urged us to set in motion the process that could lead to the creation of a marine ecological reserve for the area. Ecological Reserves had been started in B.C. only a few years earlier. They were created in order to preserve unique or representative ecosystems in the province that could serve for research and education and serve as baselines for monitoring ecological change with the encroachment of humans into natural areas.
Our aim initially was to do as many scuba dives as possible covering the area around Race Rocks and document the life forms there. We also set as a goal the researching of as many aspects of the area as we could. We were able to invite Dr. Paul Breen from the Pacific Biological Station to dive with us and provide a letter of support about the richness of the species diversity at Race Rocks. Our ultimate aim was to host a workshop at Pearson College that would present our information to the B.C. government in order to urge them to get reserve status for the area.
In February of 1979 a highly successful workshop took place, and the officials invited from the Provincial Museum, the University of Victoria, and the Ministry of Parks were all enthusiastic and supportive of our proposal. (The research presented then is included in the Race Rocks Archives at Pearson College Library, as is other information following the process of creating the reserve and the follow-up involvement of the college since that time.) This link details the program of that workshop. Over the next year we worked at the task of formalizing our proposal, presenting it to cabinet and lobbying to get action. Two students in diving and marine science, Johan Ashuvud from Sweden and Jens Jensen from Denmark were especially relentless in their pursuit of our goal. The proposal had to clear 11 agencies in the government bureaucracy and the cabinet before the Reserve could be proclaimed. These two students invited the Deputy Minister of Parks out to dive and then kept following it up with phone calls, even after hours! Their persistence finally paid off when after a year, the shortest time any reserve proposal has ever taken, the Minister of Parks was able to request Prince Charles on his visit to the college as international board president (April 1980) to make the formal announcement proclaiming Race Rocks the 97th Provincial Ecological Reserve.
The role of the college didn’t cease then. We had volunteered to take an active role in the stewardship of the ecological reserve so in the fall of that year a current meter was obtained from The Institute of Ocean Sciences to obtain data that would form the basis of the Race Passage Tables in the Canadian Tides and Currents Book. Garry Fletcher was appointed the Volunteer Warden of the reserve, to be assisted by the students and staff of Pearson College. Dr. Theo Dombrowski , a faculty member of the English Department at Pearson has also been instrumental in helping the students to further their ecological work on the reserve. We assisted Robin Baird of the Biology Department , Simon Fraser University to install a hydrophone for his research on marine mammals, and we installed baseline transect reference pegs in 14 locations around the main island. We continue to add to our data on intertidal and subtidal transects.
In 1986 we started our association with Dr. Anita Brinkmann-Voss, collecting specimens and providing her with transport to the island for her work on hydroids. Her work has resulted in the identification of over 60 species of hydroid in the reserve and the naming of a new species from the reserve, with others pending further work for possible new species status, along with many new records for North America. To date nine extended essays in Biology or Environmental Systems have been done at Race Rocks by Pearson College students. Over 800 students of Biology, Marine Science or Environmental Systems have done field trips to Race Rocks for the study of intertidal transect technique, tidepool study, or synecological studies. One student also put together a herbarium collection of the marine algae from the reserve. We have been able to conduct guided ecology tours for over 150 grade seven students from the local community each year since the mid nineteen eighties. In the spring of most years we also host a tour of the reserve for the Friends of Ecological Reserves from Victoria. In 1990 we were able to secure an added measure of protection for all ground fish in the reserve by petitioning for and being granted a closure on all commercial fishing and sports fishing except for migratory salmon and Halibut. This was the first such closure of any marine reserve area on this coast that has been granted by federal fisheries.
In the fall of 1992 we assisted the Royal British Columbia Museum in the live production of 24 one hour television shows from the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. These involved 13 of our divers as well as several faculty for this first Canadian Underwater Safari production. These ecology programs were broadcast live by satellite to down-link sites in Eastern and Western Canada and in the Eastern US. Since that time they have been re -broadcast by cable stations throughout the country. It has been estimated that they have been seen by at least 2 million viewers.
In 2001, Great Race Rocks was added to the Ecological Reserve. Only the envelope of land around the tower was excluded as it was now part of a renewed lease with DFO after they had given up the lease for the entire island.
See ECOLOGICAL RESERVE REFERENCES
Garry Fletcher, 1996
Lester B. Pearson College
Faculty in Biology, Environmental Systems and SCUBA Diving.
Abstract: Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Proposal –
Lester B. Pearson College
On April 21, 1979, a proposal for an Ecological Reserve at Race Rocks was presented to the Ecological Reserves Branch of the Ministry of the Environment by the students of the diving service and the marine science class at Lester B. Pearson College. The proposal recommended that the reserve should be comprised of the islands and the surrounding subtidal area to a depth of 25 fathoms. The central island, Great Race Rock, could be excluded because of the Coast Guard facilities there, but it was recommended that a request should be made to the Coast Guard to consider its inclusion as well.
–
The proposal outlined the use that has been made of the area in the past, and the present use being made of the area by Pearson College. It was pointed out that the proposal is quite consistent with the purposes of reserves, as stated in the Ecological Reserves Act of British Columbia. Continue reading
1979 Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Proposal –
Abstract:
Lester B. Pearson College
On April 21, 1979, a proposal for an Ecological Reserve at Race Rocks was presented to the Ecological Reserves Branch of the Ministry of the Environment by the students of the diving service and the marine science class at Lester B. Pearson College. The proposal recommended that the reserve should be comprised of the islands and the surrounding subtidal area to a depth of 25 fathoms. The central island, Great Race Rock, could be excluded because of the Coast Guard facilities there, but it was recommended that a request should be made to the Coast Guard to consider its inclusion as well.
–
The proposal outlined the use that has been made of the area in the past, and the present use being made of the area by Pearson College. It was pointed out that the proposal is quite consistent with the purposes of reserves, as stated in the Ecological Reserves Act of British Columbia.
It was emphasized that the uniqueness of the area for its subtidal life and the ever-increasing pressures on the area from divers made the need for protection most urgent.
Included in the report were the results of several investigations on physical and biological conditions carried out by the students. Throughout the report, examples were referred to of how Pearson College might continue to contribute to the reserve in terms of making information available to help in the educational task in reserve maintenance. It was felt that the role of “steward” for the college could be appropriate.
Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific
R.R. 1, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8X 3W9 Telephone (250) 391-2441
College du Pacifique Lester B. Pearson
Route rurale 1, Victoria, Colombie- Britannique, Canada V8X 3W9 telephone (250) 391-2441
-1979Workshop on The Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Proposal
Saturday, April 21.7 1979, 10:30 a.m. at Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific
Chairman: Garry Fletcher, Marine Science Department
The objective of the workshop is to present and discuss a proposal from the students in the diving service and marine science classes that recommends the establishment of the Race Rocks area as an Ecological Reserve.
Program
10:30 – 12:00 – Presentation of the. proposal by the students of the diving service,
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch, cafeteria
1:00 – 2:00 – Slide presentation Brent Cooke, Provincial Museum, Victoria
2:00 – 3:30 – A discussion on the unique organisms of Race Rocks and the Ecological Reserve Concept, with the following resource people:
Wayne Campbell, Vertebrate -Zoology, Provincial Museum, Dr. D. Ellis, Biology Department, University of Victoria, Dr. Hans Romer, Ecological Reserves Branch, British Columbia Land Service, Ministry of the Environment
3:30 – 4:00 – Coffee, cafeteria
4:00 – 6:00 – Conclusions and Optional Tour of Race Rocks
CONTENTS PAGE
| Part A | Introduction to the proposal for an Ecological Reserve at Race Rocks | 1 |
| Part B | Delimitation and Description of the Proposed Ecological Reserve | 3 |
| Part C | -The Use Made of Race Rocks by Pearson College in the Past. | 5 |
| Part D | 1978 – 79 Projects at Race Rocks | 6 |
| Birds and Mammals of the Islands | 21 | |
| Species Check-list of Race Rocks | 14 | |
| Bottom Profiles using Sonar | 29 | |
| Physical Factors at Race Rocks | 30 | |
| Part E | The Role of Pearson College in Assisting the Maintenance of an Ecological Reserve. | 34 |
| Part F | Future Projects at Race Rocks. | 35 |
| Part G | Our Concerns for the Future of the Race Rocks Area | 37 |
| References | 38 | |
| Appendix 1 | Letter from Dr. Paul Breen, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo | 39 |
| Appendix 2 | Race Rocks Project, October, 1978 | 41 |
| Appendix 3 |
-List of Plates
| 1. | Great Race Rocks as it was in 1970 | i |
| 2. | Gorgonocephalus eucnemis | iv |
| 3. | Epiactus prolifera | 15 |
| 4. | colonia ascidians | 15 |
| 5. | Balanophyllia sp. | 19 |
| 6. | Sponge | 19 |
| 7. | Steller’s Sea Lion | 22 |
| 8. | Killer whale near Race Rocks | 27 |
-LIST OF FIGURES
| Figure | Description | Page |
| 1 | Map of Race Rocks in Relation to Victoria | 3 |
| 2 | Proposed Ecological Reserve: Race Rocks | 4 |
| 3 | Locations of Species Maps | 7 |
| 4 | Key to Species Maps | 8 |
| 5 | Map of Area 1 | 9 |
| 6 | Map of Area 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Map of Area 3 | 11 |
| 8 | Map of Area 4 | 12 |
| 9 | Map of Area 5 | 13 |
| 10 | Individual dive paths | 13a |
| 11 | Checklist of species verified from our Race Rocks Dives | 16 |
| 12 | Vertical Section of one location of Great Race Rock | 20 |
| 13 | Island Numbers for the Location of the Bird Colonies | 23 |
| 14 | Total Number of Breeding Pairs at Race Rocks 1974-1975 | 23 |
| 15 | Race Rocks, July 4th, 1974 No. of Nests | 23 |
| 16 | Race Rocks, July 4th, 1974 No. of Eggs | 24 |
| 17 | Race Rocks, July 14th, 1974 No. of Young | 24 |
| 18 | Race Rocks, July 14th, 1974 No. of Nests | 24 |
| 19 | Race Rocks, July 21st, 1974 No. of | 25 |
| 20 | Distribution of Sea Lions at Race Rocks 1977 | 25 |
| 21a | Rosedale Rock to Lighthouse Depth Sounding (bearing 335 magnetic | 29 |
| 21b | Rosedale Rock towards most easterly island in Race Rocks group depth sounding (bearing of 358 magnetic) | 29 |
| 22 | Map of Sonar Profiles | 28 |
| 23 | Current direction on ebb tide | 31 |
| 24 | Current direction on flood tide | 32 |
| 25 | Temperature graph 1974, 1976 and 1948-57 | 33 |
page 1–
PART A. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPOSAL FOR AN ECOLOGICAL RESERVE AT RACE ROCKS.
The students and teachers of the marine science and diving classes of Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific recommend that the Government of British Columbia establish, under the Ecological Reserves Act of 1971, an Ecological Reserve in the area of Race Rocks near Victoria, British Columbia.
To be included in the reserve would be the islands and the surrounding subtidal area to a depth of 25 fathoms. It is appreciated that an exemption may be allowed for the land above the high tide level on the main island , Great Race Rock, as this is presently used as a light station by the Canadian Coast Guard.
This proposal outlines the use that has been made of the area by the college for educational purposes, and the plans for the future educational projects that can be carried out in the area.
The proposal is consistent with several of the purposes as stated in the Ecological Reserves Act.
“…. to reserve Crown land for ecological purposes, including:
–Part C of this report outlines the use made of Race Rocks by Pearson College marine science and diving students in the past few years. In addition, Part F outlines some of the potential of the area for future ecological studies that are observational in character.
The uniqueness of this area has been documented by Dr. Paul Breen of the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo (see appendix 1) and by James M. Goddard in a report to the National Parks Branch in 1975:
“The unique feature at Race Rocks is the subtidal flora and fauna inhabiting the high current velocity channels.” (2)
3 The interest shown by diving photographers recently is also well known. (3) Recently, the National Geographic Society has been in the process of preparing’a feature article on underwater life at Race Rocks; this also attests to the uniqueness of the area. page2 As far as being a representative example of natural ecosystems within the province, the area also has merit. It is moreover one of the high current ecosystem areas that has proximity to a population centre and therefore receives more pressure from the public. –
It is to be hoped that the acceptance of this proposal will enable the preservation of this area for educational and research purposes, as well as for controlled recreational use by the public.
In recent communication with the Coast Guard, evidence has been obtained that could suggest that they would be willing to accept the Ecological Reserve being extended to include the main island, Great Race Rock.
We would highly encourage this, as it would be a more appropriate recognition of the close ecological links of the bird colonies on that island and the rich life in the surrounding area.
Abstract: Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Proposal –
Lester B. Pearson College
On April 21, 1979, a proposal for an Ecological Reserve at Race Rocks was presented to the Ecological Reserves Branch of the Ministry of the Environment by the students of the diving service and the marine science class at Lester B. Pearson College. The proposal recommended that the reserve should be comprised of the islands and the surrounding subtidal area to a depth of 25 fathoms. The central island, Great Race Rock, could be excluded because of the Coast Guard facilities there, but it was recommended that a request should be made to the Coast Guard to consider its inclusion as well.
–
The proposal outlined the use that has been made of the area in the past, and the present use being made of the area by Pearson College. It was pointed out that the proposal is quite consistent with the purposes of reserves, as stated in the Ecological Reserves Act of British Columbia.
It was emphasized that the uniqueness of the area for its subtidal life and the ever-increasing pressures on the area from divers made the need for protection most urgent.
Included in the report were the results of several investigations on physical and biological conditions carried out by the students. Throughout the report, examples were referred to of how Pearson College might continue to contribute to the reserve in terms of making information available to help in the educational task in reserve maintenance. It was felt that the role of “steward” for the college could be appropriate.
Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific
R.R. 1, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8X 3W9 Telephone (250) 391-2441
College du Pacifique Lester B. Pearson
Route rurale 1, Victoria, Colombie- Britannique, Canada V8X 3W9 telephone (250) 391-2441
–Workshop on The Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Proposal Saturday, April 21.7 1979, 10:30 a.m. at Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific
Chairman: Garry Fletcher, Marine Science Department
The objective of the workshop is to present and discuss a proposal from the students in the diving service and marine science classes that recommends the establishment of the Race Rocks area as an Ecological Reserve.
Program
10:30 – 12:00 – Presentation of the. proposal by the students of the diving service,
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch, cafeteria
1:00 – 2:00 – Slide presentation Brent Cooke, Provincial Museum, Victoria
2:00 – 3:30 – A discussion on the unique organisms of Race Rocks and the Ecological Reserve Concept, with the following resource people:
Wayne Campbell, Vertebrate -Zoology, Provincial Museum, Dr. D. Ellis, Biology Department, University of Victoria, Dr. Hans Romer, Ecological Reserves Branch, British Columbia Land Service, Ministry of the Environment
3:30 – 4:00 – Coffee, cafeteria
4:00 – 6:00 – Conclusions and Optional Tour of Race Rocks
CONTENTS PAGE
| Part A | Introduction to the proposal for an Ecological Reserve at Race Rocks | 1 |
| Part B | Delimitation and Description of the Proposed Ecological Reserve | 3 |
| Part C | -The Use Made of Race Rocks by Pearson College in the Past. | 5 |
| Part D | 1978 – 79 Projects at Race Rocks | 6 |
| Birds and Mammals of the Islands | 21 | |
| Species Check-list of Race Rocks | 14 | |
| Bottom Profiles using Sonar | 29 | |
| Physical Factors at Race Rocks | 30 | |
| Part E | The Role of Pearson College in Assisting the Maintenance of an Ecological Reserve. | 34 |
| Part F | Future Projects at Race Rocks. | 35 |
| Part G | Our Concerns for the Future of the Race Rocks Area | 37 |
| References | 38 | |
| Appendix 1 | Letter from Dr. Paul Breen, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo | 39 |
| Appendix 2 | Race Rocks Project, October, 1978 | 41 |
| Appendix 3 |
-List of Plates
| 1. | Great Race Rocks as it was in 1970 | i |
| 2. | Gorgonocephalus eucnemis | iv |
| 3. | Epiactus prolifera | 15 |
| 4. | colonia ascidians | 15 |
| 5. | Balanophyllia sp. | 19 |
| 6. | Sponge | 19 |
| 7. | Steller’s Sea Lion | 22 |
| 8. | Killer whale near Race Rocks | 27 |
-LIST OF FIGURES
| Figure | Description | Page |
| 1 | Map of Race Rocks in Relation to Victoria | 3 |
| 2 | Proposed Ecological Reserve: Race Rocks | 4 |
| 3 | Locations of Species Maps | 7 |
| 4 | Key to Species Maps | 8 |
| 5 | Map of Area 1 | 9 |
| 6 | Map of Area 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Map of Area 3 | 11 |
| 8 | Map of Area 4 | 12 |
| 9 | Map of Area 5 | 13 |
| 10 | Individual dive paths | 13a |
| 11 | Checklist of species verified from our Race Rocks Dives | 16 |
| 12 | Vertical Section of one location of Great Race Rock | 20 |
| 13 | Island Numbers for the Location of the Bird Colonies | 23 |
| 14 | Total Number of Breeding Pairs at Race Rocks 1974-1975 | 23 |
| 15 | Race Rocks, July 4th, 1974 No. of Nests | 23 |
| 16 | Race Rocks, July 4th, 1974 No. of Eggs | 24 |
| 17 | Race Rocks, July 14th, 1974 No. of Young | 24 |
| 18 | Race Rocks, July 14th, 1974 No. of Nests | 24 |
| 19 | Race Rocks, July 21st, 1974 No. of | 25 |
| 20 | Distribution of Sea Lions at Race Rocks 1977 | 25 |
| 21a | Rosedale Rock to Lighthouse Depth Sounding (bearing 335 magnetic | 29 |
| 21b | Rosedale Rock towards most easterly island in Race Rocks group depth sounding (bearing of 358 magnetic) | 29 |
| 22 | Map of Sonar Profiles | 28 |
| 23 | Current direction on ebb tide | 31 |
| 24 | Current direction on flood tide | 32 |
| 25 | Temperature graph 1974, 1976 and 1948-57 | 33 |
page 1–
PART A. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPOSAL FOR AN ECOLOGICAL RESERVE AT RACE ROCKS.
The students and teachers of the marine science and diving classes of Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific recommend that the Government of British Columbia establish, under the Ecological Reserves Act of 1971, an Ecological Reserve in the area of Race Rocks near Victoria, British Columbia.
To be included in the reserve would be the islands and the surrounding subtidal area to a depth of 25 fathoms. It is appreciated that an exemption may be allowed for the land above the high tide level on the main island , Great Race Rock, as this is presently used as a light station by the Canadian Coast Guard.
This proposal outlines the use that has been made of the area by the college for educational purposes, and the plans for the future educational projects that can be carried out in the area.
The proposal is consistent with several of the purposes as stated in the Ecological Reserves Act.
“…. to reserve Crown land for ecological purposes, including:
Part C of this report outlines the use made of Race Rocks by Pearson College marine science and diving students in the past few years. In addition, Part F outlines some of the potential of the area for future ecological studies that are observational in character.
The uniqueness of this area has been documented by Dr. Paul Breen of the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo (see appendix 1) and by James M. Goddard in a report to the National Parks Branch in 1975:
“The unique feature at Race Rocks is the subtidal flora and fauna inhabiting the high current velocity channels.” (2)
3 The interest shown by diving photographers recently is also well known. (3) Recently, the National Geographic Society has been in the process of preparing’a feature article on underwater life at Race Rocks; this also attests to the uniqueness of the area. page2 As far as being a representative example of natural ecosystems within the province, the area also has merit. It is moreover one of the high current ecosystem areas that has proximity to a population centre and therefore receives more pressure from the public. –
It is to be hoped that the acceptance of this proposal will enable the preservation of this area for educational and research purposes, as well as for controlled recreational use by the public.
In recent communication with the Coast Guard, evidence has been obtained that could suggest that they would be willing to accept the Ecological Reserve being extended to include the main island, Great Race Rock.
We would highly encourage this, as it would be a more appropriate recognition of the close ecological links of the bird colonies on that island and the rich life in the surrounding area.
Not quite sure of the exact date for this visit but thought I would put it on in hopes that someone can narrow it down .
Thor Heyerdahl was on the Board of the United World Colleges when he made a visit to Lester Pearson College. I remember two things he said on the way out to Race Rocks one was “why is it that whenever I visit somewhere someone tries to get me on a boat”
Google Heyerdahl to dee other famous quotes of this famous Norwegian Explorer.
As we approached North Rock on a heavy flood tide it appeared that the island was moving as we were going straight toward the lighthouse because we were being carried by the tide. He said that this was the reason that The Galapagos Islands were called Las Islas Encantadas by early sailors who were maneuvering in the Humboldt Current.
Thor Heyerdahl on Ubatuba with a Norwegian Pearson College student on the way to Race Rocks.
