As of September 2013, the future of the Race Rocks Light tower has still not been determined. The links from this page give an historical perspective to the issue, starting below with the most recent developments. The Passage of the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act of 2008 gave us all hope that the future of this and other iconic lighthouses of Canada would be guaranteed. The followup however has not been that simple.
September 21, 2013– Letter from DFO rejecting the proposal
September 10, 2013–Preliminary contact with DFO and Parks Canada by phone has indicated that the Proposal was rejected by DFO.
June 2013-– A submission to DFO and Environment Canada re: a Business Plan as required by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, (DFO.)
Dec 24, 2010 ––Lighthouse Team Disputes Right to Sell–(Times Colonist)
June 11, 2010– Race Rocks Lighthouse for sale ( Gazettte)
June 11, 2010– Reaction to DFO Announcement on Selling off its Lighthouses
June 4, 2013– Groups submit plans to save 128 ‘surplus’ lighthouses, Globe and Mail June 04, 2013
May, 2013 Designated Heritage Lighthouses: Parks Canada
May 30,2013 —Ottawa should be more pro-active in efforts to save Canada’s lighthouses_ Globe and Mail Editorial,
May 27 , 2010-–DFO Announces it will be selling off Surplus Lighthouses
February 25, 2009—Restoration Begins on Race Rocks Lighthouse.. Pictures of the process
February 9, 2009– Barry MacDonald visits Race Rocks
Oct 8 2008– Repair plans announced for Race Rocks Tower: DFO has informed us that they intend to refurbish the tower over the next 6 months: The DFO/CCG project engineer responsible for the Race Rocks Beacon, John Lauder, P.Eng. of Fisheries & Oceans Canada in Vancouver has tended contracts based on the recommendations prepared by Mark Byram, their consultant with GOAL Engineering of Vancouver. This will involve stripping of existing paint, re-pointing/repairs to masonry, application of new weatherproof coatings and repairs to lantern house glazing.
May 15, 2008—News Column: By Jack Knox, “Pat Carney finally wins her lighthouse fight,” Times Colonist,
May 7, 2008- News Release: After nearly 10 years- Heritage Lighthouse Bill Passes
May 7, 2008––Bill S-215 given final Assent in the Senate. (Heritage Lighthouse Protection)
May 1, 2008—Passage of Bill S-215 , the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act
March 11, 2008–House of Commons Debate : Heritage Protection for lighthouses Bill S-215
February 9, 2007 —–Pat Carney and Barry MacDonald visit Victoria,
February 6, 2007-–-A beacon of Hope for Race Rocks.The Times Colonist ran an article on the problems of the deterioration of the heritage light tower at Race Rocks.Jack Knox and Deborah Brash pay a visit to the tower at the end of January 2007. The following article appears in the Times Colonist.
February, 2007–—The deteriorating conditions of the Race Rocks Light Tower:
2000- 2008—–Background on the Heritage Protection Bill
2000– Parks Canada: Recognized Federal Heritage Building , Race Rocks, BC
1994–Heritage Character Statement for Race Rocks Lighttower, FHBRO
1991-–– Race Rocks entry on Canada’s Historic Places website,
1950- Victoria Times Magazine article describing the role of Race Rocks
1859-1909— Archives from the British Daily Colonist on Race Rocks