Feature

To Comment on this article Click Here

It appears that there is  wide interest  in coastal areas across Canada where there are lighthouses.

Vicki Timori and Mike Sterling from the Southampton Marine Heritage Society of Saugeen Shores and Mike Fair, Treasurer of the Bruce Coast Lighthouse Partners organization, appeared  before the Ottawa Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on Tuesday (Feb. 15).

After explaining the restoration project of Chantry Island and Bruce County lighthouses in general, it appears that they are models when it comes to preserving and promoting them as heritage sites and major tourism attractions.

The group from Bruce County, Ontario were there to address questions because of the recent Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act implemented on May 29, 2010 by the Federal Government.  The Committee is asking, "How best can we preserve Canada's lighthouses?"

Several of the Senators asked questions of each of the Bruce County representatives, with particular focus on the volunteer aspect that surrounds Chantry Island.   Many of the Senators expressed amazement as to what has been accomplished solely with   "... the commitment and dedication of volunteers".

Timori told the Senate Committee that more than $770,000 has been raised to date through tours, the tour base store and major private donations but that expenditures were also approximately $668,000.  Again, the senators found it hard to believe that it had all been done with volunteers.

Sterling also pointed out that every level of government from Municipal to the County to the Province and the Coast Guard and Fisheries and Oceans had been very supportive of the volunteer effort.  He also explained to the Committee that the entire restoration of Chantry Island had been done without government grants or corporate money which, again, appeared to surprise the Senators.

Fair also explained the importance of lighthouses to the tourism economy of the Bruce Coast on Lake Huron.  "As Bruce Coast Lighthouse Partners," he said, "we try to promote each other's sites so that visitors can take in more than one lighthouse location.  Point Clark is an historical lighthouse site but it needs a lot of work.  We operate it as a museum but had to suspend visitors inside the lighthouse because of a state of disrepair."

Sterling was asked what he would suggest to other groups that may want to begin a restoration project.  His reply was, "Get started.  There is a group in Burlington with a beautiful little lighthouse and, after several years, nothing has been done.  Just get started."

It was also suggested by a senator that possibly a fundraising umbrella group could be formed, such as Ducks Unlimited has, to raise funds on a national or even international scale that would take care of 'major' maintenance or repairs of lighthouse sites that may not be covered under Parks Canada or the Coast Guard if divestiture takes place.

Both Sterling and Timori thought it a very good idea.

Senator Dennis Patterson said that a west coast restorer said there was private money available to buy  lighthouses but wanted to know if there could possibly be bad motives by developers because lighthouses are waterfront properties.  "It seems to me that the act is vague about what kind of a group can take over a lighthouse ... it doesn't say non-profit and does not refer to maintaining heritage."

Peter Noreau, President of the Quebec Lighthouse Society/Corporation, said that there could be some kind of written promise that a site would be respected.  "We also have to give access to DFO employees to maintain the lights but there are rumours that, if the lighthouses are privately owned, they (DFO) will not maintain the lights.  Also, anyone could buy a lighthouse and then simply demolish it."

The Senate Committee has been calling in various representatives from across Canada to speak to the recent Act and how best to establish controls that would preserve historical lighthouse sites. 

Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area.  You can click on the ads for more

Survey Participate in our latest Kincardine Times survey

 

Survey Participate in our latest Saugeen Times survey

^{for world news, books, sports, movies ...}

Wednesday, February 16, 2011