“In my riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, there are at least two important lighthouses that will be affected, at Porlier Pass and Portlock Point.  We have been working with citizens who want to see these structures preserved,” said Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament and Leader of the Green Party of Canada.

The two most affected lighthouses in Saanich-Gulf Islands are:

1. Porlier Pass Rear Range on Galiano Island which is an “active” status lighthouse that has not yet been nominated for heritage status.
2. Portlock Point Lightstation which is a “surplus” status lighthouse not yet nominated for heritage status.

Other affected lighthouses in the riding have been nominated for heritage status, including Active Pass Lightstation and East Point (Saturna Island) Lightstation.

The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, passed in 2008, provided a process whereby citizens could nominate any federally-owned lighthouse for designation as a heritage property.  Other lighthouses will be sold off.

“The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act was a bit of a misnomer and it is really a way for the government to divest itself of lighthouses,” said May.

Under the Act, community groups could apply for ownership of the lighthouses, however there is no associated funding for maintaining the buildings.

“Lighthouses are a source of pride for coastal communities and the tourism benefits alone justify their maintenance and indeed, their enhancement,” said May.

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This Act is an opportunity for Canadians to participate in the conservation and protection of heritage lighthouses that form an integral part of Canada’s identity, culture and heritage.

The Act conserves and protects lighthouses in four key ways:

• By providing a process for the selection and designation of heritage lighthouses, which includes a two-year public petition period to nominate any federally-owned lighthouse for designation.
• By preventing the unauthorized alteration or disposition of lighthouses that are designated as heritage lighthouses.
• By requiring that heritage lighthouses be reasonably maintained and altered only in keeping with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.
• By facilitating sales or transfers of heritage lighthouses to promote an ongoing public purpose or new uses for them while ensuring their long term protection.

The designation of a heritage lighthouse may also include related buildings that contribute to the heritage character of the lighthouse, such as keepers’ residences and fog alarm buildings.

Discover how the petition, designation, and conservation processes work. If you are interested in nominating a lighthouse owned by the federal government that has not yet been nominated, you can refer to their Petition Process page to learn more. Petitions must be received by the Heritage Lighthouse Program on or before 29 May 2012.

For more information: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/progs/lhn-nhs/pp-hl/index.aspx

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