Founded in 2010, the Canadian Lightkeepers Association promotes awareness and understanding of Canada's requirements for staffed lightstations. Specifically, we aim to: [more]

Nancy Greene Raine

Lighthouse keepers gain Senate support

Posted Sun, 2011-01-02 20:52
Date Published: 
2011-01-02
Source: 
Oak Bay News

Trial Island lightkeeper breathes a sigh of relief

Lightkeeper Meredith Dickman was a bit nervous when five senators landed in a helicopter on Trial Island in November.

She knew they were part of a Senate standing committee studying whether to destaff Canadian lighthouses, but she wondered what questions they would have. She was quickly put at ease.

“They were really very professional and had a lot of excellent questions,” said Dickman, the primary lightkeeper at Trial Island for the past six years. “They wanted to understand the issue from all sides.”

TrialIsland1PNov1010.jpg

Senators hear support for staffed lighthouses

Posted Wed, 2010-11-24 20:13
Date Published: 
2010-11-23
Source: 
Prince Rupert The Northern View

A group of federal senators were in Prince Rupert on Saturday to get input on whether or not the Department of Fisheries and Oceans should get rid of lighthouse keepers and switch to automated lighthouses.

The senators arrived early in the morning to be greeted by a small group of protesters outside the civic centre where the three hours of meetings took place. The senators heard, behind closed doors, from a variety of different groups including representatives of floatplane operators, mariners and municipalities; all of who were against losing manned lighthouses.

"...the eyes and ears of the people on the lights." Senators say they understand de-staffing reservations

Posted Wed, 2010-11-24 20:09
Date Published: 
2010-11-24
Source: 
Campbell River Courier-Islander

Overwhelming public support of lightkeepers should scuttle Ottawa's latest attempt to destaff lighthouses.

That was the message coming from presenters and senators when members of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans visited Campbell River last Thursday.

Lighthouse saga is frustrating, Senator admits

Posted Tue, 2010-11-23 21:16
Date Published: 
2010-11-23
Source: 
Campbell River Mirror

A last-minute agenda, closed door meetings and another $90,000 in taxpayers’ money spent.

That’s the result so far of yet another review committee – this time federal Senators – trying to decide if its worthwhile keeping lightkeepers on the B.C. Coast.

“In 2008, the Conservative Party supported manned lightstations, so why is this happening again?” asked Alice Woods, vice-president of the B.C. Lightkeepers union.

Why indeed?

Senator's stance softens after visit

Posted Mon, 2010-11-15 09:00
Date Published: 
2010-11-13
Source: 
Nanaino News Bulletin

When she was appointed this spring to a federal committee examining the feasibility of de-staffing lighthouses on Canada’s coasts, Sen. Nancy Greene Raine was firm in her opinion.

“My first feeling would be that if we do not really need it, and if it is not serving a really valuable purpose, then the resources should probably be reallocated,” she said at an April meeting of the standing senate committee.

But since a personal visit to two B.C. staffed lighthouses this summer, she’s softened her stance.