Growing up in B.C. lighthouses, Alanny Brutton learned to help her mom and dad with their lightkeeper duties.

In 1970, two years after the family moved to Sheringham Point lighthouse, west of Sooke, a call came in from Victoria Air Marine Radio (a weather watch run by the Coast Guard at the time) while Brutton’s parents were visiting neighbours. There was a report of a boat fire on the water and the operator asked the 14-year-old girl to take a look. She picked up binoculars.