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Jan 2, 2003
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Race Rocks Lighthouse
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Issue:
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January 2003
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Author:
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K.E. Heaton
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In the late 1850’s, the British Admiralty built what became known as "The Imperial Lights."
These were a series of lighthouses built between 1857 and 1860. Scottish stonemasons prepared these tall conical towers of brick, masonry or granite. On Boxing Day 1860, an Imperial Light was lit on Canada’s most southern point in the Pacific Coast.
Located one nautical mile from Rocky Point, the most southern point on Vancouver Island is Race Rocks Lighthouse. With only 12 miles between it and the American shoreline, Race Rocks is named for the tide flows that can produce up to 8 knots of speed.
In the late 1800’s, Victoria was becoming an important economic center. British military ships surveying the coastline noted that the waters passing Race Rocks were near impossible to navigate in the dark and getting to Victoria extremely dangerous at night.
So, in 1860, Scottish granite was shaped, cut, numbered and shipped by barge to B.C. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, workers erected the lighthouse together. Ironically, just three days before Race Rocks was lit, the tall ship Nanette ran aground at Race Rocks and was destroyed. This yet again called for the need of a guiding light.
Soon after its operation began, it became apparent that the lighthouse was difficult to be seen by day. The first light keeper of Race Rocks, George Davies, painted distinctive black and white stripes around it. These
distinct marks still remain today. Even with the improvements of visibility, the thick fog that veiled the inlets for numerous days each year still caused many problems. With only a station bell, many ships still found their resting place along the rocks. In 1892 the Department of Marine and Fisheries installed a steam plant with two compressed air foghorns.
Problems persisted through the years with the foghorns, though not through lack of effort on part of the light keepers. In 1927, Race Rocks was fitted with a radio beacon, the first on Canada’s west coast. By 1929, after investigations into the silent zones that still surrounded the rocks, the horns were moved to a separate tower and became truly useful as foghorns.
Over the years, many men and families have stood watch and worked the lighthouse. Thomas Argyle followed the first light keeper, George Davies. Argyle reportedly found sunken treasure in the nearby waters. One W.P. Daykin spent a few years working the lighthouse followed by Frederick Eastwood and his family. The Eastwood’s were followed by Arthur Anderson who eventually disappeared in his skiff in 1950.
In 1966 Trev and Flo Anderson resumed responsibility for the lighthouse. During their stay,
they constructed the ship ‘Wawa and the Wayward Goose.’ In 1982, they took off on a two-year journey. During their tenure at
Race Rocks, the Lester B. Pearson College was established at nearby Pedder Bay. Marine biology students began to study the extraordinary waters around Race Rocks and in 1980 the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was established.
Charles and Joan Redhead took over operation after the Andersons keeping up the great relations with the students of Pearson College. Their joint effort in preserving the waters and its treasures and their simple kindness is still remembered today by many former students.
In 1990 Mike and Carol Slater became the last light keepers of Race Rocks. By 1997, the government was set to make Race Rocks fully automated, much to the disappointment of students and the Slater’s. Pearson College took over operation temporarily for two years and with the co-operation of the Coast Guard, made the island an education centre.
From 1997-2000, the Coast Guard and the Provincial Parks Department did upgrades and restoration on the ecosystem that surrounds Race Rocks. Today, Race Rocks is designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) under the Ocean’s Act.
Today Race Rocks Lighthouse stands proudly over its protected waters.
Written by K.E. Heaton
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