Heritage Canada Foundation Launches Campaign to Save Canada's Lighthouses
OTTAWA, Feb. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - The Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) is launching a campaign to encourage federal investment in the efforts of local groups and communities to save their lighthouses.
The Government of Canada owns hundreds of iconic lighthouses. Earlier this year, Canadians were shocked to learn that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) had declared more than 500 lighthouses—including the most historic ones—as "surplus."
The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (HLPA), which came into effect in May 2010, was intended to conserve and protect heritage lighthouses. However the Act excludes lighthouses that are declared "surplus" from being designated unless a community group or private owner commits to buy or otherwise acquire them and protect their heritage character. As a result, local groups and communities are now under pressure to assume the financial responsibility for maintenance and protection of almost all of Canada's iconic lighthouses.
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans stated in their March 2011 Report on the Implementation of the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act that the Act's intent was undermined by DFO's action.
"HCF agrees with the Senate Committee that federal support is essential to help communities save our country's lighthouses before they're lost to demotion and neglect," says Natalie Bull, HCF's executive director. "The Save Canada's Lighthouses campaign is designed to raise awareness, and attract federal support to these important icons."
Canadians are urged to sign the petition at http://www.savecanadaslighthouses.ca/. Time is also running out to nominate lighthouses for designation: To be considered, each lighthouse requires a nomination supported by 25 people and submitted to the Minister of the Environment by May 29, 2012.
The Heritage Canada Foundation is a national registered charity dedicated to the preservation of Canada's historic places.
Copyright 2012 PR Newswire
Showing posts with label heritage lighthouse act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heritage lighthouse act. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Lighthouses Deemed Surplus by Federal Government
It was not totally unexpected but the magnitude of the mass disposal of lighthouses across Canada by the Federal government was shocking, 480 lighthouses and 490 aids to navigation, usually beacons on wharves and range lights. Discussions have occurred over the years with the Village of Grand Manan and Fisheries and Oceans about the lighthouses on Grand Manan and the possibility of turning them over to the Village.
The Telegraph Journal ran a story in June about the implications when the press release from Fisheries and Oceans was discovered, http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1088170. The press release was dated May 29 when the Historic Lighthouse Bill came into effect. Passed two years earlier, anyone interested in lighthouses assumed it would be a positive move because originally a budget for the maintenance of the lighthouses would finally be included. However, that money never materialized and a clause was added that allowed the government to dispose of lighthouses deemed historic. The government is giving groups or individuals forming a group two years to apply for any of the surplus lighthouses. Each group must present a business plan. The aids to navigation (i.e. the light and fog horns) will be maintained by the government but they do not plan to perform any maintenance on the buildings that house these aids, literally letting them crumble. If no one comes forward to take over the surplus structures, the government will retain ownership, replacing structures that are deemed unsafe with skeleton towers, metal frames that can support the light and fog horn. See the Fisheries and Oceans website for more details about the surplus lighthouses: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/infocus-alaune/2010/02/index-eng.htm
On Grand Manan we have five lighthouses deemed surplus, Swallowtail, Long Eddy Point, Southwest Head, all on Grand Manan, Long Point on White Head Island and Great Duck Island. It will be interesting to see what will happen. Swallowtail Keepers Society will certainly be keeping abreast of the regulations and will do everything possible to prevent lighthouses from being abandoned.
The Telegraph Journal ran a story in June about the implications when the press release from Fisheries and Oceans was discovered, http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1088170. The press release was dated May 29 when the Historic Lighthouse Bill came into effect. Passed two years earlier, anyone interested in lighthouses assumed it would be a positive move because originally a budget for the maintenance of the lighthouses would finally be included. However, that money never materialized and a clause was added that allowed the government to dispose of lighthouses deemed historic. The government is giving groups or individuals forming a group two years to apply for any of the surplus lighthouses. Each group must present a business plan. The aids to navigation (i.e. the light and fog horns) will be maintained by the government but they do not plan to perform any maintenance on the buildings that house these aids, literally letting them crumble. If no one comes forward to take over the surplus structures, the government will retain ownership, replacing structures that are deemed unsafe with skeleton towers, metal frames that can support the light and fog horn. See the Fisheries and Oceans website for more details about the surplus lighthouses: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/infocus-alaune/2010/02/index-eng.htm
On Grand Manan we have five lighthouses deemed surplus, Swallowtail, Long Eddy Point, Southwest Head, all on Grand Manan, Long Point on White Head Island and Great Duck Island. It will be interesting to see what will happen. Swallowtail Keepers Society will certainly be keeping abreast of the regulations and will do everything possible to prevent lighthouses from being abandoned.
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