First Nations say they were never asked before the decision was made to remove lightkeepers from Carmanah Point and Pachena Point
The coast guard’s decision to pull keepers from two light stations along the West Coast Trail caught local First Nations, municipalities, boaters and hikers by surprise — especially because an earlier Senate report that recommended halting previous destaffing plans stressed consultation should take place before any changes are made.
The Canadian Coast Guard, part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, recently decided to pull lightkeepers from Carmanah Point and Pachena Point light stations — four in all — before winter weather sets in. “The value in having actual people far outstrips any automation that may already exist or may exist in the future,” said Jack, adding keepers are trained and familiar with the territory and the number of boaters and hikers continues to increase.
He said lightkeepers are known as the eyes and ears on the coast “because there is nobody else out there.” Once, a man’s bilge pump wasn’t working properly so Etzkorn went out in a boat to give him a replacement pump. When people could not be evacuated immediately, the Etzkorns took care of them, sometimes for several days.
Woodward and her husband were based at Lennard Island, also off the Island’s west coast, but she has done relief work at Pachena and flown in and out of Carmanah Point many times.“These stations are too important in their position on the west coast to just fold up your tent and move on.” Towers at each of the stations are designated heritage sites and are protected under the Lighthouse Protection Act championed by the late senator Pat Carney.
The decision is “rash and ill-thought out and based on data that is flawed and out-of-date,” she said.
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