Lighthouse Property Transfer, First in Canada by Vaughn Mullen

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Lighthouse Property Transfer, First in Canada

by Vaughn Mullen, Managing Editor

June 1st, 2000 White Point, N.S. - A lighthouse preservation group in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia has become the first community-based organization in Canada to formally acquire a lighthouse property transfer from the Canadian Coast Guard.

Larry Wilson, Regional Director of Canadian Coast Guard Maritime announced the transfer of the Coast Guard property at Cape Forchu, Yarmouth County to the Municipality of Yarmouth - for one dollar. The Municipality of Yarmouth and the Friends of the Yarmouth Light Association will now own, manage and maintain the 13-acre, landmark property. Part of the ongoing maintenance and operation of the light includes an environmental clean-up of the property expected to cost as much as $150,000. Mr. Wilson was addressing delegates of the International Lighthouse Conference in Queens County, Nova Scotia.

The question of lighthouse property ownership has become the major stumbling block to lighthouse development for dozens of preservation groups across the country. Many associations and societies have applied for property transfers from the Canadian Coast Guard under a government policy directive known as '96-1'. The Cape Forchu application was the first to be approved since the directive was issued in 1996.

Mr. Wilson noted that the Cape Forchu example under the 96-1 option "demonstrates another potential mechanism" for property acquisition by local groups. He added, however, that any potential transfer "comes with conditions" and "that every case will be assessed in its own right."

The Warden of the Municipality of Yarmouth, Chris Perry, on hand for the announcement, suggested the transfer will establish "a model for others across the country ... remember this, as a wonderful day."

Not everyone shared the optimism exuded by the Yarmouth Warden.

Tim Drew, of the Mosher Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, Lunenburg County explained that while he was pleased for the Yarmouth Association, the announcement was nothing more than "a self-serving pat on the back" from Coast Guard officials.

Mr. Drew noted that several groups have submitted development proposals to the Coast Guard hoping for property transfers, and have not received as much as a formal reply from the government agency. The Mosher Island Lighthouse Preservation Society submitted their proposal in 1996 and have yet to receive a formal response.

"The burning of this coastal light in 1989 by the Canadian Coast Guard was typical of demolitions all through the 1970s and 1980s and is a fate that awaits many neglected lighthouse structures today. Although Mosher's wooden lighthouse tower was demolished, replaced by a circular fibreglass tower, and later de-staffed, the keeper's houses remain intact but sorely in need of preservation work. A local preservation group, The Mosher's Island Preservation Society, has developed detailed plans to restore the houses but has been ignored and stymied by the federal government." - Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society (from their website).

"If it takes four years to have one (application) approved, by the time they get down to our buildings they won't be worth saving."