Society Secretary-Treasurer Terri Alcock addresses the Parks & Recreation Commission to request that the existing public access to the Lighthouse site be maintained.
Thank you to our many members and supporters who responded in such an overwhelming way to help us ensure that appropriate and effective public access to the Lighthouse site would be maintained.
Over 500 messages of support were received to encourage the Capital Regional District not to make changes to the existing public access to the Lighthouse. At its November 24 meeting, the Juan de Fuca Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission agreed to recommend to the CRD Regional Director that the existing public access be maintained. About 50 Society members attended the meeting and were delighted when the decision was made.
Our thanks go, also, to the Commission members and to Regional Director Mike Hicks for their work in addressing this matter and arriving at the conclusion that the Society and our community were seeking.
Your support has made a tremendous difference in the future prospects for the Sheringham Point Lighthouse. The petition and messages that were sent to the CRD and other officials were certainly taken note of, and played a large part in helping achieve a positive result. It means that the Society’s efforts to protect this heritage lighthouse site and make it accessible to all as a passive park can continue. Our community will be a better place because of your efforts.
NEXT STEPS
The Commission’s recommendation is provided to Regional Director Mike Hicks. He will now take this forward for approval at the CRD Board. (Mr. Hicks has indicated that this is, essentially, a formality, and he does not expect any issues to be raised).
Following that approval, CRD staff and representatives of the Society will work out the details of a 5-year management agreement that, we expect, will be renewable into the future. (While the Society, and the petition supporters, ideally would have liked a longer term to be spelled out at the outset, we consider this to be an important and positive start). And there is work still to be done on a Society management and maintenance agreement for the Lighthouse View Trail.
We will continue to work with the Commission, the CRD Board, and with CRD staff on other matters as we move forward to implementing our plans to make this unique and special site open, accessible and enjoyable to all, and to honour this remarkable icon of Canada’s history.
Society members and supporters attend the Juan de Fuca Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission meeting to discuss public access to Sheringham Point Lighthouse.
Society members and supporters attend the Juan de Fuca Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission meeting to discuss public access to Sheringham Point Lighthouse.
For more details about the public access issue and trail management , please see the Backgrounder or LH Access FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
