Spent a few years on the Mackenzie which was a lighthouse tender from Prince Rupert and I find the history very intersting. Great web site.
Hans Steigleder - QuesnelBC 2006-10-07 
THE LIGHT HOUSE KEEPERS ARE THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. IT WOULD BE A DREAM TO LIVE & WORK NEAR THE WATER.
BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF NATURE .
ONE DAY I WILL VISIT THEM.
DIANNA MILLICHAMP - ELGIN ONTARIO 2006-10-06
I am curious about how one goes about being a lighthouse keeper. This is pretty much a dream of mine since I was 5 years old and I've never really seriously looked into it. If anyone's got any info (or job openings!), please email me!
darren - burnaby, BC 2006-09-22
Between 1952-56 in the summers, I was aboard the "Wm. H.Pierce" with Dr. George Darby out of Bella Bella (now Waglisla). We went ashore at most litehouses from Boat Bluff south to Egg I'd, sometimes for medical reasons, sometimes to take magazines, have tea and talk---mainly listen. I'll never forget trying to raise the anchor on the lee of Egg Island. I just got a computer--this site is a real find--thanks.
Mike Gallagher - Seattle, Wash. 2006-09-13
My Mom grew up on Kains Islands and has shared many great memories of the Light.
My brothers and I were fortunate enough to visit the island as children visiting my Grandparents, Bob and Lily Collins.
It was an experience that I will never forget and I will always cherish.
Lisa Mayea - Duncan 2006-09-11
I grew up on the Vancouver waterfront and many a night I remember as a small boy falling asleep to the sound of the Pt. Atkinson fog horn and seeing the light flowing across my bedroom wall. In my early twenties I worked on various coastal tug boats and later fish boats. Always maintaning a revence and respect for this awesome coast line and it's communities, lighthouses and characters. I recently completed a film documenting lives of lightkeepers Geoff and Irene Howard. One of the last keepers of Polier Pass. If anyone interested can E mail me. Cheers, ken.
Kenneth Pattison - Galiano Island 2006-08-21
In 1950 my Father Albert Earl worked for DOT and was sent to built a lighthouse on an Island on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. They had to be put there by small boat and my Mom did not have any contact with him for 3 months. He lived in a tent. My Mom said he was doing the foundation. I would love to know which lighthouse it was. Thanks so much to anyone who might know. Sincerely Donna Campbell
donna campbell - penticton b.c. 2006-08-02
here is the poem
Standing high above the sea, i watch as waves lap the shore. The sun turns water to diamonds and soon it will be dusk. Alone in this moment of bliss,i feel at peace. I am at one with nature. A sudden jet of water tells me, the whales have come to play. fog creeps in slowly but it soon consumes all. I sound my horn and shine my light across the waves. I've guided many a wayward ship , my light a beacon of hope. with a start, i awake. Alas 'twas but a dream. but this is truly what i want to do. Will this dream one day come true? i'd love feedback, so please feel free to reply, bimini
bimini - kingston, Ontario 2006-05-23
Hello there,
I came across your site while browsing the web. beautiful! I grew up on a sailboat from birth to age 7, so i gained a deep respect and awe of all things marine. The other day i saw a documentary of the Hollands from Lennard Island. Something inside me stirred. I would do anything to lead that sort of life. Even wrote a poem on it.
bimini - Kingston Ontario 2006-05-23
Great Site.......Have Major Collection of artifacts from -Seal Island Lighthouse.....up for sale shortly..interested-please contact.
Gary Hopkins - Nova Scotia 2006-05-06
I was looking for the name Larri Woodrow on the web, and came across your lighthouses. I taught HS and university for several years in Canada before moving Down Under. Used to guide at Painters Lodge in Camp. River in the fifties. Have always wanted to be a lighthouse keeper, but alas!
Try not to be homesick for the BC coast. Cheers.
Jack Cameron - Mount Mellum, Qld., Australia 2006-05-02
A few years ago we stopped hearing the fog horn from Leonard Island. I always loved that while walking the foggy beaches. Your website is awesome!
Marleah Grinnell - Wisconsin 2006-04-28
I see from some of your guests comments that they like to visit as many sites as possible. The Triangle Island Light house has been recently relocated and install in Sooke after many years in storage in Victoria. It has to be one of the easiest lights to visit as it is along side of the highway next to the Sooke museum. Enjoy your visit.
Neil Fawdry - Sooke BC Canada 2006-04-10
What a great site!!! I happened to come across this site while trying to find information about my dad's side of the family. My dad is Alex McLeod and after browsing your site I found out my great grandpa, Alex McLeod was a lightkeeper and died while tending to his duties. I had no knowledge of him (since he passed the year my dad was born)nor have I ever seen any pictures of him or his wife Velma. Thanks for posting them Aunt Carol!! If you or anyone else has any more photos or information, I would love for you to post it or pass it along.
Loral McLeod - Powell River, BC 2006-04-08
Your site did not help me very much for my project about lighthouses. Put some more facts about lighthouses in.
Cailin 2006-03-28
Great! I make stained Glass lighthouses and there are so few good lighthouse sites around
www.justships.com
Tamerlin, John Latham - Comox Valley, BC 2006-03-09
Hello, I am a Marine Communications Officer stationed in Ucluelet at Tofino MCTS. I speak with lightkeepers on a daily basis collecting the lighthouse weather report as part of my job. Our Area Of Responsibility include the following lights:
Carmanah Point
Pachena Point
Cape Beale
Amphitrite Pt (unmanned as that's where the station is)
Lennard Island
Estevan Point
Nootka Island
Kains Island and Cape Scott are technically in our area, but due to the great distances between Nootka and Kains, we do not have a radio link to those lights. Instead, Kains Island and Cape Scott are linked to Comox MCTS.
I too think the lights should continue as manned stations, considering they can be a valuable asset in guarding the coast, and also when we are working distress situations that are close to stations - the keepers can help guide the rescue boats in.
Cheers!
Mike Shepherd - Ucluelet BC 2006-03-05
I stumbled across your site and am so happy I did. My hubby works for the coast gaurd at amphetrite point as a MCTS officer. I have always had a love of the ocean so this is just the place for me :) I love your site.
Bernie Herbert - Ucluelet 2006-03-04
real nice webpage with interesting details and links, will help me to visit some keepers next summer during my circumnavigation around the island in my kayak I hope, must be an interesting job to keep a light house in this spectacular area
Cheers Joerg
Joerg - Flensburg (Germany) 2006-03-04
Note: Prev entry - Joannes family: father, g/father and gg/father all north coast BC keepers. Mothers g/parents both sides also BC Keepers. Recently met Roy Casson, Lt Assist, Lennard, summer of 1936. Anyone any info on keeper Henry MacArthur, poss on Cape in 1950's, cert on Bonilla Is. early 60's???
j. derham-reid - west vancouver 2006-02-27
What a wonderful site! Hope my family lighthouse history is helpful towards your quest.
Joanne Milton - Mission B.C. 2006-02-23
To Amy V., Lynden, WA.
Amy, if you see this, please tell us your grandfather's name, and relevant dates if you know them - re Estevan Pt. Light.
j. derham-reid - west vancouver 2006-02-20
My great grandfather and grandmother along with their children once lived at the lighthouse of Kains Island BC. My grandmother tried desperately but to save her father Syd Warren from drowning there, she was 16 at the time. I own the book Keepers of the Light and have for years been mispronouncing the name and location of the lighthouse my apologies. I have family in Quatsino still. My grandmother passed in 1993 but not before I was able to make her a great grandmother of my son (1988) and daughter (1992). My roots to the area will never sever and it is a pleasure to read others feel and respond in kind ~ god bless.
Lynnora White - Powell River BC 2006-02-19
visit Nootka Lightstation frquently as I work on the MV Uchuck III. Looking for info on Estevan Point Lighthouse as was led to believe as a child that my great-grandfather helped build it. Lighthouses are an integral part of our history and without a doubt should have remained "manned"
Donna Schneoder - Gold River 2006-02-18
Hello,
This is addressed to everybody that has written to me over the past year and to any of you who may write after reading this note.
Since starting the Lighthouse Keeper database website I have been overwhelmed at times with emails from people:
- telling me stories about their relatives who lived on the BC lights
- sending me photos, or telling me about old photos they have of the BC lighthouses
- explaining about incidents, deaths, and everyday occurences on the BC lighthouses.
I know we have two or three books about the BC lighthouses but a lot of your information is missing.
I would like to somehow coordinate the Lightkeeper Database with your stories and photos and post them to the Internet.
Here is my idea:
I can build an index page listing the lighthouses that have stories available. Each link would lead to an individual lighthouse with stories and/or photos in chronological order.
These pages could be photos with captions and/or complete biographies or histories. I will post your own stories, or if you feel you need help, then I could help to edit/write them for you.
Also, following these photo/story "links" I will also post "Memories". These would short be short stories of events on the lights but in no particular order. These could be stories of anything of a personal nature to give people a feel for what life was like on the lighthouses.
Maybe under such headings as:
animals - local wildlife; personal pets; fishing . . .
housing - moving in; moving out; cisterns; oils stoves; wood stoves; furnaces; toilets . . .
communications - lack of; alternate methods ( I remember many Ham radio operators) . . .
groceries/post - frequency; by ship; by helicopter; days before freezers . . .
medical - emergencies; raising children; accidents; rescues . . .
storms - damage; repairs; ships in trouble; lost equipment; found equipment . . .
rescues - memorable ones; how many you did over a lifetime . . .
schooling - problems; teaching . . .
transportation - ships; helicopters; foul ups; delays; hilines; your personal boats . . .
equipment - old; new; teething problems; highlines; replacement; drinking water . . .
work crews - notice of arrival; helpful; length of stay; good/bad work; living with . . .
emotions - frustration; comedy; anger; others . . .
memories of particular people - boss; friend; work crew; pilot; ships crew/captain . . .
fueling - methods; speed; weather . . .
office - paperwork; personnel; stupid rules; frustrations . . .
automation - feelings; preparation; equipment; operation . . .
quotations - "Pay attention! There'll be questions later."; more . . .
beachcombing - finds; methods; glass balls; best lighthouses; dead animals: wood . . .
visitors - Mission boats; fishermen; friends; relations . . .
etc. - . . .
The above are just suggestions. I can make headings as the notes come in. I can add and adjust.
I would like this to be more a collection of short memories rather than biographies of people, or long drawn-out stories.
This will be slow in developing but could be very interesting for the people of modern day.
When I came on the lighthouses in 1969, kerosene had just been earlier replaced by small electric generators. This was a milestone that I never got to see happen although there were many kerosene relics still left around the stations.
It would be fascinating to hear tales of the "pre-electric life". Don't let this stop any of you from reporting your recent stories of rescue, hardship, comedy or downright frustration with life on a lighthouse in the modern day either. The more the better.
For those of you with personal photos you would not like reprodouced elswehere without your permission we can include a copyright notice for each photo.
For anyone interested in corresponding with other "oldtimers" we could also post your email address (scrambled so you will not receive spam) for others to write to you.
Please contact me at the link below if you have any submissions or suggestions.
John Coldwell
Lighthouse Keeper database website
John Coldwell 2006-02-17
I supervised the construction of more than eighty (80) lighthouses in the Philippine Archepelago including repair/installation of electrical/electronics equipment.
And everytime I see the beauty of the tower and the glaring lights the operating normally, that guides the mariners, fisherfolks , how I feel so happy about it. My dedication as Engineer, Technician, Supervisor to build/repair more ligthouses is exemplary things because it is the way it helps the ordinary fishersfolks to guide them during bad weather conditions.
But now, I am here in Canada and I hope I can still extend my services as a lightkeeper.
Hoping that the concerned authorities can help me in my endeavor.
Efren Aguilan Quilates - Ontario, Canada 2006-02-07
(Jill Miller forgot to say that her grandfather was a Lightkeeper on stations on the Australian east coast years ago.)
J. Derham-Reid - West Vancouver 2006-02-04
Great sight. Have visited Fisgard on two occasions. Great place
Dave Ball - Calgary, Alberta 2006-02-04
Very interesting site, which any one interested in the subject would never "escape from" :-))
Jill Miller - Bendigo, Vistoria, Australia 2006-02-03
Hello there! Just want to say that I find your site enough interesting for me. Usefull information and all is good arranged. Thank you for your work. I will visit your site more ofter from now and I bookmarked it.
Lizzy - USA 2006-01-31
Looking for this information - name of Lighthouse that was featured in the new movie version of "The Fog". If anyone knows this information please let me know. Thanks,
K. Burd - Lawrenceville, NJ 2006-01-30
Hoping you can help me. "The Lghthouse People", Ted and Sharlene Nelson the Chisholms have suggested you as a resource. I am hoping to find BC light information/knowledgeable person such as yourself to help with a non-profit fundraiser for Burrows Island Light in Washington state. We are raising funds for Burrows Island Light's restoration. We offer lighthouse cruises on the 1924 Schooner Zodiac to WA's remote lights. The trips haave been quite a success. It's a great way to educate the public to the historic value of these sentinels. Now there is a great interest in a similar lighthouse cruise to the BC lights. I need info on which stations have a beach where we could land our inflatables for shore excurtions/tours and where we would be welcome. (The Scooner Zodiac is licensed to enter BC) Would greatly appreciate assistance. Liz
Liz Smith - Everett Washingotn 2006-01-29
I would Like to hear from any Lighthouse families
where ever in the world they are.
Regards
Leonard V Stocker
Leonard V Stocker - Cheshire, Manchester, UK 2006-01-24
I was a wireless operator on the Wm. j. Stewart Hydrographic Survey ship during 1939 and 40 and I am looking for pictures of my old ship.
Al Miller
Al Miller - Penticton, B.C. 2006-01-22
Ihave just found you, and loveing it.
regards len
Leonard Stocker - Cheshire, England 2006-01-20
I'm just checking the site out because my Dad just started a 2 week relief stint at the Triple Island Lighthouse.
Julie - Vancouver, BC 2006-01-19
Hi there! I'm an English teacher (English AFL) and I'd like to find someone (a - former or not - lighthouse keeper) who'd be interested in sharing his knowledge about lighthouses (what it's like to live there etc...) with my students (11th/12th grade). If you have some time to spend... I'm your man!
Vincent
Vincent GERARD - Malonne (Belgium) 2006-01-19
Nice page with a lot of pictures and informations. Will circumnavigate in kayak Vanc.Isl. this year. May be I will meet some of the keepers. Have noted all the waypoints. I am looking forward to paddle along the coast of VI.
Joerg - Flensburg in Germany 2006-01-14
My husband and I lived on our sail boat for several years and appreciate all lighthouses. Glad to see they are still there
Shirley - Powell River, BC 2006-01-02