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R e p o r t o n Point Atkinson Lighthouse by Elaine Graham chair of the Point Atkinson Lighthouse Subcommittee of the West Van Historical Society Point Atkinson was declared a National Historic Site in 1994. Two years later the station was automated and the Canadian Coast Guard entered into an interim agreement with the District of West Vancouver for the care of Ft. Atkinson's two houses and the maintenance of the grounds. The tower and all ancillary buildings remain under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Negotiations between the District of West Vancouver and the DFO for future responsibility of the entire site are ongoing. The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act of 2010 requires submission of a business plan from individuals, community-based groups and municipalities wishing to take over any of the 348 surplus lighthouses, including Pt. Atkinson. The procedure includes petitioning Parks Canada. According to Brent Leigh, acting Chief Administrative Officer of West Vancouver, Parks Canada and DFO recognize the significance of Pt. Atkinson's 14.0a2.WVA.WVHS by J . Moir heritage status, and are therefore committed to continued negotiations with the District for the site's eventual transfer to West Vancouver. However, Senator Pat Carney, emphasizes the fact that the district must receive approval for a business plan from DFO before Parks Canada can process Pt. Atkinson for Heritage status under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. Without protection from the Act, the site remains open to proposals from private enterprise, despite the fact that Point Atkinson is a National Historic Site and is listed on West Vancouver's Heritage Registry. Established in 1994, PALS, a sub-committee of the West Vancouver Historical Society, is working towards the day when Pt. Atkinson can become a fully functioning historic site accessible to the Public. So far PAL's efforts have led to the restoration of the Radio Room/Fog Alarm Building in 2009, funded by DFO, and the restoration of World War II Block House in 2013 funded by the District of West Vancouver, West Van Historical Society and an anonymous donor PAL's main concern is that its vision and goals align with any definitive plans the District is making, and that we may be included in its planning process. We want the site to remain in the pubic domain, as a fully functioning National Historic Site with public access. Several outstanding maintenance items are required on the station, the most obvious of which is the need for exterior painting of the light tower Eventually, major safeguards to the site will be required before allowing public access. PALS hopes Parks Canada's experience will be valuable at this stage, as they have the track record for managing historic sites, some of which are light stations, like Fisgard at Fort Rodd Hll in Victoria. Elaine Graham will be our featured guest speaker at our General Meeting on November 20th. She will bring us up to date on efforts to save and restore the Point Atkinson Lighthouse, page 8 5 ^