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Tours of Point Atkinson Lighthouse for Canada 150 by Elaine Graham In celebration of Canada's 150th birthday, the Lighthouse Preservation Society and the West Vancouver Historical Society collaborated to raise awareness that the Point Atkinson lighthouse is one of three public works built by the Dominion in return for BC joining confederation in 1867. Built in 1874, Point Atkinson's first lighthouse was lit up by Edwin Woodward who arrived in March 1875 with his wife Anne and two young sons. A generous grant of $6,000 from the Community Foundations of Canada and the West Vancouver Foundation enabled our two societies to offer ten guided tours of the Light Station from May to September, led by Laura Anderson, Hilary Blair and Elaine Graham. The presence of the military at Point Atkinson during World War II was included as a slide show given by David Broughton and Elaine Graham. Special guests, Rob Godard, grandson of Earnest Dawe, keeper at Point Atkinson from 1935-1960, Ernest's brother Larry and cousin Ernie Toews added their childhood memories of the light station during the war years. Volunteers Kim Vogt and Suann Hosie assisted as sweeps or gate keepers. Each tour consisted of 25 people. A final Canada 150 celebration was on Sunday, September 17 to commemorate September 18, 1994, the date Point Atkinson was declared a National Historic Site. The day began with a south easterly wind, and by noon it was raining. Undeterred, Mayor Mike Smith and WVHS president Rod Day strolled through Lighthouse Park to read the historical placards posted along the Beacon Trail. Following the Mayor's welcome to the public and memories of his youth in the park with the Junior Forest Wardens ,WVHS president Rod Day spoke eloquently about the uncertain future of the site. A young West Vancouver slam poet, Emily Kelsall, next read her poem that was specially written for the event. While the public wandered the station grounds, visiting the Fog Alarm Museum and climbing the stairs to the base of the light tower the Squeeze Box Circle entertained with their accordions playing music from France, Mexico, Italy, Finland and Eastern European countries. Speeches were followed by a cake cutting. Lisa Anne Smith recounted the night Milltown nurse Emily Patterson braved stormy seas to reach Point Atkinson to give medical care to wife, Jane Erwin. The afternoon ended with a puppet show for the kids produced in the Phyl Munday Hut, the former dining hall for troops during World War II, by Treasure Box Theatre. Over 500 people visited Point Atkinson this past summer, to learn more about its inner workings and history and hopefully to appreciate its significance to the community, the region and the country. Thank you Alexandra Mancini, President of the Lighthouse Preservation Society, for applying for the Canada 150 grant. Thanks also go to all the volunteers who helped with the tours and the special celebration on September 17. Cutting the Cake left to right Andrea Mancini Rod Day Elaine Graham Mayor Mike Smith photo by Alan Bardsley page 3