Page 5 - John Muir Elementary School 2019 - Division 8

The Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society Exploring the Lighthouse

John Muir Elementary School

Division 8

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
~ Albert Einstein

hildren today have a greater range of opportunities open to them than historians. It’s not just about dates and obscure locations, nor is it just
Cat any time in recent history, and greater freedoms than ever before. about great battles, world-shaking events, the comings and goings of kings
Thriving in this chaotic environment requires an ability for all children to and queens and presidents. It’s also about the lives of the people who
be able to find a strong foundation from which they can build their lives, lived here before, their struggles and triumphs, their thoughts and ideas
In 2003, the Government of Canada declared that Sheringham Point Lighthouse was no longer needed to ensure maritime safety. Advances achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. that nurtured their families, built their communities and shaped their
in technolgoy meant that the Lighthouse was to be discarded – torn down, sold off for other uses or, simply, left to rot and eventually to fall world. It’s about the stories our grandfathers told us, and those from our
apart. For most of us, that foundation starts with the family, and extends out- neighbours. We all have stories in our lives and they are, in their way, as
ward into the community. Just as a tree needs deep roots to grow tall and full of drama and intrigue as any of the great sagas of our history classes.
In response, a small group of neighbours gathered to form the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society. They were determined strong, so does a child draw nourishment and vitality from his or her own It is our stories that shape us, that make us who we are.
that the Lighthouse, which had stood for 100 years as a symbol of their community, would not be lost. For the next twelve years, the So- roots, from the comfort of belonging, from having a place to call home.
ciety’s volunteers worked extremely hard to fight for the lighthouse’s protection, doing everything they could to raise awareness about the Our history – our heritage – is best lived and experienced, understood
threat to the Lighthouse. They rallied their community, local businesses and other groups, lobbied and strategized with all levels of govern- Understanding and, in particular, experiencing their own connections to through the things we can touch and feel, and passed on in a way that
ment, raised funds and, eventually, put forward a plan to take on the responsibility to care for the Lighthouse themselves. the people and places around them is invaluable for children in so many touches our hearts and our imaginations. It’s why we need to work hard to
ways. Learning about their own and their community’s history provides a conserve and appreciate our heritage, not just the castles and stately man-
In 2015, the Society’s efforts were successful. The government agreed to transfer the property to the Society and also, at the same time, they base from which they can explore their world and help them answer that sions, but the cottages and the old lighthouses as well. Those remnants of
officially designated Sheringham Point Lighthouse a “Canadian Heritage Lighthouse”. As the new owners and stewards the Society worked most fundamental of questions: “how did this come to be?” our past have stories to tell.
for the next three years to restore the Lighthouse to its former glory, and to make sure it will always be accessible for the public to enjoy and
appreciate. The Lighthouse is now protected and is open to the public as a community park. Our history – our heritage – is not just an academic pursuit to be left to To help children in the local area strengthen their connections to their

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