All but Forgotten: Early Measures for Maritime Safety on Canada’s West Coast

Authors

  • Clay Evans

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/2561-5467.914

Keywords:

Graveyard of the Pacific, maritime safety, life-saving measures, lighthouses, lifeboats, life-saving stations

Abstract

The exponential population growth and expansion of shipping from 1867 to 1914 in both British Columbia and the American Pacific Northwest led to marine disasters along the area known as “The Graveyard of the Pacific.” Despite repeated calls for improved marine safety measures from concerned Canadians and Americans, by the early twentieth century, this burgeoning Pacific Gateway remained completely devoid of any of the direct lifesaving measures that were then common-place on the shores of both the Atlantic coasts and Great Lakes. This paper will examine the development of local life-saving measures on Canada’s Pacific Gateway and Ottawa’s response to calls for greater support.

La croissance exponentielle de la population et l’expansion du transport maritime de 1867 à 1914 en Colombie-Britannique et dans le Nord-Ouest du Pacifique américain ont entraîné des catastrophes maritimes le long de la zone connue comme le « cimetière du Pacifique ». Bien que des Canadiens et des Américains inquiets se soient succéder à lancer des appels en faveur de l’amélioration des mesures de sécurité maritime, au début du 20e siècle, cette porte d’entrée du Pacifique en plein essor était complètement dépourvue des mesures directes nécessaires à la survie qui étaient alors communes sur la côte de l’Atlantique et le long des rives des Grands Lacs. Cet article étudie l’élaboration de mesures régionales visant à sauver des vies dans la porte d’entrée canadienne du Pacifique et la réaction d’Ottawa aux demandes d’un meilleur appui.

 

Author Biography

Clay Evans

Clay Evans is a Past Chair of the Maritime Museum of B.C. who served with the Canadian Coast Guard for over 35 years, primarily in search and rescue along the British Columbia coast during which time he was the Commanding Officer of the historic Bamfield Lifeboat Station for 17 years. Clay is also a maritime historian specializing in the international history of lifesaving at sea and is currently a Victoria pilot boat master. (Contact: clayevans@telus.net)

References

Appleton, Thomas E. Usque ad Mare: A History of the Canadian Coast Guard and Marine Services (Ottawa: Department of Transportation, 1968).

Evans, Clay. Rescue at Sea: An International History of Coastal Life-saving, Rescue Craft & Organizations. Annapolis: US Naval Institute Press, 2003.

Graham, Don. Keepers of the Light. Madeira Park: Harbour Publishing, 1986.

Neitzel, Michael. The Valencia Tragedy. Surry: Heritage House Publishing, 1995.

Nicholson, George. Vancouver Island’s West Coast, 1762-1962. Victoria: Morris Printing Company, 1962.

Paterson, T.W. British Columbia Shipwrecks. Langley: Stagecoach Publishing, 1983.

Rogers, Fred. Shipwrecks of British Columbia. Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre, 1973.

Scott, R. Bruce. Barkley Sound; A History of the Pacific Rim National Park Area. Victoria: Sono Nis Press, 1972.

Scott, R. Bruce. Breakers Ahead! Sidney: Review Publishing House, 1970.

Shanks, Ralph and Wick York. The U.S. Life-Saving Service, Heroes, Rescues and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard. Petaluma: Costano Books, 1996.

A photo of the Ucluelet Life Saving Station, crew, and boat circa 1935.

Downloads

Published

2022-07-19

How to Cite

Evans, C. (2022). All but Forgotten: Early Measures for Maritime Safety on Canada’s West Coast. The Northern Mariner Le Marin Du Nord, 31(4), 387–408. https://doi.org/10.25071/2561-5467.914

Issue

Section

Conference Proceedings: Articles