14

Navy signal house next to lighthouse, from lower rocks.
1942
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Courtesy of Norm Dawe.

15

Radio mast at Point Atkinson, installed by the Army.
1940
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Courtesy of Joyce Godard.

16

Lighthouse gun emplacement
2004
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


17

Laying telephone cable to Point Grey.
1936
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


18

Living at the Lighthouse During the War

The army presence reduced the isolation that often goes hand-in-hand with the light keeping life. The army cleared a road through the park.

Joyce Godard remembers:
It wasn't all that private, because you know during the war years the army was stationed in the side yard, so there was always lots of activity going on, it wasn't that quiet.

19

L-R, back row: Wilf and Bob Sears. L-R, front row: Norm, Gladys, Ernie and Marjorie Dawe.
1940
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


20

The military presence also made Point Atkinson a social centre.

Joyce Godard remembers:
It was lots of fun, every Saturday night, this group from town. Mrs Johnson and her girls, used to come out for them, to put on a dance for the boys, she had about a dozen girls that use to come out with her, didn't like the idea that my sister and would go up to the dances because we weren't part of her girls and of course everybody danced with us because we knew everybody. It was up in the barracks, in the mess hall.

21

Marjory Dawe and friends with gas masks. Bottom of radio tower in background.
1940
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


22

Marjory Dawe and friends.
1940
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Courtesy of Ernie Toews.

23

Marjory Dawe and friend.
1940
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Courtesy of Ernie Toews.

24

Marjory Dawe and friends near house.
1940
Point Atkinson, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Courtesy of Ernie Toews.

25

Joyce Godard also remembers:
[One] sargeant's name was Major, so he wasn't a Sargeant Major but his name was Major. But I guess he had been in ballet before he came in the army because he used to bring all the soldiers up there and put them through the ballet exercises. Most of them were pretty good. Old Shoemaker, never forget him. He was very tall, very thin and he just looked like a puppet, you know, he had no coordination, but he tried. That was fun, we used to watch.

26

During the Cold War, light keepers were instructed to prepare for a nuclear attack by stockpiling food in a bunker left over from World War II and prepare to settle in there in the event of an attack.

27

Today, one of the remaining army barracks is used by the Girl Guides for nature programs. They have renamed the building the Phyl Munday Nature House, after a local avid climber and educator. They have also planted a native plant garden behind the building so visitors can learn about coastal flora.