RACE ROCKS
Lighthouse and Ecological Reserve

See current weather conditions →

LIGHTING THE WAY SINCE 1860

The second oldest lighthouse on the Canadian West Coast has been witness to over a century and a half of history, however the island and the waters have been an integral component of First Nations life since 500 AD.

LEARN MORE

WELCOME TO THE WILD LIFE

Race Rocks is not only a lighthouse station but also an Ecological Reserve home to countless species of wildlife and ocean life, including sea lions, elephant seals, bald eagles and orcas!

LEARN MORE

LIVE WEBCAMS

There are 2 live cameras on the island that you can control yourself and see what the animals are up to right now.

WATCH THE LIVE FEED

THE ECOGUARDIAN'S BLOG

Wonder what it’s like to be the only human residents at Race Rocks? Our Ecoguardians post regular updates from the station!

READ THE BLOG

Reserve guidelines and marine regulations

Planning to go around Race Rocks in a boat or organizing a fishing trip in the area? Make sure to familiarize yourself with the ecological reserve perimeter, regulations and fishing guidelines. Click to see a comprehensive map of the area.

Pearson College UWC and Race Rocks

Pearson College UWC has been the Ecological Guardian of Race Rocks since 1997. The biodiversity and unique location make it the perfect hands-on classroom for Pearson’s Marine Science students as well. Watch this video to learn more about Pearson College UWC and Race Rocks.

The lighthouse island

The lighthouse island is not open to visitors to reduce any human disturbance on the ecosystem, and to help protect the mammals and birds that use this area as a resting and nesting spot.

A video tribute – A celebration of B.C.’s ecological reserves

On April 2, 1971, the Government of British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada to pass legislation to protect Ecological Reserves, places set aside primarily for ecological research and education, not recreation. The Ecological Reserve Act led to an Order in Council that established the first 29 ecological reserves on May 4, 1971. Fifty years later, British Columbia has 148 ecological reserves across the entire province, including Race Rocks.

This video features just a few of the Ecological Reserves on Vancouver Island and was posted to the Friends of Ecological Reserves website. Created over several months in 2021, with the support of B.C. Parks, by former Pearson Faculty member Garry Fletcher and videographer Jamie Frith from the Friends of Ecological Reserves, it is a fitting tribute to mark the B.C. government April 2, 2021 proclamation of Ecological Reserves Day to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Ecological Reserve Act.

The section about Race Rocks Ecological Reserve in the video below starts at 25:03. Thank you Garry, Jamie and Friends of Ecological Reserves!

Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific and United World Colleges (Canada) acknowledges with humility and gratitude that its community lives, learns, and works on the unceded territory of the Sc’ianew First Nation. The Sc’ianew people, (pronounced Che-a-nuh) “the Salmon People”, although a distinct and independent nation, are part of a larger Indigenous cultural group referred to as Coast Salish on Vancouver Island with a broad area that encompasses Southern Vancouver Island.