Public Notice
Trial Islands Lightstation – Primary and Secondary Power Upgrades

Public Comments Invited
June 23, 2025 - The Fisheries and Oceans Canada must decide whether the duct bank replacement and power upgrades project, located at Trial Islands Lightstation, off the south coast of Vancouver Island, BC, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this decision, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.
Written comments must be submitted by July 23, 2025, to:

Emily Sapsford, Project Engineer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Real Property Technical Services, Pacific Region
Email: Emily.Sapsford@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Tel: (250) 217-0323
200 - 401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V6C 3S4

Assessment Summary
Numerous components of the existing high voltage utility infrastructure on site are beyond their service life and require replacement. The proposed project includes replacement of the primary conductor, demolition of the deteriorating primary concrete duct bank and reconstruction of a like-for-like replacement, installation of new secondary conductors run in Teck cable, and a new BC Hydro meter. 

Demolition debris from the concrete banks will be contained using dust suppression measures and poly containment bags for helicopter removal. Machinery used in the project includes jackhammers, air powered and electric tools, and hand tools. Waste materials will be contained within bulk bags in a laydown area adjacent to site and removed by helicopter (long line). New supplies will be brought in by helicopter (long line) and placed in laydown area.

The ground disturbance for this project will be limited to drilling four 15m hooked bars for anchoring and pouring concrete columns, and a 1.5m section ground disturbance required to allow the Teck cable to be placed sub-grade for protection.

Helicopter slinging will be used to mobilize and demobilize most equipment and materials. The helicopter will carry materials from Shoal Point Coast Guard Base in Victoria directly to the lightstation. Materials will be dropped by helicopter to the laydown areas indicated in the Project Layout document identified as Potential Laydown Area.
To avoid disturbance to Species at Risk (SAR) in the area, the project is timed to coincide with the least risk period for these species. Critical work activities will be overseen by an Environmental Monitor, who will guide construction activities to protect sensitive habitats and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Strict adherence to these measures will be monitored throughout the project to mitigate potential impacts.
Project Locations
Trial Islands Lightstation is located at Staines Point on the southern end of the southernmost island of the Trial Islands group. The lightstation is located approximately 1km south of the Municipality of Oak Bay, east of Victoria, B.C., and 500m south of McNeill Bay, B.C. The site is surrounded by the Trial Islands Ecological Reserve and is within the South Coast area of the DFO-Pacific. 
Access by sea and air. Helicopter landing on the site is limited due to the surrounding ecological reserve.  
Latitude: 48.3953 
Longitude: -123.3050