Evolving landscapes and landmarks: Grain elevators and lighthouses at risk

Commonplace landscapes can teach a great deal about history and society. They tell us much about ourselves and how we relate to the world. What we as humans construct and place on the landscape, as well as what we remove and destroy, creates an explicit picture of what we cherish and renounce. Structures that are built often/become iconofied by the local people as a reflection of social and economic ties to the land. These features are significant on many levels: locally, provincially and nationally. However, changes to the landscape endanger the status of these artifacts, almost to the point of extinction. Currently, there is a noticeable loss of significant landmarks from the Canadian landscape. Two in particular, the lighthouse and the grain elevator, were once very prominent and plentiful features but have fallen victim to modern technology and economic gain. Very few "original" lighthouses and grain elevators remain. Preserving their memory once they are both functionally and physically gone is essential in maintaining a sense of identity. They are an important part of a regional landscape, as well as a national one. Thoughts of the Prairies conjure up the image of grain elevators and similarly, thoughts of the east coast conjure up the image of lighthouses. They enable one to identify with a particular region and carry with them a sense of place and distinctiveness. Concerted efforts must be taken to ensure adequate preservation of these features in the future. Acting to preserve this feature would be offset by the provision of sufficient funding, tax breaks, networking and resources, and raising awareness. Ultimately, the onus lies with the individual, as well as groups and governments, to respond to these threatened landscapes.