A remote lake in the Sunshine Coast area of British Columbia has been officially named Phare Lake to commemorate the late John Phare, who died in a tree-felling accident while working on the Old Sechelt Mine wildfire on July 5, 2015.

John Phare (1954-2015) was a resident of Roberts Creek, a father of three and a certified danger tree faller and assessor. He was widely respected along the Sunshine Coast for his work in the logging industry, his contributions to the community and his willingness to help friends and neighbours whenever he could.

“John Phare was an experienced logger who used his skills to help protect British Columbians from wildfires,” said Doug Donaldson, Minster of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “The naming of Phare Lake is a fitting tribute to his life and work, and the groundswell of support for this naming is a testament to his dedication and community spirit.”

Phare was posthumously awarded the first-ever British Columbia Medal of Good Citizenship on Oct. 6, 2015. He was also honoured at the Canadian Firefighters Memorial ceremony in September 2016.

“People who live in this part of British Columbia work closely together and rely on their friends and neighbours to lend a helping hand when it’s needed,” said Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. “John Phare did that on a regular basis and he has been greatly missed.”

The naming of Phare Lake was proposed by the District of Sechelt in July 2018. The application was supported by the shíshálh Nation, the Sunshine Coast Regional District, Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue, BC Parks, Recreation Sites and Trails BC, the Sunshine Coast Trails Society, the Sunshine Coast Natural History Society and the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives.

“John Phare fully embodied the spirit of what we mean when we say ‘community-minded’,” said Darnelda Siegers, mayor of the District of Sechelt. “Sechelt council was pleased to make this application to name the lake as a very small recognition of what he meant to our community.”

Quick Facts:

• Phare Lake is about eight kilometres northwest of Sechelt and about five kilometres east-northeast of Halfmoon Bay.
• Phare Lake was previously known locally as Wormy Lake, but that name was never officially adopted by the BC Geographical Names Office.
• Map co-ordinates for Phare Lake: 49°31’58’’ N and 123°50’24” W
• Provincial Atlas 1:20,000 scale topographical map number: 092G051
• Provincial Atlas 1:50,000 scale topographical map number: 92G/12

Learn More:

BC Geographical Names Office website: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/celebrating-british-columbia/historic-places/geographical-names

The official name record for Phare Lake is available online in the BC Geographical Names Information System: http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/73221.html