One of the benefits of having a “glamorous” job like a policeman, pilot, or lighthouse keeper is the collection of memorabilia such as models, photos, key-chain hangers, and lapel pins. This post is dedicated to lapel pins.

In the photos below you can see some of the pins that were collected by myself and my son over many years. From the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) we have helicopters and ships (CCGS) and hovercraft as well as crests. We also worked in close co-ordination with Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and Coast Guard Radio.

Some of the pins are sort of “related” to lighthouse keeping, as we all worked with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and through them I met a Canadian National (CN) policeman and related Canadian National Railways (CNR) and BC Rail (BCR) people. As lighthouse keepers we worked in close connection with the Canadian Forces (CF) in Search and Rescue (SAR), and my son is now working with them as a volunteer spotter with Canadian Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) on the SAR aircraft such as the Buffalo from 442 Squadron, Comox, BC. Canadian Forces are also remembered in the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL).

Coast Guard (CG) helicopter pilots associated with private pilots such as Vancouver island Helicopters (VIH) and Canadian Helicopters (CH), both fixed wing and rotary blade and we traded with both.

Other “related” services we helped were shipping and tugboat companies who often rewarded us with collectable pins.

So, the photos show many photos “related” to lighthouse keeping.

If you are interested in collecting any of these pins, I would suggest checking on eBay or with the above-mentioned companies. If anyone knows of other sources for these type of pins, please let me know.

Also, if you have any pins that are not recorded here, please send me a photo.

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