Summer programs

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites

Daily schedule

From June 1 to September 6, 2025

Spot and join our costumed interpreters throughout the site to learn about life at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse. Will they task you with traditional chores? Will they test your fitness level for military recruitment? Will they invite you to an ice-cream social time at the Canteen? Immerse yourself in the everyday duties of a time gone by.

Programs take place in areas that can accommodate strollers, wheelchairs, and other mobility devices. Should you have any concerns about accessibility while attending one of these presentations, please let our staff know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

NOTE: Program schedule may change due to inclement weather or operational needs. To confirm which specific programs will be available on the day of your visit, feel free to give us a call at 250-478-5849. Our team will be happy to provide you with the latest information and ensure you make the most out of your visit.

Monday, and Thursday to Sunday - 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Ready to Ration
A cartoon image of a recipe card and can goods.

At the Canteen

Surviving the food ration period required teamwork and creativity. Simply to feed your family, you had to become a master chef in the ration kitchen – especially when your sweet tooth called!


Tuesday, and Friday to Sunday - 2 pm to 4 pm

WWI Medical Training
Surgical tools on a table.

At Upper Battery

Scrub in and save lives! Help a Canadian ‘Bluebird’ nurse with her patients and their mysterious illnesses, using WWI medical tools and equipment.


Wednesday, and Friday to Sunday – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

Lighthouse Chores
The hands of a person washing laundry with a washboard in a metal basin

At Fisgard Lighthouse

Lend the lighthouse keeper a helping hand with their daily chores! Drop by Fisgard Lighthouse and try your hand at washing laundry or help make candles for the foggy days ahead, as they would have in the 1860’s


Saturdays in July and August (Excl. July 26, and August 16 and 30) – 3:45 pm

Firepower
Three reenactors in Royal Artillery uniform from the late 1800s standing next to a 13-pounder rifled muzzle-loading field gun.

In the main field

Ready, aim, FIRE! On Black Powder Saturdays, the ground will tremble as we unleash the roar of a 13-pounder rifled muzzle-loading (RML) field gun – a true rarity, one of just a few remaining in the world. Imagine the echoes of this Victorian artillery piece reverberating through the early days of Fort Rodd Hill and surrounding communities between 1895 and 1910. This magnificent gun holds the distinction of being the last of its kind to enter British service.

IMPORTANT NOTE: this demonstration includes loud noises. This program is subject to staff and resource availability.


Sundays July 6 & 20, and August 3 & 17 – 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

A Soldier’s Best Friend
Close-up of three historic guns

In the main field

A soldier's constant companion! Peer into the evolution of military firearms at one of Fort Rodd Hill's table-top programs. Trace their development through time and ponder: did these changes reshape the battlefield? Uncover the stories of Canadian men and women who handled these weapons from the assembly to the front lines.

IMPORTANT NOTE: this demonstration includes loud noises. This program is subject to staff and resource availability.


Roving Interpretation

The staff at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love for this unforgettable place. From historic military drills to culinary curiosities and meeting new allies, these pop-up programs appeal to visitors of all ages. Take a look at the descriptions below to get an idea of what you may experience during your visit!

Hands-on History
Hands showing a medal
In this hands-on experience, you’ll be invited to think like a curator and use your investigative skills to examine objects from Fort Rodd Hill’s artifact collection. What clues will you uncover that tell you about the object or who might have used it in the past?

Fit to Serve
Children standing on guard with a soldier
Attention, recruit! Soldiers need to always be mentally and physically at their peak. Find out if you are fit to serve at Fort Rodd Hill, as your drill sergeant leads you through tests of endurance, flexibility and teamwork.

Taste of the Trenches
A sheet of ration stamps.

Picky eaters beware! A soldier needs to eat, but in the WWI trenches, options were limited and cooks often challenged to get creative. Could you survive on just boiled beef, hardtack, and canned veggies?


Forts for the Fishes
A cardboard whale with fish, waves, boats, a city and other marine animals drawn inside, on a table lined with whales.

There is an abundance of beautiful ocean life on the beaches! Patrol the water’s edge to meet its inhabitants and learn to become their ally.


Skulls' Secret
The skull of an eagle held in hands.

Creatures great and small can be identified by their skull. Examining the shape, density and location found for the skulls of local species reveals their true story and how the environment was key to their health.


Suited for Military Life
Seven Parks Canada interpreters dressed in various period uniforms

Do you have an eye for fashion and history? Military uniforms evolved over the past centuries and those worn at Fort Rodd Hill followed the base’s needs and trends. 1880s Royal Artillery blue or WWII khaki, we’ll show you all their special features.


Super Sea Otter: Help the Kelp
An Otter

To the rescue! Super Ollie is a guardian of the kelp forests, but he’ll need your help to protect them. Can you spot a sea otter? Why is Bull Kelp so important to them? We’ll tell you and show you the ropes.


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