Last month, some spirit went missing from Spirit Square in Ladysmith.
Sometime at the tail end of January, 33 strings of LED Christmas lights were taken from the 26 trees in the square between the Boys and Girls Clubs of Vancouver Island building and the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association on Second Avenue that had been decorated for the Festival of Lights.
Greg Edwards, vice-president of the Ladysmith Festival of Lights Society, says that some time between when the lights were shut off on Jan. 13 and the time they were taken down on Jan. 27, he noticed the trees in the square were bare.
And it’s leaving a bad taste in his mouth — mostly because of what the lights represented. Edwards says the lights were worth about $360, and they were purchased with money donated by BC Hydro.
“The money was donated by BC Hydro because the Boys and Girls Club were making it a project,” he said. “It’s irritating in the fact that the lights were missing, but it’s more irritating in the fact that BC Hydro donated the money for these lights, and we purchased them specifically so the Boys and Girls Club could participate.
“The whole premise is to bring enjoyment to people, not only the Boys and Girls Club, but I’m sure the Old Age Pensioners and Ladysmith Resources Centre Association appreciated the lights, and the trolley goes through there, and I’m sure they enjoyed the lights. It’s just sad that it took place.”
Edwards says the Festival of Lights Society reported the missing lights to the RCMP, and he knows there might not be much anyone can do now, but he hopes someone reading about this might remember seeing something suspicious or have some information to share. If anyone knows anything about the missing lights, they can contact the RCMP at 250-245-2215.