Rain earlier in the day let up, and people decked out in red T-shirts and ball caps, some of them draped in Canadian flags, turned out to celebrate the country’s 149th birthday, the last before the big sesquicentennial celebration next year.
First Nation’s members joined in the celebration, including Stz’uminus Chief John Elliott in Ladysmith, and Penelakut Elder Florence James in Chemainus. “It was not very long ago that we didn’t share this nation very well,” Elliott said, “but we’ve learned to build a nation together and to build a community together.”
Mayor Aaron Stone announced the unveiling of a series of pictorial plaques at the entrance to Transfer Beach Park depicting the 5,000 year Stz’uminus history in the region and the 118 year history of the Town of Ladysmith.
