JANUARY
The Ladysmith Maritime Society is no longer the steward of the community marina after its application for a court injunction to halt its eviction was denied. On Dec. 27, the Supreme Court of B.C. denied the application from the society, which was trying to avoid having to vacate the water lot by Dec. 31 as it pursues other legal avenues. Throughout 2023, the marina was a pressing topic in town as the society held town hall meetings, a protest, and community talks with the goal of continuing operations at the marina, which was owned by the province, leased to the Town of Ladysmith, and was scheduled to be sub-leased to the society until 2029 before Stz’uminus First Nation and the province signed a reconciliation agreement to transfer the title of the water lot.
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Ladysmith council members asked staff to prepare a borrowing bylaw in the amount of $13.5 million for a project on Buller Street aimed at building a new city hall, institutional space, and housing. At the first council meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, Jan. 9, councillors discussed the project, which will be on town-owned properties at 1st Avenue and Buller Street. The town anticipates obtaining elector approval through an alternative-approval process instead of holding a referendum.
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The Town of Ladysmith is looking to implement more bike lanes and pedestrian corridors in accordance with the new official community plan. At a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at the Ladysmith Seniors Centre, council members discussed a submission from Coun. Marsh Stevens which looks at the possibility of adding corridors and “shortcuts” in new subdivisions.
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Electoral area directors in the Cowichan Valley Regional District denied a re-zoning application from a recycling business for the second time, after a request for reconsideration. At a board meeting Jan. 10, directors once again deliberated on the future of Radius Recycling, formerly Schnitzer Steel, which has a legal non-conforming recycling operation along the Trans-Canada Highway near Nanaimo Airport. On Dec. 13, directors denied the application, which has been under consideration for seven years.
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Firefighters kept damage to a minimum at the old Sportsman Pub/Ladysmith Inn this past weekend. Ladysmith Fire Rescue crews responded in full force at approximately 6:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, to reports of smoke and a structure fire at the hotel at the corner of First Avenue and Buller Street. When emergency personnel arrived on the scene it was reported that the fire was located on the Buller Street side of the building. Fire chief Chris Geiger said crews were on scene for roughly two hours and no injuries were reported.
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A Ladysmith man heads a worldwide forestry organization, meaning he has earned the lofty title of ‘snark of the universe.’ Paul Beltgens is assuming leadership of the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo for 2024. The organization, founded in 1892 and based in Gurdon, Ark., has nearly 10,000 members in 23 countries. Hoo-Hoo came to the Cowichan Valley in the 1960s when Herb and Gordie Doman decided to initiate a chapter in the area. Today Hoo-Hoo No. 229 Cowichan has more than 65 members who are all involved, one way or another, in the forestry industry. Beltgens is owner of Jemico Enterprises and Paulcan Enterprises and has been a member of the Cowichan Valley’s Hoo-Hoo club since 1983.
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Ladysmith council members discussed the possibility of dedicating town-owned land and road allowances as parkland for future park improvements and better access to the town’s waterfront. At a committee of the whole meeting at the Ladysmith Seniors Centre on Jan. 16, councillors considered new parkland dedications at 1200 Christie Rd., as well as the road allowances on King Road and Gill Road for better access to the waterfront and the Holland Creek Estuary Trail. “It’s got trails, it walks like a park, it looks like a park, why is it not in fact a park?” asked Councillor Marsh Stevens.
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The Town of Ladysmith will receive almost $200,000 in funding from the province to support the implementation of new legislation which aims to facilitate more housing throughout B.C. On Jan. 18, the province started providing $51 million to B.C. municipalities to meet new legislative requirements aimed at creating more housing, such as transit-oriented development and small-scale, multi-unit housing.
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FEBRUARY
After an unsuccessful injunction hearing in December, the Ladysmith Maritime Society is trying to maintain a presence at Oyster Bay Marina, formerly known as Ladysmith Community Marina. On Jan. 1, the Coast Salish Development Corporation, the economic arm of Stz’uminus First Nation, took over operations of the marina after the Town of Ladysmith abandoned the lease to facilitate a 2022 reconciliation deal between the province and the First Nation. According to a rise-and-report at a Ladysmith council meeting Jan. 23, the society is still able to operate the maritime museum, the heritage boatshed, and 20 feet of moorage space paid for by the town.
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The Nanaimo-Ladysmith school board is exploring options for seismic upgrades or a complete replacement of Ladysmith schools. At a Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools business committee meeting on Feb. 14, trustees directed staff to create a report with options around demolishing and replacing the former École Davis Road instead of upgrading Ladysmith Intermediate School. The aging intermediate school has been found to lack accessibility options.
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More than 110 years after a bombing attempt, Ladysmith’s Temperance Hotel is not only still standing, but its heritage is being carefully preserved. The hotel was built in the community of Wellington in 1900 and was moved at that time to its current location at the northeast corner of 1st Avenue and High Street.
According to Canada’s Historic Places, the hotel was associated with an unforgettable era in Ladysmith’s history, the Vancouver Island coal miners’ strike of 1912-1914. The hotel lodged strike breakers, making it a centre for rioting and the site of a bombing attempt. At present day, the hotel continues to make a mark in Ladysmith’s history. New owners Denise Bergquist and Stefan Queitsch saw a dream and decided they wanted to fulfill it.
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Another year of history in Ladysmith has passed. The Ladysmith and District Historical Society held its fifth annual Ladysmith Heritage Awards presentations while marking the 25th anniversary of the society. Society president Quentin Goodbody welcomed more than 100 people to the event at the Eagles Hall on Friday, Feb. 23, during B.C. Heritage Week.
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Western Forest Products’ new $12-million continuous dry kiln is up and running at the Saltair division sawmill. The project was announced a year and a half ago and on Monday, Feb. 26, the company held the official ribbon cutting at the mill at the end of Raven Road in Ladysmith. Western CEO Steven Hofer said the mill now has the first continuous dry kiln on the coast of B.C., enabling increased capacity for continuous drying of lumber, while reducing energy consumption by about one-third.
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The former stewards of the Oyster Bay Marina are now required to remove the remainder of their assets from the marina. Earlier this year, the Town of Ladysmith had passed a resolution allowing the Ladysmith Maritime Society to maintain some programs at the marina, but LMS is now required to move its heritage boat fleet and leave the former Ladysmith Community Marina by Thursday, Feb. 29, following a months-long dispute over the marina lease with the town, the province and Stz’uminus First Nation.
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MARCH
The Town of Ladysmith is moving forward with upgrades to the machine shop which is expected to be the centre of the future arts and heritage hub on the waterfront. In October, the town cancelled the tender to build a new art studio on the waterfront, which was to be mostly funded by a $3.3-million grant from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, after “inflationary pressures” caused construction to exceed the original budget by 67 per cent. Recently, the town received approval from provincial and federal partners to allow money to go solely toward renovating and re-opening 3,900 square feet of public space at the machine shop, near the Oyster Bay Marina.
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Ladysmith Secondary School’s improv team has only a few weeks to try to fundraise for a trip to nationals, but they’re used to quick thinking and quick acting. The high school improv theatre group was able to earn a wildcard berth into the Canadian Improv Games in Ottawa from March 27-29. Instructor Bill Taylor reported that Ladysmith Secondary’s senior team was able to place first in an online wildcard competition against 30 teams from across the country.
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Vintage and valuable can mean ’55 Chevrolets or Picassos or things like that, but in Ladysmith, it has another meaning, too. The Vintage and Valuable program is a free musical theatre experience for people 55-plus that’s federally funded and put on by the Arts Council of Ladysmith and District in partnership with Stephanie Roth Performing Studio.
Roth said the program provides an opportunity to sing and dance and learn about the performing arts, and also for participants to find out what they have inside themselves and build confidence.
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The Town of Ladysmith, like most places in B.C., must comply with new provincial housing density legislation, and has come up with some immediate measures. Town council, at a meeting Tuesday, March 19, voted to direct staff to bring forward zoning amendments to meet requirements to allow for three to four housing units on lots currently zoned for single-family dwellings. Council indicated support for a staff recommendation to achieve the density by allowing single-family dwellings with a suite and a coach house on lots smaller than 0.03 hectares, and duplexes with suites on lots larger than 0.03 hectares. A staff report noted that the approach provides a diversity of housing types that are consistent with the OCP and preserves neighbourhood character.
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A marker in Ladysmith’s road to reconciliation is now in place at the south end of town. A new welcoming sign was unveiled by members of Stz’uminus and Ladysmith councils on Monday, March 25. The wooden sign, with metal lettering, was created by well-known Coast Salish and Stz’uminus carver John Marston, Qap’u’luq. The sign, installed along the Trans-Canada Highway at Baker Road, includes depictions of an eagle as well as a sea wolf’s transformation into a killer whale. A territorial acknowledgement is also clearly stated.
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Ladysmith will be able to nearly double its water reservoir storage capacity after learning it will receive $10.9 million in funding for infrastructure work at Holland Lake. The Town of Ladysmith, in a press release Friday, March 22, noted that the federal-provincial joint funding will allow the town to raise its two existing earthfill dams and dredge debris from the lakebed. That work is expected to accommodate a 1.5-metre increase to the reservoir’s water level. As well, a new water intake through the east dam and upgrades to the outlet pipe and spillway on the west dam will improve flow management, the town stated.
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APRIL
A new Town of Ladysmith report shows parking isn’t really a problem in the downtown, but council, nevertheless, wants to strengthen parking enforcement. Town council, at a meeting Tuesday, April 2, voted to direct staff to increase enforcement of parking time limits in the area around the intersection of 1st Avenue and Gatacre Street.
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More and more people are getting into urban pole walking, which is considerably different than its far-removed exotic cousin, pole-dancing. A group of people in Ladysmith have been gathering three times a week to go pole walking, which they say is beneficial for a healthy body and mind, activating more than twice as many muscles as walking without poles.
“Just ask anyone who has used them,” said instructor Joy Brooks. “It’s a form of walking with special walking poles that not only provide stability but they also give extra...core strength and balance.”
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A person died in a house fire in Ladysmith over the Easter long weekend. Members of Ladysmith Fire Rescue were called out at approximately 1 a.m. on March 31 to a structure fire on Walker Avenue. The basement of the structure was fully ablaze when crews arrived, noted the fire department, and they were advised that there was the potential of someone still being inside. Ladysmith Fire Rescue and North Oyster Volunteer Fire Department fought the blaze for almost four hours before it was extinguished.
Crews said a grandson helped his grandmother, who uses a wheelchair, get out of the house. During a sweep of the basement once the fire was extinguished, firefighters found that an occupant had succumbed to the blaze.
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Residents of Ladysmith are being surveyed so they can have a say in influencing improvements at Rutti Park. The park, named in honour of the Rutti family in 2022, is currently a green space with pedestrian access and fruit trees. It’s located in the south end of town at the end of Rothdale Road off of Russell Road, and is part of what used to be the Rutti family farm.
The town says the survey will be used similarly to a survey last year pertaining to Kinsmen Park planning, as the questionnaire will help shape park amenities as well as future improvements.
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A downtown Ladysmith restaurant has been the Wigwam for 99 years, but that will be changing, as the owners for the past 30-plus years are retiring. Danh Phan and Ninh Bui Phan, owners of the Wigwam Restaurant for the past 32 years, will work their last day there on April 27. The Phans were both in Vietnam, their home country, during the Vietnam War. Danny came from a town called Long Xuyen and Ninh is from a district in Saigon, what is now known as Ho Chi Minh City.
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It’s become outrageous how the queen of old halls can really get rocking with a full house. The second annual Outrageous Evening lip-syncing competition was held Friday, April 12, at Ladysmith’s Aggie Hall, and again got the sold-out crowd jumping. The event, organized by the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, featured seven teams competing to hilarious and outrageous effect.
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The Yellow Point Ecological Society’s BioBlitz is here, giving anyone with a smart phone a chance to be a citizen scientist and collect open-source data.
“It’s a chance for people to get out there and learn about their environment and it’s a chance to contribute to citizen science,” said Nicola Toxopeus, a board member with the ecological society.
To participate, residents are asked to take photos or sound recordings of animals, fungi and plants between April 26-29. From April 30-May 5, they can upload them to the app iNaturalist and identify the images.
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Being from the ‘other side of the tracks’ used to have dismal connotations, especially in some country and western tunes. But for the folks at Ladysmith Motorsports, it means nothing but success. This coming May 1 will see the business celebrate its 10-year anniversary in Ladysmith.
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MAY
It took more than 100 years, but Ladysmith’s Aggie Hall finally has a proper sign in place. The Ladysmith Lions Club gathered this month for the unveiling of the sign and acknowledgement of the club’s role in the preservation of the historical building.
Built in 1922, the Agricultural Hall and surrounding fields were made for community sporting and social events. The building, which is home to the air cadets along with Ladysmith Family and Friends, celebrated its centennial in 2022.
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The Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club’s ninth annual outdoor cleanup was an unfortunate success. They ended up collecting a dishearteningly large amount of refuse from natural areas in the community, covering spots around Spruston Road, Timberlands area and Peerless Road.
“These areas we have covered before, but we have to go back and back and back. It’s too bad that folks don’t show the respect for the natural beauty we have in our own backyard,”said event coordinator Dave Judson.
The club attracted more than 140 volunteers to show up and pitch in picking up garbage, building and roofing material and even abandoned vehicles on Saturday, April 20.
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A 14-year-old from Ladysmith has earned a spot at the Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials. Colton Gonzales secured his qualifying time during a meet April 19-20 in Victoria, according to a Ladysmith Chemainus Orcas swim club press release. Gonzales swam the 100-metre backstroke in 59.89 seconds, earning him the chance to compete at the Olympic trials in Toronto from May 13-17.
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Public schools throughout Nanaimo-Ladysmith will be implementing their own individualized cell phone policies while district-wide guidelines are being created. The decision follows an order from the Ministry of Education and Childcare that as of July 1, all school districts are required to include “one or more statements about restricting the use of personal digital devices at school” within their school codes of conduct.
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It took a little over two years but the time proved to be time well spent. Adopted by the town in May of 2023 the new official community plan (OCP) has started to set the stage for the community to grow, but it has also attracted the attention of folks that are really in the know. Last week the Planning Institute of B.C. awarded the Town of Ladysmith with a Silver Award for Excellence in Policy Planning for the OCP. The award was presented in the Small Town and Rural Areas category which covers communities under 80,000 residents.
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The Town of Ladysmith is starting an alternative-approval process this week to try to secure residents’ blessing to borrow $13.5 million for a new city hall. Ladysmith council, at a meeting May 14, voted to launch an AAP for the Buller Street revitalization project which will include a city hall and institutional/commercial space, totalling 25,000 square feet, below approximately 95 rental housing units.
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B.C. SPCA officers seized more than 175 animals last fall in Ladysmith in one of the largest animal seizures in the province’s history, and the case goes to court this month. Among the animals confiscated on Oct. 31 were 13 dogs, three cats, 14 goats and 31 chickens. An additional 31 chickens, three cats and 12 dogs were voluntarily surrendered. On Nov. 16, the B.C. SPCA came back and confiscated another dog, a cat, a rabbit, two snakes, 28 chickens, four ducks, 31 quail and 48 rats. While in the SPCA’s care, officers were required to euthanize a goat and quail that were in critical stress. Now the owners of the animals face charges of causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal. The couple is expected to make their first court appearance in Duncan on Tuesday, May 28.
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It’s been 50 years since the Ladysmith Horseshoe Club was founded along with 2024 being the 50th anniversary of the construction of the horseshoe pitch at Transfer Beach Park. To mark the special year and to get back on their feet after COVID, the members of the club held their first tournament in more than four years. On Monday, May 20, more than 50 horseshoe players from Port Alberni, Victoria, Sooke and Ladysmith gathered locally to take part in an individual play event.
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JUNE
If they were looking for a perfect day, the Ladysmith Pride Society folks said Sunday was it. The day was the group’s first public event and they held their block party on First Avenue, between Roberts and High streets. Society president Kezia Cloke said, while standing in the rain, “it’s a blast, we are thrilled. Our entertainers have been great, the music is rocking and there are so many families here, it couldn’t be better, well except for the rain.”
The first Pride Day, in what is expected to be an annual event, not only featured a plethora of food trucks and concessions, but other groups and stalls of interest including the Ladysmith Fire Rescue, which had the hall’s new ladder truck out and on display along with a table of information about being a volunteer.
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For many years the building and lot could have been classed as Ladysmith’s ugly duckling. But over the last two years there has been a metamorphosis of immense proportions. This past weekend (June 8 and 9) the old rundown Dalby’s Service Centre on the corner of Forward Road and Dogwood Drive, turned its back on the past and presented itself as a new and distinctive residential complex.
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Even if you’ve never seen it, chances are you’ve heard of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Macbeth. After untold thousands of performances over the last 418 years since its debut in 1606, Ladysmith Secondary School Performing Arts program is offering the community their version. The show is a reworked telling of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, featuring the talents of the school’s band program.
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The largest bat colony on the central Island now averages 1,800 little brown myotis bats, an increase of almost 300 from last year’s count. Situated in the attic and bat boxes of the North Oyster Community Centre in Ladysmith, the tiny mammals have formed a maternity colony, entirely made up of female bats and their young pups.
“I would say pretty confidently it’s the biggest roost [on the mid Island], it’s absolutely the biggest roost we know of,” said Linda Brooymans, NALT’s stewardship manager and mid-Island coordinator for the B.C. Community Bat Program.
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The weather managed to cooperate last Friday, June 14 for the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce’s 15th annual golf tournament. Under almost clear skies, but some gusts of wind, the packed field of 18 foursomes played a full round at Cottonwood Golf Course. The tournament was the 15th tournament hosted by the Chamber and is its largest fundraiser of the year.
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Groups putting on events at the Ladysmith Amphitheatre will now have the opportunity to use the facility more comfortably in rain or intense sun. The town recently purchased an event tent that can be set up and taken down in around three hours. The structure is referred to as a saddlespan tent and is made from a tensile membrane structure. The tensioned membrane is made of fire retardant material and is stretched across an aluminum frame and sup- ported by aluminum trussing.
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JULY
At the regular Town of Ladysmith council meeting held on Tuesday, June 18, a request came from BC Hydro to install 12 high-power electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, six level 3 chargers and a pad-mount transformer. Staff and advisors from Hydro looked at various locations within the community and came up with a location across the highway from city hall. The property is owned by the Town of Ladysmith. The report to council stated that town and Hydro representatives met on June 5 to discuss the location and further action.
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The Town of Ladysmith has abandoned plans to try to borrow money to build a new city hall, at least for the foreseeable future. Town council, at a meeting Tuesday, July 2, voted unanimously to abandon a bylaw related to the long-term borrowing of $13.5 million to build a city hall and institutional space underneath housing funded by the province’s B.C. Builds program. An alternative approval process for the Buller Street revitalization project was held in May and June and failed by a wide margin, with 2,135 voters registering opposition to the project, well above a 741 threshold.
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At the age of 12 Tchadas Leo started working part time as an apprentice at Campbell River’s local TV station, where he trained as a junior production assistant. Little did he realize, he would develop into a full fledged broadcaster along with being a story teller and producer of his own podcasts. Now at the age of 33, Ladysmith resident Leo has been making large inroads in his chosen profession. Leo, who is from the Homalco First Nation in Campbell River, was recently honoured as the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters Performer Of Tomorrow, an award given to someone who has been in the broadcast industry for less than five years and who shows potential of good story telling, and good on air presence.
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A neighbourhood shuttle bus is one of the most-requested ways to improve transportation options in hilly Ladysmith. Social Planning Cowichan, working on a transportation plan for Ladysmith and surrounding areas, reported this week on its first phase of engagement. According to a press release, a “hop-on, hop-off” type of shuttle service was one of the top four options for transportation improvements put forward by residents, with the others being improved cycling and scooter infrastructure, more reliable taxi service, and a ride-share service.
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Ladysmith councillors want to include provisions to clear out invasive species in a new tree protection bylaw it’s working on. Ladysmith councillors met on Tuesday, July 9, in a committee of the whole meeting. On the agenda was an item from the May 7 regular council which featured a delegation from the Broombusters organization. At that meeting the group asked the town to adopt a bylaw that would help control the spread of a variety of invasive species of plants.
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The Ladysmith Chargers took on eight teams from across the province at the B.C. provincial championships and defeated seven of them handily to win softball gold. “The team represented our region very proudly. We were in the B.C. provincial championships,taking place at Mundy Park in Port Coquitlam, along with 16 other teams,” said Kris Kennedy of the Chargers. “They were all from across the province and they represented the best of all the teams in the various regions."
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AUGUST
The waves washed out some of the tubbers, but a determined group made it around the whole course at this year’s Great International World Bathtub Race. The Nanaimo Marine Festival came to a close Sunday, July 28, with the great race in Nanaimo Harbour, starting and finishing at Maffeo Sutton Park. This year’s winner was Trevor Short of Ladysmith, who won for the second time, making it to the Winchelsea Islands and back in one hour, 38 minutes, 13 seconds, in his super-modified tub.
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The BC Day long weekend saw Ladysmith Days return to a two-day event with huge crowds coming out on both Saturday and Sunday.
“The entire weekend was a huge success,” said volunteer chair Al Moore. “Almost all the feed- back has been very positive, although one person thought the fireworks were reckless and endangered the community.”
The fireworks show had the sign-off from the fire chief as well as the Ministry of Forests. Moore said the crowds downtown on Saturday were huge for the soapbox and the skateboard events. “They got a bit smaller in the afternoon, but folks filtered down to Transfer Beach for the various kids games, challenges and the wrestling. It’s so great to see families out having fun, jumping up and down,” Moore said.
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SEPTEMBER
September marks the beginning of a new season of shows at the Ladysmith Little Theatre. Located in the old Diamond School, 4985 Christie Rd., the volunteer group has been gearing up for the season opener on Sept. 26. The Theatre group purchased the vacant school building back in 2013, after leasing it from the school district for 10 years. For more than 20 years a steady stream of volunteers has been captivating audiences with a varied assortment of entertainment including musical, drama, mime, comedy and almost everything in between.
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In a surprise announcement Tuesday, Sept. 3, Aaron Stone said he is stepping down as the mayor Ladysmith and the chair of the Cowichan Valley Regional District, effective the end of the month.
“This is a difficult decision that I have come to after many weeks of deliberation and discussion with my family, friends and closest advisors,” said Stone in a statement on the Town of Ladysmith’s website.
“I will spend the next four weeks working with my colleagues to en- sure my departure is as smooth as possible.”
He is also chair of the Island Coastal Economic Trust and co-chair of the Cowichan Watershed Board, posts he is also stepping away from, effective Sept. 30.
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An investigation is underway after a serious workplace incident in Ladysmith. WorkSafeBC spokesperson Ashley Gregerson confirmed her organization has launched the probe in connection with the Sept. 3 incident in the 1100 block of Rocky Creek Road.
“The purpose of our investigation is to identify the cause of the incident...We are not able to provide any additional details while the investigation is underway,” Gregerson said.
BC Emergency Health Services said a call for service was received at 4:39 p.m. “regarding persons in need of medical assistance” at the same location.
“Two ground ambulances with primary care paramedics, a paramedic supervisor and an air ambulance with critical care paramedics responded to the scene,” said BC EHS public information officer Brian Twaites.
“Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to two patients. One patient was transported to hospital via ground ambulance and one patient was transported to hospital via air ambulance.
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OCTOBER
Ladysmith’s Little League field changed its appearance last Saturday and played host to the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association’s second annual Oktoberfest.
“It was absolutely fantastic and the weather prevailed,” said Brianne Mactier, one of the event organizers.
“We grew the event this year by 150 tickets and sold out all 450 tickets.”
The event is hosted by the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association.
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Around 170 people gathered at Aggie Hall in Ladysmith to hear candidates for the Oct. 19 provincial election from the Ladysmith-Oceanside riding.
Brett Fee (Conservative), Stephanie Higginson (NDP) and Adam Walker (Independent) discussed their plans for resolving issues in four key areas if elected: housing affordability, B.C.’s economy, health care, and public safety and crime.
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Voters south of Nanaimo will not have to drive through two other ridings to get to their polling station after all. Approximately 500 voters in Extension in the Ladysmith-Oceanside electoral district were issued voter information cards that mistakenly directed them to vote at Nanoose Place, confirmed Elections B.C.
Andrew Watson, senior director of communications with Elections B.C., said the situation was brought to Elections B.C.’s attention after a media report about a voter complaining about a potential 35-minute drive to a polling station at the other end of the riding, a drive that would have taken the voter through both the Nanaimo-Gabriola and Nanaimo-Lantzville ridings.
The closest voting place for residents of Extension is actually North Oyster Community Centre, and voter information cards are being re-issued to reflect that. Watson said the new voter cards should arrive in mailboxes in the next day or so. He said the situation prompted an Elections B.C. review that identified similar problems in parts of three other ridings: Cariboo-Chilcotin, Nechako Lakes and Prince George-North Cariboo.
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After four years of development, the future of Ladysmith’s poverty reduction strategy appears uncertain, as its current provincial funding ends. On Oct. 1, Rosalie Sawrie, project director for Social Planning Cowichan gave an update to council on the work completed by those behind the ‘CommUNITY Together to End Poverty Hw-nuts’-ulwum (As One) Project’, which was originally formed in 2022. The goal of the task force was to develop and implement affordability strategies in the community, with an emphasis on bettering food security, advocating for mental health services and exploring new transportation options.
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B.C. NDP candidate Stephanie Higginson is the projected MLA elect for the new Ladysmith-Oceanside riding. With 19 of 19 final voting day ballot boxes and six of six advance ballot boxes counted for the 2024 B.C. general election, Higginson finished with a comfortable margin over Brett Fee of the B.C. Conservative Party and Independent candidate Adam Walker.
Higginson had 13,417 votes (41.18 per cent), with Fee second at 11,671 (35.82 per cent), Walker third at 5,334 (16.37 per cent) and Laura Ferreira of the B.C. Green Party fourth at 2,162 (6.64 per cent).
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In a glittering and emotional evening, a full house gathered Oct. 25 at Aggie Hall to celebrate the Spirit of Ladysmith Awards, presented by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. The event returned after more than a decade and was eagerly welcomed by business owners and residents alike. Roberta Bowman, executive director of the chamber, said the strong turnout is a sign that businesses are alive and well in Ladysmith.
“This evening is a testament to the meaningful difference you make in the lives of those around you,” Bowman told the nominees.
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NOVEMBER
Not many two and a half year olds make big impressions but for the folks at Ladysmith’s Bayview Brewing Company making big impressions seems to be a growing habit. Previous to this past October the local popular watering hole had won four B.C. and national awards for a few of the beers they have produced including top rated craft beer as chosen by Creekside Crafters. Then on Oct. 18, in New Westminster, more than a dozen breweries from the Island were acknowledged at the Canada Beer Cup with Bayview being one of them.
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Ladysmith residents want a shuttle service in town, a transportation project has found. Social Planning Cowichan released the results of the Exploring Transportation Options for Ladysmith and Surrounding Communities project. This initiative originated from the poverty reduction strategy through the CommUNITY Together to End Poverty Hw-nuts’ ulwum project in 2021. Transportation was identified as one of 10 priority themes within that strategy.
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The Royal Canadian Legion branch 171 has stood as a beacon of support, camaraderie and service in Ladysmith for 80 years. Founded by veterans in 1943, the Legion branch has played a vital role in the community, evolving from a meeting place to a hub of support for local veterans. As it marks its 80th anniversary, the Legion continues to adapt to meet the needs of today’s veterans, including addressing the critical issue of homelessness.
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Snuneymuxw First Nation is calling for the driver who killed 21-year-old Charles Tommy in a hit-and-run last week to come forward and give the family some closure.
“Our hearts are heavy as we remember a young father, a fisherman and a beloved member of the Snuneymuxw community...” Chief Mike Wyse told members of the media on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
“As you can imagine, his family is devastated and they are looking for help. We are seeking any information that might provide some clarity and peace.”
Tommy was walking home after fishing in the Cedar area on Thursday, Oct. 24, when an unidentified motorist struck him on Harmac Road, east of the Cedar Road and Raines Road intersection, then fled the scene. A community member, Martin Leduc, provided CPR on scene until an ambulance arrived, but was unable to save him. Tommy leaves behind a seven-month-old son, Milo Point-Tommy.
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Members of the U17B Ladysmith Chargers were each presented with individual Ladysmith Achievement Award certificates at the Ladysmith council meeting on Nov. 5. The team and supporting coach- es were invited to attend the meeting and be acknowledged for winning the 2024 provincial softball championship held in Coquitlam earlier this summer.
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There will be no fireworks after the Light Up in Ladysmith this year on Nov. 28. The festival’s application for a fireworks permit was denied by the Town of Ladysmith toward the end of October for the first time in 35 years, according to a joint press release issued today by the Festival of Lights Society and the Ladysmith & District Credit Union, longtime sponsors of the fireworks.
Denial of the permit is not due to a change in regulations, but rather a tightening of enforcement around existing rules. According to Natural Resources Canada’s Display Fireworks Manual, there must be a minimum distance of 95 metres from the firing site to the public, structures and vehicles.
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What has become a long-time gathering place in Ladysmith’s downtown core could soon be no more. Opening in March 2006, the In the Beantime Café, will be closing its doors at the present location on Nov. 30. Owners Campbell and Kristy McIntyre said the building they are in has been sold.
“This past fall the location was put up for sale by its longtime owner and sold quickly,” Campbell (Cam) McIntyre said. “While we had hoped the purchaser would consider leasing the location to our business, this sadly was not the case. In the Beantime will be vacating its High Street location by Nov. 30 this year.”
Later in the month there was better news: the popular eatery announced it was moving to 431 First Ave., where it will share space with Plantitude – Kind Food.
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“Just magical” are two of the words most used to describe Ladysmith during the Christmas season. In an effort to enhance that feeling, and to spread it beyond Ladysmith’s downtown core the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is initiating an event that they believe will get more residents involved and attract locals and visitors alike to tour their community and take in the bright, festive atmosphere.
“We are excited to invite the community to be part of Ladysmith’s Magical Christmas Light Up Tour and Contest,” said Roberta Bowman, executive director of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. “This new event is intended to be a shining highlight of the Festival of Lights and hopefully can help spread the lights, and feeling, across the entire community. Ladysmith’s Magical Christmas Light Up competition celebrates the most beautifully decorated homes in the community, spreading holiday cheer and bringing everyone together for a fun, spirited contest.”
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Ladysmith’s Remembrance Day ceremony brought together community members, military personnel and local organizations to honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in conflicts around the world. Held at the town’s cenotaph, the service was marked by solemn tributes, symbolic gestures and a strong sense of community. The commemoration began with a procession down First Avenue, featuring members of Canadian Legion branch 171, local air cadets, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), fire and rescue personnel, and representatives from community organizations. As they marched past the Eagles Hall, participants were accompanied by a poignant display — a curtain of poppies symbolizing respect for fallen soldiers.
The formal ceremony included the playing of the Last Post, followed by a prayer led by Stz’uminus Elder Buffy David. Acting Mayor Tricia McKay then addressed those gathered, acknowledging the importance of remembrance in Ladysmith. Representatives from military, government and community organizations placed wreaths at the cenotaph.
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The RCMP presented its third-quarter report for the months of July to September to the Ladysmith committee of the whole on Nov. 12, highlighting a significant reduction in various types of criminal activity in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. During this three-month period, total calls for service in Ladysmith decreased by approximately half. Assaults dropped from 10 to four, thefts from 26 to 13, mischief/property damage from 19 to four, and theft from vehicles fell from 11 to five.
Acting detachment commander Cpl. Tracy Dubnyk told the committee that the decrease was driven by several factors, including a reduction in repeat offenders in the community, as several individuals well known to the RCMP were in custody during the reporting period.
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What do you get when you combine Queen’s legendary music, a dystopian future and a campy celebration of individuality? A high-energy extravaganza that doesn’t just entertain — it rocks. Ladysmith Little Theatre’s production of We Will Rock You is an ambitious, joyous tribute to Queen’s iconic sound and lead singer Freddie Mercury’s unapologetically bold legacy.
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Members of the Mid-Island Métis community, along with members of Ladysmith council and others, braved the wind and rain Saturday, Nov. 16, to commemorate Louis Riel and the continuing strength of the Métis peoples of Canada with the raising of the Métis flag at the town’s city hall. November 16 is the anniversary of Riel’s execution in 1885. Riel led the Métis people in the Northwest Resistance in 1885, which was a stand against the Canadian government of the day.
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Ladysmith’s Light Up is a festive launch for hundreds of Islanders, but what the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association (LDBA) refer to as “Light Up For Locals” is their annual Old Tyme Christmas. The event took place Friday, Dec. 6, in Downtown Ladysmith, and was welcomed by hundreds during an evening of mild and rain free weather.
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A byelection to choose a new mayor of Ladysmith has been scheduled for March 1, 2025, following the resignation of Aaron Stone, who stepped down on Sept. 30, 2024, to assume the role of CEO at the South Island Prosperity Partnership. Coun. Tricia McKay has been serving as acting mayor since Oct. 1.
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Ladysmith’s Colton Gonzales has been named SwimBC’s Provincial Male Swimmer of the Year for 2024. Representing the Ladysmith Chemainus Orcas Swim Club, the 15-year-old has earned national attention in competitive swimming for his achievements.
“It’s pretty cool,” Colton said about the recognition. “I know a bunch of the previous guys who got it and to think I’m on the same level as that is pretty cool.”
The recognition from SwimBC, the governing body for competitive swimming in the province, gives the young swimmer confidence he is headed in the right direction.
