Ladysmith’s long-awaited public washroom is now open to the public.
A small opening ceremony was held on Saturday, June 26 to mark the completion of the project. The Ladysmith Kinsmen have been hard at work raising funds and organizing efforts from various community partners to make the project a reality.
RELATED: Work has begun on the Ladysmith Downtown Public Washroom
The project arrives at the beginning of a summer season that could see limited public gatherings and an increase in tourism due to the success of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
“I’m excited about seeing so many people downtown using all the picnic tables and stuff. Now we have the full amenities with our bright and clean new washroom,” Kinsmen spokesman Duck Paterson said.
The washroom will operate from dawn till dusk, following the same schedule as other public washroom facilities in Ladysmith. Operations and maintenance of the facility will be carried out by the Town of Ladysmith.
RELATED: Downtown Public Washroom project ‘shovel ready’ thanks to FortisBC community grant
Paterson says there’s just a couple of fine-tuning pieces needed to complete on the washroom, primarily putting an awning above the custodian’s room at the back of the building.
The building is green and purple with a HardiePlank exterior to match the heritage buildings of 1st Avenue and features a prominent sign in both English and hul’qumi’num. Inside, the washroom has stainless steel appliances and touchless surfaces to help keep things as clean as possible.
Paterson thanked the various community partners who made the project come together:
David Stalker Excavating
FMI
Fortis BC
Ladysmith & District Credit Union
Mike Richardson Construction
Wiersma Masonry Ltd.
CE Spray Foam
Spyder Graphix
AYPQ Architecture
Heart Lake Roofing
Eagle’s Aerie 2101
Cedar Grove Roofing Supply
Rotary Club of Ladysmith
49th Parallel Printers
Ladysmith Lions Club
Home Hardware Ladysmith
Sawmill Direct
Lewkowich Engineering Associates
Wolseley Inc.
Benjamin Moore Paints
Goodman Plumbing
Ladysmith Downtown Business Association
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce
Umbrella Welding
Ladysmith Maritime Society
Mosiac Forest Management
Gord Carlson
Bedrock Concrete
Howie Davis
Bill & Deb Drysdale
Kathleen Oliver Stroman