There’s an old adage that says we cannot know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve come from.
Those might not be the exact words, and I wouldn’t be able to tell you who said that, but I sure agree with the sentiment.
Lucky for us, we have a new opportunity to know exactly where Ladysmith comes from, and we can learn about our community’s rich and interesting history in a clear, easy-to-follow and interesting way now that the new Ladysmith Museum is open.
The passionate volunteers with the Ladysmith and District Historical Society have dreamed of opening a community museum for many, many years, and they’ve poured their hearts and souls into making the new museum a fantastic resource and attraction for Ladysmith residents and visitors alike who want to know more about our town.
The Ladysmith and District Credit Union offered the use of the former resources centre building at 721 First Ave. for a temporary home, and Historical Society volunteers have been hard at work renovating and cleaning the building, building shelves and display cases, sorting through artifacts and turning the building into a museum full of stories, facts, photographs and artifacts that showcase everything from the beginnings of Ladysmith, coal mining and logging to stores, trains and the “Ladies of Ladysmith.” One feature I especially like is the timeline, which highlights many events that shaped the town, such as strikes, disasters and the Depression, and shares stories from different periods, all organized along an easy-to-follow timeline.
Congratulations and thank you to everyone at the Ladysmith and District Historical Society for giving us the Ladysmith Museum. It’s a wonderful thing for our community.
— Lindsay Chung