LADYSMITH

Ladysmith is a charming small town with a thriving economy, vibrant downtown, and picturesque waterfront. One of the oldest settlements on Vancouver Island, the community formerly known as Oyster Harbour was established in 1899 by James Dunsmuir, son of Vancouver Island’s prosperous coal-mining family.

Ladysmith was designed as a recreation and dormitory complex for miners, serving as a shipping port for coal from Nanaimo, and Dunsmuir moved many buildings by rail to this peaceful spot he had chosen. Today, the town has a charming Edwardian setting, with many of its original buildings under restoration. Ladysmith is located on the Traditional Territory of Stz’uminus First Nation, and approximately 7,200 call the community home.

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