Hi there,
Summer is officially behind us, but what a great time it's been! The cooler weather brings lots of opportunities for hiking and back country and hopefully you'll get a chance to enjoy our outdoors...and maybe even see some wildlife.We hope you enjoy this monthy's Play & Stay, the Ladysmith to Cedar Toursim Industry’s newsletter. There's lots to do and going on from Mine exhibits to Olympic Torch relays, this is the place to be.
Have any comments? Email us! We are your voice. Submit your news and photos by Oct 15 for the next edition. A small amount of space is available for advertising in the e-news on a first come basis. Please contact us to request rates.
- Marina Sacht, editor
Published and distributed by TAKE 5 Publications
In May 2009, the Ladysmith Visitor Centre relocated to 411 First Avenue, a very visible central location on the north side of First Avenue just off the corner of Roberts Street.Highlighting the new location was Tourism BC awarding full VIC status designation in mid June. Coupled with highway signage highlighting the Tourism BC yellow "I" directing visitors off the highway onto Ladysmith's main street has resulted in a very busy summer catering to visitors in the new Centre. Administrators Melody Smythies, Jacquie Chellew assisted by students Lauren Smythies, Caitlin Malli aced the Tourism BC training prerequisite equipping the girls with knowledge to better assist visitor needs.
Tourism BC qualifies full VIC status based on exceeding 3 parties per hour during July, August & September. Ladysmith's Centre has accomplished that and averaged 4 parties per hour exceeding the minimum by a 25% cushion. May & June had 1,000 visitors, July 1,319, August 1,953 and September is on track to surpass 750 well above last years totals. Visitor origins in 2009 were led by local BC residents followed by European guests, Alberta placing third.
- Rob Waters, Tourism Advisory Committee
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Info Centre
250-245-2112
Extension Mine Disaster
Remembering 100 Years
A hundred years ago, on Oct 5, 1909 our community was rocked to its core by a mining disaster that claimed 32 lives and destroyed countless others.
Today Ladysmith and area is marking the 100th anniversary of this tragedy, remembering the daily hardships and dangers that our pioneers endured.
Community groups have organized a number of events to remember and honour the lost miners. The Ladysmith & District Historical Society will also have a mining artefact display in the Ladysmith Archives (located back of Tim Hortons, Ladysmith) for the month of October. For more information call 250-245-0100 or www.ladysmithhistoricalsociety.org
Events Calendar:
Oct 3 12:00 - 4:00 pm Ladysmith Archives will be open with a display of mining and information about the 1909 accident
Oct 3 2pm Launch of the Book "My Father was a Coalminer" at the Source Electronic 514 1 st Ave.
Oct 3 3pm The unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the metal collage on 1st Ave., listing all the miners killed in the Oct 5, 1909 accident.
Oct 4 12:00 pm The Ladysmith Historical Society will be conducting graveside memorial tour of the graves of those killed in the accident.
Oct 4 1pm A brief tour of Morden Mine with the Friends of Morden Mine, the last tipple on the island from the early coal mining days
Oct 4 2pm Dedication of a new Regional park in Extension to make the 100 year anniversary of the accident to be followed by a display of photogaphs and a coffee social at the Extension Community Hall in Extension on Ryder St.
Oct 4 3:15pm Extension launch of the Book " My Father was a Coalminer" at the Extension Community Hall
Photo courtesy of Ladysmith Archives
Tourism Packaging Workshop
Ladysmith Tourism Advisory Committee, in partnership with Tourism Vancouver Island, is pleased to be hosting a series of workshops this fall.
The first workshop is Tourism Packaging and Product Distribution.
Are you curious about how to package your product with others? Do you want to develop marketing and promotion strategies for your product? Do you want to create key relationships with distribution partners? If so, then this workshop is for you!
The Tourism Packaging and Product Distribution workshop will provide participants with the essentials of packaging, including how to develop a packaging and marketing plan, how to build strategic alliances, how to get included in tour catalogues and much much more. This valuable one day workshop is scheduled for:
Monday Oct. 5 from 9:30 to 4:30 at Kiwi Cove Lodge, Ladysmith.
The $55.00 registration fee includes workshop materials, lunch, coffee and networking opportunities and is great value.
Ladysmith Tourism Advisory Committee is also offering 50% sponsorship for participating Ladysmith businesses as identified by a Ladysmith address. The registration fee will be discounted after registration.
To register for this workshop https://www.regonline.com/packagingworkshopladysmith. Register early as spaces are limited to 25 people.
- Carleigh Randall, Tourism Services Coordinator, Ladysmith Tourism Advisory Committee,
e. crandall@shaw.ca, p. 250.245.4399
The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is looking for a few good people...and they want to recognize them.
The Spirit of Ladysmith Community Awards recognize achievement and leadership in Ladysmith. Award categories include Entrepreneur/Business of the Year, Service Employee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year or Youth and Emergent Leader of the Year. Pick up a form or contact the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. 250-245-2112.
Ladysmith's Harbour tours
The Ladysmith Maritime Society’s regular twice-a-day harbour tours have been enjoyed by many visitors as well as locals playing tourist this summer.
The Saturday morning harbour tour which included lunch at Jimmy O's (at Page Point Marina) was very successful, giving visitors a chance to enjoy good food on the deck overlooking the marina and Ladysmith harbour.
Total passengers for June, July and August was 598. That's up from last year’s total of 546 passengers.
As well as lots of locals and Islanders, people came from all over and included Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, California, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Oregon, and Denmark.
Ladysmith Maritime Scoiety volunteers also took 8 to 10 year olds kids on a harbour boat tour from the Ladysmith Parks & Rec Summer Day Camp. They enjoyed it very much. They were thrilled to see a seal, drive the boat, splash through a wave. For many of these kids it was a real treat to get on the water.
Tour boat operators/volunteers who make these excursions so enjoyeable for visitors are: Sid Gray, Paul Notte, Bob Johns, Bert Vermaskari, Rod Sword and Rob Pinkerton. The boat operators all enjoyed the job very much.
The 5th Annual Multi Media Fine Arts Exhibition and Sale of juried works from the Island opens Oct 3-25 from 10 to 4 pm daily at the Ladysmith Waterfront Art Centre Gallery
- upper level in the Expo Legacy Building 610 Oyster Bay Dr, Ladysmith. This is the finest show of the year featuring a variety of art mediums from oils, water colours, carvings, photography and more.
The show popular with artists awards $3500 in prizes. “This is the best of the year from all over the island,” says Armando Dos Santos.
Despite funding cutbacks to the Gallery, Armando says they are expecting the level of entries to be even better than last year’s very successful show. Attendance at the Gallery has increased by 20 per cent from last year.
Opening reception is Oct. 3, 7pm. Show continues until Oct 25. Call 250-245-1252 for details. www.ladysmithwaterfrontgalery.com
Want to know what else is going on? For a complete listing of eventsTAKE 5 online or pick up a print edition.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will visit every province and territory before the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on Feb. 12 in Vancouver. Participate in the lead-up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games by joining in a community celebration or watching the Olympic Flame as it passes through.
On Oct 31 Ladysmith's Spirit of BC /Torch Relay Joint Committee is inviting the community to come celebrate. Join the celebration in downtown Ladysmith from 3pm-5pm, you'll enjoy a variety of activities. Greet the torch and cheer it along its way from 5pm-6pm. From 6pm onwards there is a variety of entertainment at the Aggie Hall including a variety of live bands. For more information contact Ladysmith Parks, Rec and Culture 250-245-6424.
Cedar will be celebrating as well from 2-7pm with the torch expected from 6-6:20pm downtown Cedar.
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The Olympic Torch is coming Oct 31. Call 250 245-6424 for more info.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay
NOW BOOKING! More maps, more photos, and more readers! The official vacation guide for the Ladysmith to Cedar area is now booking space. Call TAKE 5 at 250-245-7015 or email us.
The Olympic fame torch relay is coming to Ladysmith Oct 31. Please call 250-245-6424.
OCTOBER: $20 for 18 holes after 1pm. 250-245-5157www.cottonwoodgolfcourse.com
NOW BOOKING AD SPACE FOR THE 2010 GUIDE
PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE OCT TAKE 5.
NOW BOOKING AD SPACE FOR NOV/09
WATCH FOR THE ENTERPRISE! Coming this fall...Your Community Profile and Economic Update. It's all about your business.
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