Population: (2006) 7,538 people
Location: Latitude / Longitude - 48:59:43 N. / 123:48:57 W.
Elevation: 131 feet [40 m] above sea level
Native Bands: Lyackson (Ladysmith) First Nation
Name Place and History:
•Ladysmith, British Columbia was named after Ladysmith, South Africa, which was named after "Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith" also known as "Lady Smith", the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, the Governor of the Cape Colony. Robert Dunsmuir thought this would be a fitting tribute at the conclusion of the Boer War. In addition to commemorating the end of the war by naming his town after Ladysmith, Dunsmuir also chose to name the streets of the community after generals who fought victoriously in the Boer War. Included in this honour are Generals Buller, Kitchener, Baden-Powell, Methuen and Symonds.
•Ladysmith was founded by James Dunsmuir, Robert's son, about 1898, a year after he built shipping wharves for loading coal at Oyster Harbour. Dunsmuir, owner of coal mines in the Nanaimo area, needed a location to house the families of his miners. He chose to build the community at Oyster Harbour, some twenty miles south of his Extension British Columbia mines. Many buildings were moved from Extension and Wellington by rail and by oxen.
•Ore was brought via the E&N Railway to the smelter at Ladysmith, which ran between 1902 and 1912.
•In 1913, miners began a strike which lasted over a year. It was a bitter one with much damage to machinery and houses, and much animosity between strikers and non-strikers. Many people and business left to look for better opportunities.
•The Town of Ladysmith was incorporated June 3, 1904.
•In 1933, a violent windstorm blew down thousands of trees in the hills behind Ladysmith. Three years later the Comox Logging and Railway Company started logging and shipping logs through the harbour. This was Ladysmith's mainstay until about 1986. Today, there are still two sawmills exporting logs through the harbour.
•The history of Ladysmith has been rather tame. Other than mine disasters life was fairly quiet.
•Ladysmith, whose "Heritage by the Sea" has caused it to become a thriving tourist stop, as the history of Ladysmith has always been tied closely to its seaside location.

Attractions:
•Festival of Lights
Ladysmith is known for its annual "Festival of Lights" in which the entire commercial sector and many homes are decorated with strings of colourful lights for six weeks in celebration of Christmas, from the last Thursday of November until the New Year. Held in historic downtown, the event displays thousands of lights throughout the town after official light-up ceremonies. This major event includes a parade, spaghetti dinner and evening fireworks.
•Ladysmith Museum
Very interesting and unique in that it is housed in an old hotel, in a restored saloon. The museum displays historic artifacts from Ladysmith's colorful mining, logging and railroad past.
•Ladysmith Maritime Museum
This museum is a floating building located on the docks. It proudly displays artefacts from Ladysmiths maritime ore, coal, and log shipping past.
•Ladysmith Golf Course
Ladysmith Golf Club
380 Davis Road
Ladysmith, BC V9G 1T9
(250) 245-7313
•Water activities
Boating, kayaking, fishing charters.
•Shopping
Unique gift shops, galleries housing works by local artisans, artists, goldsmiths, as well as native work, antiques & collectible shops.
•Restaurants
First Class and casual dining, pubs.
•Eco Touring
Ladysmith's backcountry has much to offer when it comes to eco activities like mountain biking, scuba diving, kayaking, hiking, swimming and marine bird wildlife viewing.
•There are a number of B&B's and RV resorts in the area.
•Marinas
•Ivy Green Marina
1335 Rocky Creek Road
Ladysmith, BC
250) 245-4521
•Page Point Marina
4760 Brenton-Page Road
Ladysmith, BC
(250) 245-2312

Community: • Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Information Centre Box 598 Ladysmith, BC, V9G 1A4 (250) 245-2112

Parks and Trails: •Trans Canada Trail: Holland Creek Trail is an 8 km trail that is part of the world famous Trans Canada Trail. Visitors to this quiet, rainforest path should keep their eyes open for a variety of native wildlife. Access: The trail winds from the Island Highway west to the hydro lines, passing through the centre of Ladysmith. •Transfer Beach Park: A public beach area on downtown waterfront with a picnic shelter, concession stand, picnic tables, a children's park, outdoor adventure opportunities and sand volleyball courts. Transportation: •BC Ferries Routes and Schedules •VIA Rail Train Station •Island Coach Lines •Nanaimo Airport, Cassidy Hospitals: Serving Ladysmith BC •Ladysmith Community Health Centre: 1111 4th Avenue Box 10 Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A1 (250) 739-5777 Cities, Towns, Villages & Communities near Ladysmith: •Cassidy, BC •Cedar, BC •Crofton, BC •Duncan, BC •Gabriola, BC •Ganges, BC •Chemainus, BC •Maple Bay, BC •Nanaimo, BC •Thetis Island, BC •Westholme, BC •Vesuvius, BC •Yellow Point, BC