Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Tel: 250-245-6400 Fax: 250-245-6411 Email: info@ladysmith.ca
Ladysmith, BC — The Town of Ladysmith will officially unveil the newly renovated Machine Shop at 610 Oyster Bay Drive during a public opening ceremony on Friday, April 10 at 11:00 am.
The ceremony marks the completion of the Heart of the Hub – Phase 2 project and the re-opening of the Machine Shop to the public. The event will include remarks from Mayor Deena Beeston and Ladysmith-Oceanside MLA, Stephanie Higginson, as well as light refreshments.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see the Machine Shop available for our community once again," says Mayor Deena Beeston. "This historic space has long been part of Ladysmith’s story, and seeing it reactivated once again as a creative space for arts and culture is a profoundly positive step forward to realizing our Waterfront Area Plan.”
This phase of the Ladysmith Arts and Heritage Hub plan, called Heart of the Hub – Phase 2, was completed at a total cost of over $4,289,809 with $1,837,500 contributed by the Government of Canada and $1,470,000 by the Province of British Columbia through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure. In addition, $299,200 was provided by Island Coastal Economic Trust. The remaining amount was covered by the Town of Ladysmith.
“Arts and culture spaces are the heart of strong, inclusive communities,” says the Honourable Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors). “With modern facilities and welcoming spaces, the Heart of the Hub brings Ladysmith residents together to learn, connect, and grow for years to come."
“I know that people throughout Ladysmith have been eagerly anticipating this revitalization to a cherished community space on the upper waterfront,” says Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “We’re proud to work with local and federal partners on projects like these which improve people’s quality of life and foster strong, dynamic, inclusive communities.”
"The Heart of the Hub shows how investing in creative spaces drives small business growth, attracts tourism, and builds a more resilient economy in Ladysmith. This is exactly the kind of partnership our Trust is proud to make,” says Brodie Guy, CEO, Island Coastal Economic Trust.
The newly renovated Machine Shop features a 600 sq.ft. multipurpose room (called The Junction) and a 400 sq.ft. meeting room (called Whistle Stop), which are both available for community rentals. There are also two artist studios that are available for long-term lease, as well as an indoor display space, an accessible concrete boardwalk in front of the building, and an outdoor performance area.
In 2019, the Machine Shop was closed due to safety concerns. At the time of its closure, it housed the Ladysmith Waterfront Art Gallery, Harbour Heritage Centre, as well as other local non-profits and artists.
Recently, the Town of Ladysmith signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Arts Council of Ladysmith and District, who operated the Waterfront Art Gallery, to help support their return to the building.
"We are absolutely thrilled at the prospect of seeing the Waterfront Art Gallery return to its historic home. This building was once a vibrant hub for artists and creatives, and its reopening will breathe new life into the area, inspiring creativity and community connection once again,” says Chris Barfoot, the Town’s director of Parks, Recreation & Culture.
About the Machine Shop
Originally constructed in 1943 by the Comox Logging & Railway Company, the Machine Shop was built to maintain locomotives, railcars, and equipment supporting logging operations in the region. At the time of its completion in 1945, the Machine Shop was known as the Comox Logging & Railway Shops Building. Considered a state-of-the-art facility for Ladysmith, it was designed to hold up to seven logging trucks in the main bay and two railway cars in the bays at the north end of the building.
In 1986, the Town of Ladysmith acquired the Machine Shop. Following a series of upgrades to the buildings in the 1990s, the Town established the Machine Shop and the surrounding buildings as a business incubator, leasing space to local entrepreneurs at affordable rates to help them grow and eventually transition into permanent commercial or industrial locations.
In 2019, the Town received $1.8 million in federal Gas Tax funding to carry out Heart of the Hub – Phase 1, which included seismic and structural upgrades to the building. About the Arts & Heritage Hub
The Arts & Heritage Hub is a conceptual plan that encompasses a 45,000 sq.ft. area along Oyster Bay Drive. It is comprised of five existing heritage buildings—the Machine Shop, the Car Shop, the First Aid building, the Roundhouse and the Lunchroom—and five new buildings that would be available for commercial and industrial use.
The overall goal of the hub is to transform this long-dormant space into a vibrant destination that fuses arts, culture, and heritage together in a manner that is unique to Ladysmith.
The Arts & Heritage Hub, which has an estimated cost of more than $25 million, is a key part of Ladysmith's Waterfront Area Plan and is identified as a priority project within the Ladysmith Economic Development Strategy.
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Media Contact Nicholas Pescod Communications & Engagement Specialist npescod@ladysmith.ca 250-268-0606 Related Media A photo showing the exterior of the recently renovated Machine Shop. (Town of Ladysmith)