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 is exploring options to transition from its aging City Hall to a new, modern civic space—one that is more accessible, welcoming to the public, and better designed to support the needs of Council, staff, and the broader community for generations to come.
The current building has not met the Town’s needs for years, and expanding it is impractical due to its physical condition and site limitations. As a result, the Town is seeking feedback from residents on four potential options:
Options involving constructing or purchasing a facility would require a referendum to seek voter approval for borrowing funds.
Before determining whether to proceed to a referendum, the Town is launching a public engagement process to better understand which options are preferred and supported by the community. The Town has hired Ahne Studio to support community participation.
In June, the Town will be hosting two identical public open houses:
The open houses will be drop-in, come-and-go events where participants can review background information, learn about key considerations for each option, and provide feedback. Town staff and consultants will be available on-site to answer questions from participants.
“We look forward to engaging with the community about City Hall and the potential options for a new space,” says Nicholas Pescod, the Town’s Communication & Engagement Specialist.
Additional engagement opportunities, including virtual sessions and a facility tour, will be offered to interest-holder groups who may be directly impacted by the potential City Hall options.
This engagement process follows the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) conducted in 2024 regarding a new City Hall, during which more than 2,100 electors registered their opposition.
Since then, Council and staff have reflected on the outcome and determined that more in-depth public engagement is essential before any decisions are made.
“The current city hall is past its prime and floor area constraints require the town to rent or lease additional space. There are various options to address these issues and moving forward we want to make sure we get this project right so the entire community has a City Hall that will serve them for decades to come,” says Mayor Deena Beeston. “That’s why we’re committed to engaging with the public in a meaningful way to ensure we get this right once and for all.”
The Town of Ladysmith is committed to a fair, transparent, and thoughtful process that considers all perspectives and supports the best possible outcome for the community.
For more information and to stay updated on City Hall Engagement Project, please visit https://www.letstalk.ladysmith.ca/city-hall-public-engagement.
The Town of Ladysmith respectfully acknowledges that we gather and work on the unceded territory of the Stz'uminus First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.
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Media Contact Nicholas Pescod Communications & Engagement Specialist npescod@ladysmith.ca 250-268-0606