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The first inhabitants of what is now known as the Town of Ladysmith were the people of the Stz’uminus First Nation.
For thousands of years, the Stz’uminus people used Ladysmith Harbour and its environs as a rich source of fish and shellfish. The Stz’uminus established numerous fishing camps around the harbour, where they practiced traditional food gathering techniques.
The historic lifestyle of the Stz’uminus was ultimately altered forever by the arrival of Europeans, who usurped much of their territory.
In 1884, the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Grant to James Dunsmuir—owner of the Wellington Colliery Company and son of coal baron Robert Dunsmuir—privatized much of the Stz’uminus First Nation’s land and resources.
Fourteen years later, in 1898, Dunsmuir established a company town at Oyster Harbour (present day Ladysmith) to house miners working at his newly opened Extension colliery, 20 kilometres to the north.
In 1900, Dunsmuir renamed his company town Ladysmith. The name Ladysmith was chosen to honour the British lifting of the siege of Ladysmith, South Africa, during the Second Boer War in February 1900.
In the early 1900s, coal mining was the foundation of Ladysmith’s economy, with the Extension colliery serving as the region’s largest employer and driving population growth to about 3,300 by 1911. However, the work was dangerous, marked by frequent strikes, shutdowns, and deadly explosions, such as the 1909 disaster that claimed 32 lives.
As oil began to replace coal, the industry declined, and after the Great Strike of 1912–14 and the hardships of the First World War, coal never regained its former strength. By 1931, during the Great Depression, the Extension mines closed permanently, leaving the town’s economy and population in steep decline.
Relief came in 1935 when the Comox Logging and Railway Company purchased vast tracts of Douglas Fir forests west of Ladysmith. Logging operations began the following year, sparking gradual recovery and shifting the town’s economic base.
By the late 1940s, Ladysmith had become a hub for logging in the region, with operations stretching to the Nanaimo Lakes and employing as many as 700 workers, securing the community’s future in the forestry industry.
Over the years, Ladysmith’s population has steadily grown—doubling in the past fifty years—yet the town’s strong sense of community remains as vibrant as ever. This spirit comes alive through the wide range of activities hosted by local service clubs and community groups.
While logging is no longer the economic powerhouse it once was, it still plays an important role in the community. Residents deeply value the preservation of the town’s mining and logging history, while actively celebrating Ladysmith’s unique heritage and honouring the more than 5,000-year connection the Stz’uminus First Nation has with this land.
The Town of Ladysmith remains firmly committed to preserving and promoting its history while embracing new initiatives. This dedication is showcased through the Ladysmith Heritage Walks, which connect the town’s historic buildings and artifacts to the vibrant waterfront and Transfer Beach Park. In 2017, the Town’s commitment was further recognized nationally when 1st Avenue was named Canada’s Great Street by the Canadian Institute of Planners.
In 2007, the Town of Ladysmith and the Stz'uminus First Nation signed their first Community Accord, committing to build stronger relationships and work together on matters of shared interest. Since then, the two Councils have met regularly, supported by the Province’s Community to Community (C2C) program and grant funding from the Union of BC Municipalities.
This commitment was renewed in 2012 with the Naut’sa Mawt Community Accord— “working together” in the Hul’qumi’num language—which introduced new commitments, including joint education and communications, implementing joint initiatives, developing further agreements, and language that reflected a deepening spirit of respect between the two communities. That same year, the relationship was further strengthened through a Co-operation Protocol, which led to the creation of the Naut’sa Mawt Steering Committee to guide shared initiatives.
In October 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, formalizing 15 joint initiatives. These included water and sewer service agreements for Stz’uminus homes, collaborative watershed management to protect the shared drinking water supply, clean-up and expansion of Ladysmith Harbour, joint applications for funding, consultation on Ladysmith’s Official Community Plan, uniform environmental bylaws, and the inclusion of Stz’uminus heritage and culture in future projects and agreements.
The partnership has continued to grow through tangible projects. In November 2014, the two communities signed a joint water and sewer services agreement, and in 2016, a Joint Community Report was released to highlight progress on shared initiatives. Together, the Town of Ladysmith and the Stz’uminus First Nation continue to build on this strong foundation, pursuing opportunities and projects that benefit both communities while honouring their shared history and future.
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Did you know you can explore the Town's living heritage by taking one of our heritage walking tours? These self-guided tours focus on artifacts related to coal mining, forestry, rail and marine industry, and historical buildings in Ladysmith and are a great way to understand the history of our community.
Walking tour maps:
Physical copies of our tour maps are available at: