Notices

On Tuesday 2nd July, the B.C Conservative Party leader, John Rustad met with members and supporters of Ladysmith Maritime Society to show support and listen to concerns about the recent transfer of the Ladysmith Community Marina, and ongoing dispute about assets, such as the Welcome Centre.

“People have put decades into the society … and for it to transfer over like this without the engagement or discussion, to me that’s just the wrong way that things should be done,” Rustad said.

For coverage of the meeting which attracted dozens of supporters, please follow the links:

Global News.

Ladysmith and Chemanius Chronicle

The Jill Bennett Show

The Ladysmith Maritime Society has been a fixture of Ladysmith’s waterfront for nearly four decades. In addition to successfully operating the community marina, bringing thousands of people together at the waterfront each year for community events, LMS has a history investing back into the infrastructure that makes maintaining our heritage and providing space to boaters possible.

That is until the Government of British Columbia, supported by the Town of Ladysmith, decided to give away the marina that LMS developed and maintained, along with 90% of the organization’s revenue without compensation, in the name of reconciliation.

We all agree that the aims of reconciliation are important and believe that for a government who appears as committed to this course as the BC NDP are, that they would have thought through a fair and sensible approach to ensure they aren’t sinking community organizations and others in their wake.

It is naive to believe that the government can act in a way that takes millions of dollars from a vital community organization like LMS to ‘create’ economic opportunities as part of reconciliation without hurting the cause of reconciliation or creating fear among British Columbians about what further agreements could mean for them.

The erosion of public trust is in the hands of Government Ministers who think they can hide from the problems they have created by refusing to engage with non-indigenous stakeholders whose futures they are negotiating before, during or after such agreements are being made.

LMS supports reconciliation and acknowledges the Crown’s relationship with British Columbia’s indigenous people has been marked by  injustice, and has caused trauma and hardship. If we as a society are to move on from the damage of these actions, it is important that the government learn its lessons and not continue to divide communities and cause hardship, now under the banner of reconciliation.

Just last year, the Province was ordered to pay a private hydro electric developer over $10 million dollars for a project rejection that was determined by the courts to be a “misfeasance of government representatives”, which is how the court ruling summed up a rejection of a project made for political reasons that aligned with the province’s reconciliation agenda.

The concerns regarding the Pender Harbour Dock Management Plan and the failed Land Act changes highlight a province that is fearful of how this government is handling these issues.

In our case, after the damage was done, LMS asked the government for compensation for our assets, which they have confiscated and given away. We’ve asked for financial support to enable us to seek a new home on the Ladysmith waterfront, help with permitting and funding to start again, and we’ve asked for help in storing our boathouses and heritage boats in the interim.

We submitted a plan to the government and opposition parties with a path to resolving these issues. Despite months of opportunity, we’ve heard nothing but silence from Ministers and the Premier. Not one BC NDP MLA has agreed to speak with us.

The silence by the BC NDP on this issue is deafening. As they continue to refuse to hear the voices of those they’ve harmed with their reconciliation policies, they risk not only undermining public support in the process, but also losing support to political parties that are willing to engage with all affected stakeholders.

LMS remains committed to working collaboratively towards a just future for all British Columbians,but cannot do that alone. We are calling on the government to live up to its  responsibilities and engage with us directly to address the damage caused by their actions.

Ultimately, if the BC NDP choose to continue to hide, it will be no surprise when concerned citizens across British Columbians stand together to take on this unjust approach as a united front.

Ladysmith Maritime Society

Please contact Richard Wiefelspuett, Executive Director for further comments and information.

Ladysmith Maritime Society has caught the attention of our national media.

Richard Wiefelspuett, our executive director was interviewed by the CBC’s Claire Palmer on Sunday in the marina parking lot with the familiar background of our former community marina.

The interview aired on CBC Vancouver TV during the 11 pm news.

Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbEacKeDdHM

The Ladysmith segment starts at 11:17 (minutes: seconds) into the clip.

There was also a brief segment in French on IcI-Colombie-Britannique CBC radio this morning.

Here’s the link:

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2048762/marina-ladysmith-gestion-bataille-societe

Thank you to all of you who worked hard to bring our story to the media.

After the unsuccessful injunction hearing in late December 2023, LMS has been strategizing for a future without the operation of its Ladysmith Community Marina program. Encouraged by the Town Council Resolution on December 5, 2023, and the subsequent Rise and Report on January 23, 2024, LMS has formulated plans to maintain a presence in the marina, focusing on the continued operation of the Museum and the Heritage Boatshed (commonly known as the “Bill Adair Shed”).

The Town’s resolution has allocated moorage costs for these two boathouses and an additional 20 feet of dock space, presumably facilitating public access to customary maritime exhibitions, and events. However, an outstanding disagreement persists regarding the ownership of LMS’ boathouses and the entire marina infrastructure, prompting recent communications wherein LMS has expressed its commitment to finding an amicable solution with the new operators of the marina, Coast Salish Development Corporation (CSDC), as well as with the Town of Ladysmith, and the Province.

Despite the encouraging Town resolution, CSDC has not yet agreed to LMS’ continued presence in the marina. “This ongoing ambiguity necessitates contingency preparations for a worst-case scenario, where LMS may be forced to remove all maritime assets from the marina,” explains Marnie Craig, President of LMS. “Additionally, alternative venues for LMS’ annual festivals and events, typically held in the marina, are under consideration.”

In the short term, LMS remains focused on preparing for BC Heritage Day on February 19, 2024. Due to the current uncertainty surrounding marina access, the event is planned to take place at LMS’ on-land venue, the boat restoration shop (“Car Shop”), with Harbour tours departing from the Ladysmith Yacht Club at the Ladysmith Marina instead. Simultaneously, preparations continue for the potential reopening of the museum, which LMS is ready to swiftly move ahead with upon receiving approval from CSDC.

LMS emphasizes its unwavering commitment to cooperation and collaboration with CSDC. As the situation evolves, LMS remains open to constructive dialogue, cooperative solutions, and a shared dedication to the well-being of Ladysmith harbor.

Further details about BC Heritage Day will be released in the coming days.

For additional information, please contact:

Marnie Craig, President

Ladysmith Maritime Society

Email: admin@lmsmarina.ca

The Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS) is currently facing a challenging situation where it’s rights to operate the Ladysmith Community Marina until 2029 are being disputed by various entities, including the Province of BC, the Town of Ladysmith, DL2016 Holding Corporation and the Coast Salish Development Corporation.

The Province prematurely cancelled the Head Lease for the water lot on which LMS has operated the Ladysmith Community Marina since 1999, claiming the entire Marina infrastructure as it’s own. Subsequently, a new Head Lease was issued to an entitly controlled by Coast Salish Development Corporation, resulting in what is essentially an expropriation of LMS’ marina assets valued at approximately $6 million. This has also led to a loss of the Society’s primary funding stream of about $1 million per annum from marina operations.

As a consequence, LMS is compelled to seek new moorage (at cost) for it’s unique floating museum, several boathouses and a fleet of award winning heritage boats. Despite the impact of these actions by the Province and the Town, LMS has not received any compensation.

Attempts to find a negotiated solution have, so far, been unsuccessful, but efforts are ongoing, and we hope to find some kind of mutually acceptable solution to meet everyone’s interests. However, in the interim, we are left with legal avenues as the only recourse to uphold LMS’ rights. In an attempt to halt the lease transfer and maintain the status quo, LMS applied for an interlocutory injunction with the BC Supreme Court, but unfortunately, the court ruled against it based on the “balance of convenience.”

We are reaching out to you to support the Ladysmith Maritime Society in it’s legal pursuit of compensation for the loss of marina assets and income. The Society has incurred significant legal costs and your donations will contribute to the ongoing fight for LMS’ rights. Thank you.