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Campaign launched to revitalize historic Travellers Hotel Staff Writer
THE CHRONICLE
Canada’s Historic Places states that “the large and highly detailed Travellers Hotel building speaks to the prosperity and optimism that existed in pre-war Ladysmith,” and now, there’s a new optimism growing around the Edwardian building. The Travellers Hotel Co-operative has launched a campaign called “The Heart of Ladysmith Beats Here,” referring to the 100-year-old building that stands vacant and decaying on Ladysmith’s First Avenue. Currently owned by Mainland residents, the building is in dire need of revitalization, according to a press release. A proposal by Ladysmith resident Cathleen McMahon that the community come together and develop a co-operative has received growing support, and the process is continuing throughout the holiday season. Why a co-operative? “The opportunity to have the community own the building and be active in deciding what they want and need for entertainment, evening socialization and accommodations is vital,” McMahon said in the release. “Over the years, I have heard many stories about the Travellers Hotel and the joy it brought to the community. It seems that the place to start on revitalizing the downtown core would be to start at the beginning.” The official name of the co-op-
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
erative is the Ladysmith Hotel Cooperative. This allows it to continue to revitalize other buildings and keep the growth of the tourist and accommodations going. Ladysmith is known for its “Heritage by the Sea,” but with a large portion of the heritage buildings boarded up and standing empty, it is hard to actually see what makes up the town’s namesake, McMahon notes in the press release. McMahon moved to Ladysmith in 2008 and married a local resident just over a year and a half ago. She has become an active part of the community in a very short time. “My husband Ryan and I decided when we moved here that this was it. This is the place where we are going to live our life, retire and hopefully be laid to rest, just like the generations before us,” she said. “And if this is the place I’m going to live in for the rest of my life, then it better have everything I need to live a fulfilling adventure of music, art, theatre and culture.” The plan for the hotel in its inception is to host live entertainment in a lounge setting with set fine dining food offerings. The restaurant design team has developed a number of seasonal events, from CrabFest and OysterFest to SalmonFest and PrawnFest to showcase local seafood, and the bar would be stocked with the makings of local wineries St. Joseph’s School student Fil was part of the live nativity during the second annual Old Tyme Christmas and craft breweries. “There are so many reasons for and Candlelight Walk Friday, Dec. 6 in downtown Ladysmith. For more photos from Old Tyme Christmas, STACEY CROSSLEY See New Page 3 please turn to page 15.
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