LADYSMITH OVERVIEW
Growing up on Vancouver Island, I drove by Ladysmith dozens upon dozens of times over the years, yet honestly never really paid it much attention. At the time it just seemed like a sleepy little community of mostly retirees, and apart from their annual Christmas lights display, didn’t really have much of a claim to fame. How wrong I was though, as over the past couple years Ladysmith has quickly become perhaps my favorite small town on all of Vancouver Island and if I had the opportunity to, I’d live there in a heartbeat.
Ladysmith as a community is largely defined by its geography, being perched on a steep and narrow strip of land between the Strait of Juan De Fuca and the rolling hills of the island’s interior, it’s defined as much by its verticality as it is by its people. This means a great many of the homes in Ladysmith feature some absolutely breathtaking views, and as someone who can contentedly soak in a scenic vista for literally hours upon hours, the views Ladysmith offers are tremendously appealing.
The heart of Ladysmith is undoubtedly its charming “Main street” called 1st Avenue, that while only a few short blocks long, is a huge part of the local community. 1st Avenue features some charming local shops, a fantastic bakery and a number of well loved restaurants and cafes and is an excellent place to while away a sunny afternoon. I’ve spent a few such afternoons on 1st Avenue hanging out and shooting pictures, and watched time and time again as locals out for their daily shopping or just out for an afternoon stroll stopped to greet one another with a friendly smile for a passing chat, and I came away from these experiences with a strong sense of how close-knit the Ladysmith community is.