The Ladysmith & District Historical Society has received a B.C. Government grant under the Family Day Program.

Under the Family Day Program, the B.C. Government is providing grants “for free Family Day events in communities through the BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) and the BC Museums Association (BCMA).”

Here is a link to more information about the Family Day Grant program.

Dr. Quentin Goodbody – President

Quentin is a geologist with a passion for history and heritage, and with a multicultural perspective earned from living and working for decades in various parts of the world including North America, South America, S.E. Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Quentin is very happy to have retired to Vancouver Island (a natural paradise )- and to participate in, and contribute to, the community.

Christopher Adams – LDHS Treasurer

Chris has lived in central Vancouver Island for 23 years and in the Ladysmith area for 12 years.

He has been Treasurer of LDHS for two of his three-year membership.

Though his career, Chis has worked in the banking, accounting, human resources and computer software fields in UK, USA and Canada. Now he is retired and enjoys playing pickleball and golf, reading local and European history, visiting his daughters and grandchildren, travelling and developing his garden.

James A. (Alex) Stuart, Secretary

Alex is passionate about Ladysmith as a community and its History.

Alex was Ladysmith’s youngest elected Mayor – serving two terms; a founding member of the Ladysmith Railway Historical Society; Ladysmith Tall Ships Society (now the Ladysmith Maritime Society); and a founding member of the Ladysmith Resources Centre. Alex served on the Ladysmith EDC Board and was a two-term President of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. He is currently serving the 4th year of a 9-year term on the Nanaimo Airport Board of Directors.

As a new member of the Ladysmith & District Historical Society Board, I join my fellow Directors in the excitement that comes with adopting our five-year capital plan in support of growing our historical stewardship of all things representing our rich community history. “

Mark Anderson, Director

Mark owns and operates West Coast Driver Training & Education Inc., a licensed driving school based in the Cowichan Valley. He has a long-standing interest in history and is currently the Historian and webmaster of three Masonic Lodges: Ashlar No. 3 in Nanaimo, Temple No. 33 in Duncan and St. John’s No. 21 in Ladysmith. He is also the District Education Officer for the Grand Lodge of B.C. &  Yukon District 27, which encompasses Ladysmith and the Cowichan Valley.

Shirley Blackstaff, Director

Shirley believes in the power of working together, valuing and using people’s talents and providing them with opportunities to serve our community with relevant heritage, environmental, and educational projects while having fun in the process.

Shirley has been a valued educator for 35 years, an active member of the BC Vintage Car Club with a newsletter, event and president positions. She gained 10 years of Museum experience at the BC Forest Discovery Centre.  Shirley is a working Director of Eves Provincial Park. Now in her 18th year of volunteering for Ladysmith Maritime Society, she has been a Director, designed and created the Maritime Museum, Harbour Heritage Centre, Archives, and Sea Life Centre and is the heritage coordinator who organizes events, field trips, summer student and volunteer activities. Shirley is working with the Industrial Heritage Preservation Committee towards an Interactive Heritage Centre/Museum.

Shirley finds satisfaction in creating interactive displays and writing books that share our local heritage.

At home, on a 9-acre property with her husband, Shirley enjoys creating a nature park and heritage village.

Tim Genner, Director

Tim has been an avid historian as well as an antique collector most of his life and has a great appreciation for local historical artifacts and the stories behind them.

Tim studied political science, sociology and psychology for 3 years at Langara College and SFU. He also has two levels of Family mediation from The Justice Institute Vancouver BC. Prior to his recent retirement, he was a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) counsellor sub-contracted to clients referred by WCB and ICBC.

Tim has taught Fencing and Tennis for the Vancouver parks board prior to moving to Vancouver Island approx. 27 years ago.

Tim is a member of several bird clubs and has rescued birds referred by the BCSPCA  for approximately 40 years. He has raised many emus and living on fifty acres has enabled Tim to care for crows, ravens, seagulls, owls, hawks and all species of parrots including large macaws. They have all received appropriate care and gone to good homes once healthy.

Tim is also a pilot and has built and flown his own aircraft throughout southern BC and Vancouver Island. He is the frontman and lead guitarist for a rock and blues band here on Vancouver Island.

But through all of his life, Tim has always had a passion for Museums, artifacts and the good archival work that allows us to hang on to the history that binds the members of our community past and future.

Marina Sacht, Director

Obsessed with story-telling, Sacht is a long-term member dating back years before the society incorporated – when it would meet in members’ living rooms.

Sacht has a diploma in journalism and is the editor/publisher of TAKE 5 Print & Digital media. Book publishing, video production, photography and writing are some of the experiences she brings to the board.

Prior to TAKE 5, Marina was the editor of North Shore Magazine and co-publisher of the Pacific Horse Journal.

She lives on a five-acre farm where she grows fruit trees. When she isn’t working, you can usually find her sailing in Ladysmith harbour or around the world.