The Ladysmith Downtown Public Washroom is now open to the public. (Cole Schisler photo)

Ladysmith downtown public washroom now open

The facility will be open from dawn till dusk

  • Jun. 26, 2021 12:00 a.m.

Ladysmith’s long-awaited public washroom is now open to the public.

A small opening ceremony was held on Saturday, June 26 to mark the completion of the project. The Ladysmith Kinsmen have been hard at work raising funds and organizing efforts from various community partners to make the project a reality.

RELATED: Work has begun on the Ladysmith Downtown Public Washroom

The project arrives at the beginning of a summer season that could see limited public gatherings and an increase in tourism due to the success of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

“I’m excited about seeing so many people downtown using all the picnic tables and stuff. Now we have the full amenities with our bright and clean new washroom,” Kinsmen spokesman Duck Paterson said.

The washroom will operate from dawn till dusk, following the same schedule as other public washroom facilities in Ladysmith. Operations and maintenance of the facility will be carried out by the Town of Ladysmith.

RELATED: Downtown Public Washroom project ‘shovel ready’ thanks to FortisBC community grant

Paterson says there’s just a couple of fine-tuning pieces needed to complete on the washroom, primarily putting an awning above the custodian’s room at the back of the building.

The building is green and purple with a HardiePlank exterior to match the heritage buildings of 1st Avenue and features a prominent sign in both English and hul’qumi’num. Inside, the washroom has stainless steel appliances and touchless surfaces to help keep things as clean as possible.

Paterson thanked the various community partners who made the project come together:

David Stalker Excavating

FMI

Fortis BC

Ladysmith & District Credit Union

Mike Richardson Construction

Wiersma Masonry Ltd.

CE Spray Foam

Spyder Graphix

AYPQ Architecture

Heart Lake Roofing

Eagle’s Aerie 2101

Cedar Grove Roofing Supply

Rotary Club of Ladysmith

49th Parallel Printers

Ladysmith Lions Club

Home Hardware Ladysmith

Sawmill Direct

Lewkowich Engineering Associates

Wolseley Inc.

Benjamin Moore Paints

Goodman Plumbing

Ladysmith Downtown Business Association

Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce

Umbrella Welding

Ladysmith Maritime Society

Mosiac Forest Management

Gord Carlson

Bedrock Concrete

Howie Davis

Bill & Deb Drysdale

Kathleen Oliver Stroman

Ladysmith Chronicle