The Ladysmith Archives News

A great place to dig into history is at the Ladysmith Archives.

The Ladysmith Archives provides free, public access to thousands of documents related to the history of the Ladysmith area.  Their holdings include newspapers, photographs, maps, letters, ledgers and many other types of records.

Successful fundraising from the Ladysmith Archives garage sale raised $1,250 and a great day at Arts on the Avenue, added $352. Proceeds are being used to purchase a new microfilm reader/printer so that researchers can easily view historic Ladysmith newspapers. The machine will arrive in January 2013.

The Ladysmith Archives office is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Unit B, 1115 First Avenue, Ladysmith (below Tim Horton’s)
Call for further information 250-245-0100.

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Recycling used cooking oil in Ladysmith & Nanaimo

Do you live in Ladysmith? Do you use cooking oil? Recycling used cooking oil is now possible in Ladysmith!

Starting today, Friday November 23rd, at 2pm Mayor Hutchins will join Cowichan Energy Alternatives in officially opening the waste vegetable oil collection bin at the Public Works Building at 330 – 6th Avenue in Ladysmith.

The Capital Regional District reports that:

“each year almost one million kilograms of fats, oils and grease (FOG) flow down the drains of homes throughout the Capital Region.”

Make sure when you deposit your used cooking oil it is in non‐breakable containers with lids that stay on when dropped into the bin!  So next time keep a yogurt container under your sink and when it fills up with used oil, take it to a better place!

If you live in Nanaimo, reycling used cooking oil is possible at Nanaimo Recycling Exchange at 2477 Kenworth Road.

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Remembrance Day – Vancouver Island Military Museum

Pause and remember those who gave us peace and freedom this Sunday, November 11th.  Stop for two minutes at the 11th hour and reflect on the following:

There is a story of a sixteen year old who was about to enlist for the First World War. At the orphanage where he lived, the school master told him he would show him how to use a gun. “We’ll go shooting some rabbits.” The teenager replied that he’d rather not, having a pet rabbit himself. The schoolmaster shook his head and replied, “you’re going to have to do a lot more than that, when you go to war.”

Two years later, the young man received a piece of paper commending him for showing valiant effort during 48 hours of continuous action. He was the only one in his unit to survive.

warimage Remembrance Day   Vancouver Island Military Museum

painting by unknown soldier WWI

This painting was by a soldier known only by his initials, J.M. He was a member of the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery and probably witnessed countless scenes like the one above during the first World War.

November 11th is a day to renew our memories of our ancestors’ sacrifices during both world wars, the Korean war and conflicts and peace-keeping missions since then. It is also a day that we should remind ourselves of the hard-fought democracy we have here in Canada. Let’s hold the torch high.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead:
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote those words on the battlefront at Ypres, Belgium in 1915.

Remembrance Day Parades and ceremonies are being held in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Ladysmith, and Qualicum Beach on Sunday, November 11th starting at 10:15am.  If you are in Nanaimo drop into the Vancouver Island Military Museum downtown next to the Port Place Mall which will be open after the service.

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Household Garbage Disposal

Housegarbage Household Garbage Disposal

Household garbage disposal

Do islanders have a household garbage disposal problem?

Household garbage pickup is every two weeks in the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Some people produce so much garbage they dump it everywhere, including parks and highway rest stops.

Should there be a diaper drop off service somewhere?

 

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Yard waste removal on the mid island

Have you started your autumn gardening? What to do with your yard waste and garden clippings? Depending on where you live in the mid Vancouver Island area your options for yard waste removal are:

Parksville & Qualicum: both areas offer curbside wood chipping service:

The City of Parksville has a wood chipping program that will take place from October 10- 25, 2012 between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm weekdays. Call Enginering Department 250-248-5412.

The Town of Qualicum has a wood chipper that will begin to pick up material  from October 15 – November 26, 2012 on the Monday of your designated garbage week. Call Public Works 250-752-6921.

If you are in the following areas on the mid Vancouver Island:

Nanaimo/ Regional District of Nanaimo/ Ladysmith/ Lantzville/ Parksville/ Qualicum/ Gabriola Island

then you have to take your yard waste and garden clippings to the following:

Nanaimo Recycle Exchange  The new fee scale is $5 car or van,  $7 small truck or trailer,  $10 regular truck or trailer.   Prices refer to back only, not seating area. Overloads will bump you up into the next category. Their yard waste is now composted.

Regional District of Nanaimo Landfill:  1105 Cedar Road, Cedar
a $5.00 fee for the first 100kg of yard & garden waste.

Church Road Transfer Station: 860 Church Road, Parksville
a $5.00 fee for the first 50kg of yard waste and then 50cents for every 10kg after

Porter Wood Recycling:  911 Church Road, Parksville
a $5.00 fee for the first 130kg of yard waste and then 4cents for every 1kg after

Don’t be cheap and “lose it” in the bush somewhere. The spread of invasive plants is a huge problem plus dumping is illegal and you will face a fine.

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Terry Fox Run & Great Lake Walk

Are you looking to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise this weekend? Best of all you can raise money for charity at the same time.

This Sunday Sept 16, 2012 Ladysmith, Nanaimo, and Parksville will hold the Terry Fox Run for cancer research. Come on out and walk, roll or stroll for this great cause and help keep Terry’s dream alive of a world free from cancer.

Ladysmith:  Frank Jameson Community Centre 810-6th Ave.
Registration: 10am; Start: 11am-noon; Event Close:1pm
10km, 5km, 2km loops; Suitable for bikes, wheelchairs, strollers and rollerblades. Dogs on leash are welcome.

Nanaimo:  Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012 Nanaimo Aquatic Centre; (741 Third Street)
Registration: 9:00am, Run Start: 10:00am, Event Close: noon
2 km, 5km, 10 km; Suitable for bikes, wheelchairs, strollers and rollerblades. Dogs on  leash are welcome. This will be a family event with face painting, balloon animals, tempory tattoos, music with DJ All Good, and even some pre and post run massages.

Parksville: Rathtrevor Provincial Park, Picnic Shelter #2
Registration: 9am, Run Start: 10am, Event Close: 12 noon. 10km, 5km, 3.3km routes (No entry fee and no minimum pledge)  Suitable for bikes and wheelchairs/strollers, not suitable for rollerblades. Dogs on leash welcome. Volunteers are needed please call 250-248-3252.  You can register and pledge for the Terry Fox Run at www.terryfox.org.

If you would like a real challenge try The Great Lake Walk which is a 56 km walk or run around beautiful Cowichan Lake. This walking/running event takes place on Saturday, September 15th, 2012.

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