The head of a society that runs a community marina in Ladysmith says he’s encouraged by a meeting this week with the Stz’uminus First Nation and Town of Ladysmith about the future of the water lot in the harbour.
The provincially owned water lot in Ladysmith Harbour where the community marina is located is set to be transferred to the Stz’uminus Nation.
The lot is currently leased to the town, which has an agreement with the society to operate the 38-year-old Ladysmith Community Marina.
Kelly Daniels, president of the Ladysmith Maritime Society, said Thursday that this week’s meeting with Chief John Elliot and Mayor Aaron Stone at the First Nation’s office wrapped up with a “commitment to start talking.”
“It was, for us, a good sign.”
Transferring the water lot to the nation is part of a broader reconciliation agreement the nation signed with the province.
But the transfer has led to questions about the future of the marina, which offers annual moorage, short-term moorage for about 3,000 visiting vessels per year, and home base for a dozen live-aboards. The society’s assets, including docks, are estimated to total $5 million.
Ladysmith has given the society notice to vacate the marina by year’s end, but the society is hoping to reach an agreement with the First Nation that would allow it to continue managing the facility.
A public meeting called by the society to provide an update on the situation attracted more than 250 people in Ladysmith on Wednesday evening, Daniels said.
Annual agreements for marina boaters come up for renewal at this time of year, and mariners have been signing up with the society for another year, Daniels said. It’s not clear what will happen with those boater agreements once the water lot changes hands.
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