Ladysmith Harbour facts for kids
Ladysmith Harbour, once called Oyster Harbour, is a natural harbour right next to the town of Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. Long ago, this area was known as Oyster Harbour because it was used as a place where ships could load coal from the mines owned by Robert Dunsmuir in a nearby area called Extension.
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Important First Nation Lands
Ladysmith Harbour is surrounded by lands that are very important to the Stz'uminus First Nation, who are the original people of this area.
Oyster Bay Indian Reserve No. 12
Oyster Bay Indian Reserve No. 12 is one of the special areas of land set aside for the Stz'uminus First Nation. You can find it on the south side of Ladysmith Harbour, close to where the harbour begins.
Chemainus Indian Reserve No. 13
Chemainus Indian Reserve No. 13 is the largest of the lands belonging to the Stz'uminus First Nation. It is located on the outer, southwest side of the harbour, on a piece of land that sticks out into the water.
Studying the Ocean
For many years, scientists studied the water in Ladysmith Harbour to learn more about the ocean.
Collecting Ocean Data
From 1938 to 1942, and then again from 1949 to 1957, a group called the British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program collected important information from Ladysmith Harbour. Every day during these periods, they measured the temperature and saltiness of the coastal water for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. This helped them understand how the ocean was changing over time.
