Jay Smith in front of St. Andrews Lodge, which requires extensive renovations to restore it to its former glory. (St. Andrews Lodge Historical and Cultural Society)

By Ian Holmes

St. Andrews Lodge

‘We have the wind at our back:’ advocates drum up interest to preserve historic Qualicum Beach lodge

May 5, 2024 | 8:54 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — An ongoing online heritage preservation contest likely won’t result in a sizable cheque for a mid Island entrant, however the process itself is a win.

St. Andrews Lodge Historical and Cultural Society (SALHCS) is included in National Trust of Canada’s Next Great Save to gain financial support for aging St. Andrews Lodge.

A total of $65,000 is available, with $50,000 going to the entrant garnering the most votes among a dozen heritage buildings in need of restoration across Canada.

“We found out about five days ahead of time, we put an application together and we were selected as one of the finalists in the competition,” SALHCS president Jay Smith told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Voting continues online until Tuesday, May 7 at 2 p.m. pacific time, with St. Andrews Lodge in the middle of the pack with about 9,000 votes as of Sunday, May 5.

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An effective online promotional video pushed the cause, as has local media coverage.

Smith said he’s been in several local businesses lately where merchants said they’ve heard about the Next Great Save contest and have been voting for St Andrews Lodge.

“Knowing that the community supports us, the Town council supports us and have been very cooperative, it’s just good thing. We have the wind at our back with what we’re trying to do.”

Qualicum Beach Town Council reversed a 2020 decision to demolish St. Andrews Lodge following widespread opposition.

Smith said the architectural template for the lodge located on Highway. 19A was replicated in other buildings locally and across Canada.

He estimates about $150,000 more is required to fully restore the lodge, which he said would be a public use space.

“The lodge is one of the last heritage buildings that we have. The College Inn for example, a beautiful building, it’s gone. All of the other heritage buildings are gone, we’re the last one standing.”

Built in 1938, St. Andrews Lodge served as an early accommodation for the Oceanside area and fell into disrepair.

More than $200,000 in federal grant money was secured earlier this year for necessary seismic enhancements to St. Andrews Lodge.

Donations to SALHCS can be made online through the registered charity’s website by clicking here, which results in tax receipts for donors.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes