By Ian Holmes

Hotel construction underway on Stz’uminus First Nation near Ladysmith

Jun 2, 2017 | 6:43 AM

LADYSMITH — Construction has started on a large hotel just north of Ladysmith, which will hopefully anchor large-scale development plans by Stz’uminus First Nation.

The band’s Oyster Bay Development (OBD) now has an 81-room hotel being built on the Trans Canada Highway near Oyster Sto’Lo Rd.

The hotel is expected to open in the spring of 2018, according to Coast Salish Development Corporation CEO Ray Gauthier, who believes locating the hotel on the high-traffic highway as opposed to the waterfront will pay off for both parties.

“We see it as a positive, it compliments the Tim Hortons and the Esso that we have here, it brings traffic to the area and ultimately that will then have a downstream effect to the other commercial opportunities we’re trying to create in the area.”

Gauthier attended a community celebration on Thursday, June 1, hosted by Stz’uminus and OBD, to recognize those who have helped get the ambitious land development plans off the ground.

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He told NanaimoNewsNOW other plans are on the horizon.

“Conceptually at this point the population at this area…will be about 1,200 people, on top of that we’re probably going to add about 200,000 sq/ft of commercial retail space.”

He anticipated it will take 10-years to build out 65 acres of land, which includes plans upward of 400 assisted living units and residential development. Gauthier expected the assisted living plans across the highway behind the A&W restaurant would become a reality within the next year-and-a-half.

“We’re going to strategically pick partners that make sense for us to have based on where we at at in the business growth cycle.”

Stz’uminus Chief John Elliot told the assembled crowd they are aiming to create a healthy, sustainable future for their members and the entire region.

“We’re very new at this but we’re proud to be part of building it with you and having those opportunities in the future.”

Former Aboriginal Affairs minister John Duncan, who also attended the event, was singled-out by Chief Elliot for helping to guide Stz’uminus in forging a positive economic future.

“They’ve developed a very strong vision,” Duncan said. “They got the community to embrace the vision that they found a way to successfully separate the band politics from their economic development initiative.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes