Treasured Qualicum Beach lodge re-opens

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Interior view of St. Andrews Lodge, complete with historic furnishings and interpretive signage. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

History preserved

Treasured Qualicum Beach lodge re-opens

2h ago

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Society communications director Shirley Culpin said an extended fundraising and advocacy campaign, combined with numerous generous contractors, preserved an important piece of Qualicum Beach history.

“You see these protests, but the protests stop and nothing ever gets done; well, you don’t take on a group bunch of retired old geezers who are determined and stubborn. We’re there five years later, it’s done, the restoration is complete. The building is just beautiful.”

Envisioned as a community hub to be rented out by the society for smaller gatherings, the lodge was seismically upgraded following a federal grant of over $210,000.

The total restoration bill surpassed $740,000, with the lodge outfitted with accessible amenities, including a ramp.

Culpin herself vividly recalls once staying at the lodge as a young journalist in 1971.

She said St. Andrews Lodge was an institution for many repeated family getaways.

“It became a real central place for families to come and enjoy a week or two or three weeks by the ocean at not a lot of expense; it was affordable for the middle class — I think that was why there was so much loyalty and so much support for this project.”

Modest kitchen area inside the newly restored St. Andrews Lodge. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

In addition to preserving a nearly 90-year-old landmark, Culpin said restoring the lodge extends the legacy of an important family.

Sam Little was an influential architect who designed, built, and owned St. Andrews Lodge in its early years.

Culpin notes Little designed numerous local public buildings and homes, which helped define Qualicum Beach’s identity, including several notable structures, such as the original fire hall and community hall.

Culpin said Little and his daughter Elizabeth were “remarkable people” who were strong supporters of the community.

“He designed a lot of public buildings that are still in use and a lot of the homes that basically set the character of the village.”

Over the decades the lodge was open, the site evolved to include several cottages, which were torn down after the Town acquired the property in 2018.

Saturday’s public opening ceremony is a two-part event, capped off by a concert performance.

Quant and classic, St. Andrews Lodge provides a home-like feel. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Fittingly, Culpin said old-fashioned, non-tech family-friendly games will be featured heavily in the afternoon celebration.

She believes the lodge will fit a nice niche for many smaller events and meetings.

“We’re limited to a capacity of thirty, so it’s not a huge venue, but it’s perfect for smaller, more intimate gatherings, and we do have a couple of old lodge bedrooms that we’re hoping to rent to perhaps artists.”

Under immense public pressure following initial protests late in 2020, Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek reversed course at a special council meeting on Nov. 6, 2020.

“I’m sorry, I made a mistake. I should have never voted this way,” Westbroek said at the time. “When I thought about it a lot more, I felt we’re going in the wrong direction.”

St. Andrews Lodge features prominently on a yet to be developed Saahtlam Park, under Town of Qualicum Beach control. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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