The St. Andrews Lodge Historical and Cultural Society (SALHACS) has been awarded a federal Arts and Heritage Legacy Grant in the amount of $211,318.
The grant that was applied for to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of St. Andrews Lodge owner Elizabeth Little, will go towards upgrading and restoring the historic building located on the grounds of the waterfront Saahtlam Park on the Old Island Highway.
Little, the first person declared Freeman of the Town, and her family left a huge legacy of community commitment that contributed to the success of Qualicum Beach as a tourist destination.
Society president Jay Smith expressed great delight at the news.
“Subsequent to initially working closely with a local contingent of experts headed by Walter Hoogland, we have been engaged more recently with two engineers and an architect, all of whom specialize in heritage buildings,” said Smith. “Their expertise in protecting heritage values in older structures has been invaluable in obtaining this grant, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with them and the Town of Qualicum Beach in the restoration and preservation of this beloved building.”
Smith also pointed out that without the ongoing support of the society’s many volunteers, getting to this point would not have been possible.
READ MORE: Qualicum First Nation gifts town with name ‘Saahtlam’ for former St. Andrews Park
“We have a very strong, very committed board of directors that works well together,” Smith said. “And the many folks who step up to the plate when there are tasks and projects on the go are an invaluable asset to the society. We count ourselves fortunate to have such strong support from so many sectors and appreciate all the hard work and commitment by so many”.
Opened in 1938, St. Andrews Lodge was operated along with the Glen Cottages for more than 80 years by the Little family. The property was one of the cornerstones of the tourism industry in Qualicum Beach, attracting middle class families from near and far for their annual summer vacations. Many of those pilgrimages progressed through several generations, to the point where descendants of some of the original Lodge guests continue to enjoy annual vacations in Qualicum Beach to this day.
The property was purchased by the town in 2018 with the intention of turning it into a park. In 2022, the Qualicum First Nation gave the waterfront park the name ‘Saahtlam’ which refers to the green at the mouth of the river.
The society was formed in 2021 with the goal of preserving the lodge. It has been raising funds to upgrade the building to today’s safety standards.
Anyone wishing to help the society can go online for more information and to make a donation at https://www.salhacs.ca/donations.html
— NEWS Staff
