A tribute now stands at Transfer Beach in honour of former Ladysmith mayor Kathleen “Kay” Grouhel, whose vision helped transform the waterfront into the community gathering place it is today.
The Town of Ladysmith hosted a public dedication ceremony on Oct. 2, unveiling the commemorative display and celebrating Grouhel’s legacy. Many members of Grouhel’s family were in attendance, with her eldest granddaughter, Lee McKim, travelling from her home in Iowa for the event.
“The same determination and kindness that made her a strong mayor are the qualities that shaped us as a family,” McKim told the crowd. “Her legacy doesn't just live on in the community she served, but also in each and every one of us who carries her forward as an example of love, strength and perseverance.”
The tribute includes two interpretive plaques. The first features a biography of Grouhel written by Tanya Neal. The other displays Shelley A. Leedahl’s poem, “Gratitude”. Earlier this year, the town invited residents of Ladysmith and the Stz’uminus First Nation to submit poems recognizing Grouhel’s work. The winning poem by Leedahl was chosen by the town’s selection committee.
Grouhel served as mayor from 1964 to 1975 and was the first woman elected to the position in Ladysmith. She became the first woman president of the Union of BC Municipalities in 1974. During her tenure, she led several major infrastructure projects and played a pivotal role in the creation of Transfer Beach Park by negotiating land purchases with Canadian Collieries and Canadian Pacific.
Dubbed ‘Concrete Kay’ for her efforts to redesign downtown sidewalks to improve appearance and increase pedestrian safety, Grouhel led many key Ladysmith projects including public works upgrades, a new fire hall and Dogwood plantings.
“Part of our idea was to make sure we commemorated Kay in concrete,” Ladysmith council member Tricia McKay said in her remarks. “So the planter in between the two plaques has the main line from the poem. Even if a person doesn't come and read the entire poem, they'll read the line and they'll recognize the importance.”
Mayor Deena Beeston, the second woman elected to lead Ladysmith, shared personal memories of Grouhel.
“She was the driving force behind Transfer Beach,” said Beeston. “We would not have this park (which is basically where I spent the majority of my youth) to grow up in if she had not had the vision, the drive and the determination to not only see it but do it. She didn't let anything stop her. When something came up, she found a way around it.”
In her poem, Leedahl evokes the sights and sounds of Transfer Beach across generations: “ice cream cones dripping onto a child or grandmother’s hand,” and “the symphony of spray park splashes and playground laughter.” The poem closes with a direct expression of appreciation, the line stamped on the planter: “Thanks to you, Kay, Transfer Beach Park is an oasis for everyone.”
Leedahl, a professional writer with 13 published books, moved to Ladysmith in 2014 and counts Transfer Beach among her personal touchstones.
“Transfer Beach Park means so much to me,” said Leedahl. “I'm a runner and I'm here all the time. I love to be on the water. I often paddle over to the island and hike around. Sometimes my partner and I come down here early in the morning and we take off our shoes, sit on a bench and 'ground'.”
Leedahl also praised the town’s commitment to the arts, noting that poetry in particular doesn’t often get recognized.
“So that’s very, very meaningful too, and I hope people are encouraged to perhaps read some more Canadian poetry.”
It was an emotional day for McKim and the rest of Grouhel’s family who see Transfer Beach as the fulfilment of Grouhel’s dream.
“You see the kids at the water park and you see the kids on the playground...this is what she wanted,” said McKim. “I’m just happy to know that this will be here for families to come and future generations. It's wonderful to know it's not something that's going away.”
