The St. Andrews Lodge Historical and Cultural Society has signed a lease agreement with the Town of Qualicum Beach.
The society now has the keys to the building, eight months after intervening to prevent the lodge’s demolition, according to Shirley Culpin, the society’s media relations person.
“We are so delighted to have reached this crossroad, which allows us to get to work restoring the lodge and bringing it back to life,” said Jay Smith, society president. “We have more than 100 volunteers who are keen to help.”
The lodge dates back to 1938 and hearkens back to a time when the town was establishing itself as a vacation destination for people from around the world, including celebrities like John Wayne, the King of Siam, Ava Gardiner, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, according to the society.
Further information on the society and the lodge can be found online at savethelodge.ca or on Facebook at St. Andrews Lodge Historical and Cultural Society.
