Making the most of the village’s perfect backdrop of picturesque ocean views, residents in Lund are in the process of reinventing the community as a destination for weddings.
As Tla’amin Nation member Anthony George explained, residents are working hard to open the village’s stunning natural beauty and indigenous history to a worldwide clientele of couples seeking a unique destination.
“We’re diversifying right now; in the last few years we’ve been having vision sessions with our elders, our elected officials.” said George. “We’re organizing culture tours where guests can experience a canoe ride over on the Copeland Islands, where there would be a traditional feast, or something like that, awaiting them on the shore.”
George described the venture as a delicate balance between “cultural awareness” and “sensitivity.”
In particular, the Historic Lund Hotel, which Tla’amin Nation owns, is in the process of revamping itself as a venue for couples seeking a culturally authentic experience.
In a press release last month, the establishment stated it would be rebranding itself as the The Lund Resort at Kla-Ah-Men in April.
“The rebranding from Lund to Kla-Ah-Men, which literally translates to ‘a place of refuge,’ is befitting as the village, resort and breathtaking natural harbour will continue to welcome visitors year-round to what is now the first, full service indigenous travel experience on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia,” the statement read.
“What we’ve been working on has encompassed some of those traditional components into the hotel stay,” added George.
Scott Wilshaw, whose career in hotel management spans 30 years, was recently brought on board by Tla’amin to assist the hotel’s rebranding.
“The hotel is an absolutely perfect spot for a wedding,” Wilshaw said. “You’re right on the ocean side, you have panoramic views of Savary and Mount Washington.”
The resort offers guests a choice of five different wedding packages, and the chance to enjoy a quiet and natural setting that reflects their priorities and style.
Beyond the hotel grounds, the surrounding area includes a community gazebo, offering both forest and ocean settings for wedding parties to enjoy.
George said he’s pleased to see his community interfusing its local culture and history with an ambitious business plan.
“There was concern in the community of Sliammon that there was no real cultural footprint out here,” he said. “With that, the Tla’amin management had applied for trust dollars, and were allocated a certain amount of money to put our footprint out here.”
George said he hopes the community’s efforts will give the area’s indigenous culture the chance to connect with visitors from all over the world.
“People from overseas, and Europe, are really the ones who want to have that authentic Salish experience,” he added. “It’s important to have that inclusivity of everybody.”
