Ladysmith, originally Oyster Harbour, is a town located on the 49th parallel north on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The local economy is based on forestry, tourism, and agriculture. A hillside location adjacent to a sheltered harbour forms the natural geography of the community. As of 2021, the population was 8,990. The area of the town was 12.04 square kilometres. Total private dwellings were 4,079. Population density was 746.5 people per square kilometre.