On Tuesday, July 28, 1942 a shortage of teachers in British Columbia, amongst other factors, resulted in two orders-in-council which resulted in one of the largest amalgamations of school districts undertaken by the Ministry of Education. The resulting school district reached from Saltair to Red Gap, but excluded the Ladysmith and Nanaimo Municipal Areas, which kept their own school districts. The new school district was called the "Nanaimo-Ladysmith United Rural School District" and was created by uniting the 19 school districts of: Brechin, Cedar North, Cedar South, Cedar East, Chase River, Departure Bay, Extension, Diamond Crossing, Harewood, Lantzville, Mountain, Nanaimo Bay, Northfield, Oyster, North Oyster, Red Gap, Waterloo, Wellington and South Wellington.