Mayo Singh Manhas was a teenager living in the tiny village of Padi in Punjab, India. He heard of a new life in Canada, and in 1906 he came to begin his career and adventure here as a lumber stacker. In 1918 he came to the Cowichan Valley and formed the town of Mayo, which 30 years later became to be known as Paldi. In 1921, they built a school and Sikh Temple. During it's most active time, the population was able to support a local high school. Mayo Singh died in 1955 and his legacy and family continue to contribute to the local area.

With the down turn in the lumber industry, Paldi eventually became a ghost town. Now listed for sale, with the asking price being near $2M, the land sits unused as a reminder of the rich history of our area.

Links Of Interest
- The History of Paldi
- Flickr photo of the Sikh Temple and more information on the town
- original photograph of town, circa 1920
- real estate listing/development opportunity

Please visit our photoblog for the story behind the photos: Paldi the Ghost Town: Part 1 and Paldi the Ghost Town: Part 2