National Urban Park Candidate Site

In 2023, Parks Canada contacted the City about creating a National Urban Park in our area. The City of Colwood has been collaborating with Parks Canada and local First Nations, including the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), SC'IȺNEW, Songhees, and T’Sou-ke Nations, to investigate the potential designation of a National Urban Park (NUP) within the City of Colwood and surrounding area.

What is a National Urban Park (NUP)?

Parks Canada is working to establish a network of NUPs across Canada through partnership with local organizations and governing bodies, including Indigenous Governments or organizations and municipalities. NUPs are intended to be places of natural and/or historical significance located near major Canadian cities. Each park will uniquely reflect its local context with a foundation in the three core objectives of NUPs: conserving nature, connecting people with nature, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

National Urban Park Objectives

• Conserving Nature
  This objective includes the designation of protected areas, actions to support climate resilience such as restoration work and nature-based solutions, and ongoing protection of the parklands.
  
  
• Connecting People with Nature
  This objective includes removing barriers to public access such as admission fees to the general grounds, improving transit access, and park planning to ensure an experience that is accessible for all ages and abilities.
  
  
• Advancing Reconciliation
  This objective includes meaningful engagement, involvement, and leadership roles for Indigenous governments throughout both the designation and governance of the NUP if desired. NUPs will also support the Indigenous-led stewardship of the lands, Indigenous people's connection to the lands, the promotion of Indigenous voices, stories, culture and language, as well as economic development opportunities.

Current National Urban Park Candidate Sites

There are currently seven National Urban Park candidate sites that are advancing across Canada, including the Greater Victoria candidate site located within Colwood and the greater Victoria area.

The other candidate sites include Edmonton (AB), Saskatoon (SK), Winnipeg (MB), Windsor (ON), Halifax (NS) and St. John’s (NL). Each of these proposed parks aims to reflect local priorities and a variety of proposed park land.

Greater Victoria Candidate Site

The study area for the proposed Greater Victoria national urban park is still being refined and could encompass the Parks Canada lands surrounding the Fort Rodd Hill-Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site, which are located within the borders of the City of Colwood (approximate area pictured below). As this could be a mosaic of non-contiguous lands, nearby areas of interest may be considered for inclusion.

The Greater Victoria candidate site in Colwood offers great potential as a NUP. The location is well situated to promote connection of people to nature due to its close proximity to Victoria, and the 12 other municipalities in the Capital Regional District. The site has historical, archeological, and natural significance with its location within the Coastal Douglas Fir zone, the smallest biogeoclimatic zone in British Columbia. The project is also embracing advancing reconciliation with an Indigenous 'walking-together' framework.

The designation of a National Urban Park also aligns with Colwood strategic priorities to Strengthen Community + Sustain Nature, Invest in Infrastructure, and Pursue Economic Growth + Vitality from Council's 2025-2027 Strategic Plan.

Our Partners

The City of Colwood has partnered with Parks Canada and local First Nations, including the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), SC'IȺNEW, Songhees, and T’Sou-ke Nations, in a ‘walking together’ framework to explore the designation of a NUP in the Greater Victoria Area. Representatives from each Partner meet regularly to engage in discussions around determining park objectives, park boundaries, park features, and options for governance, funding and park management while supporting each Partner’s respective interests.

Indigenous Nations are leaders and collaborators in shaping the park. Their priorities, knowledge, and stewardship are guiding the vision, values, and future governance of the park.

The City of Colwood is a key partner in shaping the park based on local context. The City works closely with Indigenous Nations and Parks Canada to help ensure the park reflects local values and community needs, and it also has municipal parkland that could be potentially considered for inclusion within the future NUP.

Parks Canada is leading the National Urban Parks Program across Canada. They provide expertise, funding, and long-term support, working with partners to meet three core goals of the program.

Designating a National Urban Park

The process for designating a NUP is broken into four phases, Prefeasibility, Planning, Designation, and Implementation. These phases are summarized in the table below, with further details in the Parks Canada Process for National Urban Park Designation Document.

The Greater Victoria site is moving from the Prefeasibility to the Planning Phase.

What Did We Learn During Prefeasibility?

During the Prefeasibility Phase, a Partner table of interested parties was established, an initial study area determined, and site-specific studies were conducted. Through this work the Partners investigated options for better connecting the NUP site to the rest of Colwood, evaluated environmental impacts and conservation options for the NUP site and surrounding natural areas, and established an Indigenous ‘walking together’ framework for collaboration to ensure reconciliation is prioritized throughout the designation process. A prefeasibility report will soon be published and shared on the Parks Canada website

Site Specific Reports

• Connecting Colwood to National Urban Park
• Ecosystem Regeneration Strategy
• Human Impact Assessment of Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary - DRAFT

Next Steps

The City of Colwood is conducting public engagement to obtain feedback on the potential designation of a NUP in the Greater Victoria Area. At the same time, Partner Nations are continuing their own community engagement to ensure that the values and interests of the local Nations are also prioritized in the planning process.

Following the completion of the engagement period, the results will be shared with the project Partners to guide and inform the proposed National Urban Park. A summary of the public engagement results will also be publicly shared.

Information on this Project is Also Available in French

Des informations sur ce projet sont aussi disponibles en français. Écrivez à parcsurbainsnationaux-nationalurbanparks@pc.gc.ca pour en savoir plus.

Planning Phase: Public Engagement Survey

As the National Urban Park project enters the Planning Phase, the City of Colwood is conducting public engagement to better understand the Colwood and Greater Victoria community perspective on a potential National Urban Park designation and the values and priorities you would like to be reflected in a potential National Urban Park.

It is important to note that the National Urban Park project is a partnership between the City of Colwood, Parks Canada, Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nation, SC'IȺNEW Nation, Songhees Nation, and T’Sou-ke Nation. All decisions regarding the park will be discussed and evaluated at the Partner table to balance competing priorities, ensure the interests of all those involved are reflected in the final park vision, and uphold the NUP objectives of conservation, connecting people to nature, and advancing reconciliation.

The City of Colwood is seeking your feedback on the potential designation of a National Urban Park in Colwood, including park priorities, implementation of the NUP core objectives (conservation, connecting people to nature, and advancing reconciliation), and park boundaries.