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Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary

1931 establishments in British ColumbiaImportant Bird Areas of British ColumbiaMigratory Bird Sanctuaries of Canada
Landscape photograph of Esquimalt Lagoon (NE)
Landscape photograph of Esquimalt Lagoon (NE)

The Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a migratory bird sanctuary near Esquimalt Harbour in Colwood, British Columbia. The Esquimalt Lagoon is found on the traditional territories of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. The park was established in 1931 with the objective of creating a safe haven for migratory birds, and has become a popular place for birdwatching. Many other species can be found within the park, such as coho salmon and cutthroat trout. Pacific herring also spawn in nearby waters.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Ocean Boulevard,

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Latitude Longitude
N 48.426111111111 ° E -123.46611111111 °
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Ocean Boulevard

Ocean Boulevard
V9B 5Y2
British Columbia, Canada
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Landscape photograph of Esquimalt Lagoon (NE)
Landscape photograph of Esquimalt Lagoon (NE)
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Westshore Velodrome

The Westshore Velodrome is a 333m outdoor bicycle racing track located in Colwood, B.C., and one of only two velodromes in British Columbia. It is part of the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, and is operated by the Greater Victoria Velodrome Association. The GVVA was founded in 1991. The velodrome was commissioned for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, and constructed for approximately $2 million. The track was designed to be used by the public after the Games, which is why the banking in the corners is less than might be found on tracks primarily intended for competition.Stuart Peter O'Grady set a Commonwealth Games record in the 10-mile scratch race with a time of 18:50.520In 2005, the velodrome was the host for the American Velodrome Challenge and the BC Provincial Track Championships.The velodrome had some financial troubles immediately following the games, and sat in disuse until re-opening in the 2000s. Prior to 2008, the track was operated by the Westshore Parks and Recreation Society. It was reopened on July 29, 2011. In 2008, the mayor of Colwood voted to close the velodrome for good. It had been used prior to this for training local athletes, such as Ryder Hesjedal, but the cost of repairs to the infield were prohibitive. The repairs to the infield were completed in April, 2015, and an artificial turf field was installed. Olympic and World Championship medalist Gillian Carleton cites the opening of the velodrome as key to the beginning of her cycle racing career.The newly reopened track hosted the 2011 and 2012 BC Track Championships.If needed, the track could be used during the competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Q Centre

The Q Centre (formerly Bear Mountain Arena) is in Colwood, British Columbia, Canada. In 2014, the arena was named "The Q Centre" after local radio station CKKQ-FM. The arena opened in February 2004, has 2,300 seats and houses year-round events for hockey and lacrosse. With an additional floor capacity of 860 people and standing room area for up to 480, this premier spectator facility can hold any type of event, from trade shows to major sporting and entertainment events. The arena is hockey home of the BCHL Victoria Grizzlies. It was the home of the Victoria Salmon Kings for the 2004–05 ECHL season while their future home, the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre was being built. In the summer months The Q serves as home to the WLA Victoria Shamrocks, Victoria Wolves of the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association and Westshore Bears of the Pacific Northwest Junior Lacrosse League. The venue has also hosted BCLA provincial box lacrosse championships. The venue has hosted one of the biggest World Curling Tour events, the Bear Mountain Arena Curling Classic, annually since 2006. It also played host to the training camps of the Vancouver Canucks in September 2007 and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008. The Q Centre was awarded an NHL pre-season game between the Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks. This occurred after the Panorama Recreation Centre, in North Saanich, home of the Peninsula Panthers won the 2015 Kraft Hockeyville Grand Prize.

Colwood, British Columbia
Colwood, British Columbia

Colwood is a city located on Vancouver Island to the southwest of Victoria, capital of British Columbia, Canada. Colwood was incorporated in 1985 and has a population of approximately 19,000 people. Colwood lies within the boundaries of the Greater Victoria area or Capital Regional District, in a region called the Western Communities, or the West Shore. It is one of the 13 component municipalities of Greater Victoria. Set along more than 5 km of oceanfront, this fast-growing seaside community is home to abundant forests, parks and trails as well as several historic sites including Fort Rodd Hill, Fisgard Lighthouse and Hatley Castle. One of Colwood's best known landmarks is Hatley Castle, now home to Royal Roads University. It is a Scottish Baronial mansion and grounds originally built as a residence for James Dunsmuir, Premier and later Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Colwood almost became the seat of the Crown of the Commonwealth realm in 1940, when, after the start of World War II, the government planned to relocate King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and their children, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, to the castle for protection. But they decided to stay in London and Windsor, near the European front. The government transferred the estate to the Canadian Armed Forces. It adapted the site for use as Royal Roads Military College, a naval training facility from 1941-mid-1990s. The military college was closed in the 1990s, and the estate is now the campus of the public Royal Roads University, which opened in 1995. The original residence is surrounded by extensive formal gardens, including a featured Japanese garden. The Fisgard Lighthouse in Colwood is one of Canada's National Historic Sites. There hasn't been a keeper here since the light was automated in 1929, but every year many thousands of visitors step inside a real 19th century light and capture some of the feeling of ships wrecked and lives saved. Built by the British in 1860, when Vancouver Island was not yet part of Canada, Fisgard's red brick house and white tower has stood faithfully at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour. Once a beacon for the British Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron, today Fisgard still marks home base for the Maritime Forces Pacific of the Royal Canadian Navy. Colwood is also home to historic Fort Rodd Hill, another Canadian National Historic Site. Built by the British in the 1890s, this coast artillery fort was designed to defend Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base. Visitors come to explore the three gun batteries, underground magazines, command posts, guardhouses, barracks and searchlight emplacements that are the vestiges of a bygone era. Set on a wide open waterfront park near the Fisgard Lighthouse, visitors can see the sea and mountain views, go for bird watches and investigate the tide pools along the shoreline. The city has many regional amenities, including the City's waterfront at Esquimalt Lagoon which includes a National Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, The Q Centre, Royal Colwood Golf Club, Olympic View Golf Club and the library facilities for the Western Communities. As it lies geographically to the south of Victoria, Colwood is western Canada's southernmost city.