Colwood, British Columbia

Submitted by editor on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 20:48

Colwood, British Columbia

City of Colwood
—  City  —
Location of Colwood in British Columbia
Coordinates: 48°25′25″N 123°29′45″W / 48.42361°N 123.49583°W / 48.42361; -123.49583Coordinates: 48°25′25″N 123°29′45″W / 48.42361°N 123.49583°W / 48.42361; -123.49583
Country  Canada
Province  British Columbia
Region Vancouver Island
Regional district Capital Regional District
Incorporated 1985
Government
 - Governing body Colwood City Council
 - Mayor (David Saunders)
Area
 - City 17.76 km2 (6.9 sq mi)
Elevation 80 m (262 ft)
Population (2006)
 - City 14,687
 - Metro 330,088 (15th)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
Highways 1A, 14
Waterways Strait of Juan de Fuca
Website City of Colwood

Colwood is a city located on Vancouver Island to the southwest of Victoria, capital of British Columbia. Colwood was incorporated in 1985 and has a population of approximately 15,000 people. Colwood lies within the boundaries of the Victoria Census Metropolitan 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.

Colwood's best known landmark is Hatley Castle, a Tudor Revival 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 Commonwealth Crown 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 city has many regional amenities, including the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, Bear Mountain Arena, and the library facilities for the Western Communities. As it lies geographically to the south of Victoria, Colwood is western Canada's southernmost city.

Contents

Neighbourhoods of Colwood

  • Belmont Park
  • Colwood Corners
  • Esquimalt Lagoon
  • Hatley Park
  • Royal Roads
  • Triangle Mountain
  • Royal Bay
  • Latoria Walk

Demographics

Colwood had a population of 14,687 people in 2006, which was an increase of 6.9% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Colwood was $68,798, which is above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709.

Education

Colwood is a part of the School District 62 Sooke. There are five elementary schools: John Stubbs (in Belmont Park),Colwood, David Cameron, Sangster, and Wishart. There are two middle schools: Dunsmuir and John Stubbs Memorial. There is also one private elementary and middle school called Light House Christian Academy.

  1. ^ "Speech by Iona Campolo, Retired Heads of Mission Association's Gala Dinner", Royal Roads University, Hatley Castle, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, 5 February 2007]
  2. ^ "Colwood, British Columbia - Detailed City Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5917041&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Colwood&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 
Members of the Capital Regional District
Municipalities
Central Saanich • Colwood • Esquimalt • Highlands • Langford • Metchosin • North Saanich • Oak Bay • Saanich • Sidney • Sooke • Victoria • View Royal
Electoral areas
B & D (Juan de Fuca) • F (Salt Spring Island) • G (Southern Gulf Islands)
Communities on Vancouver Island

Ahousat • Bamberton • Bamfield • Black Creek • Bowser • Brentwood Bay • Buckley Bay • Campbell River • Cassidy • Cedar • Central Saanich • Chemainus • Clo-oose • Coal Harbour • Cobble Hill • Colwood • Comox • Coombs • Courtenay • Cowichan Bay • Cowichan Station • Crofton • Cumberland • Deep Bay • Duncan • Errington • Esquimalt • Fanny Bay • French Creek • Genoa Bay • Gold River • Harewood • Highlands • Holberg • Honeymoon Bay • Kildonan • Koksilah • Ladysmith • Lake Cowichan • Langford • Lantzville • Malahat • Maple Bay • Merville • Mesachie Lake • Metchosin • Mill Bay • Nanaimo • Nanoose Bay • Nitinat • North Cowichan • North Saanich • Oak Bay • Oceanside • Oyster River • Parksville • Port Alberni • Port Alice • Port Hardy • Port McNeill • Port Renfrew • Qualicum Beach • Quatsino • River Jordan • Royston • Saanich • Saanichton • Saltair • Sayward • Sechart • Shawnigan Lake • Sidney • Sooke • Tahsis • Telegraph Cove • Tofino • Ucluelet • Union Bay • Greater Victoria • Victoria • View Royal • Westholme • Winter Harbour • Woss • Youbou • Yuquot (Friendly Cove) • Zeballos
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Settlements
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