The newly expanded Songhees Park officially opened along Victoria’s Inner Harbour on Monday.
The Vic West park, which was developed as a partnership between the City of Victoria and the Songhees Nation, is located at the site of the former Songhees village and reserve.
“Songhees Nation is pleased to be working with the City of Victoria on the expansion of Songhees Park as another step toward reconciliation,” says Songhees Chief Ron Sam.
“Not only will the initiative provide a culturally safe and supportive sanctuary for the Lekwungen community, it will also raise awareness of our Nation’s identity by reclaiming our historically significant spaces.”
The expansion increased the size of the park by 25 per cent, transforming a former roadway into greenspace consisting of a Garry oak maritime meadow and coastal bluff gardens, the city says. The park also includes 55 new trees and 55 species of indigenous plants that will provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
New seating walls in the park feature a Lekwungen canoe paddle design created by the city’s Indigenous artist-in-residence, Dylan Thomas, working in collaboration with representatives of the Songhees Nation.
The city says the $3-million project was completed on budget.
