Victoria expanding Songhees Park, adding features

A waterfront park beside the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria is being upgraded, according to the city.
The Songhees Park, located on the corner of Esquimalt Road and Harbour Road, will include 1.8 acres of new parkland.
Once completed, the upgraded park will include a loop path, upgraded lighting, new seating and picnic tables, and a waterfront viewing platform.
More trees and plants suited to the climate will also be installed, says the municipality.
A rendering of the upgraded Songhees Park is shown: (City of Victoria)
The park is located in traditional Lekwungen territory and was part of the Songhees Reserve lands between 1844 and 1911, according to the city.
The municipality says the upgrades were designed in collaboration with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
The redesigned park will include Lekwungen art and information about Indigenous culture.
Construction of the upgrades is currently underway and is slated to finish this summer.
"All efforts will be focused on maintaining a safe work site while mitigating impacts to residents and businesses wherever possible," reads the city's webpage on the project.
Cycling access in the area will not be interrupted, says the city, though one pedestrian path will be detoured.
Construction is expected to occur between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mariupol fighters in Russian hands; both sides claim wins
Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters, including wounded men carried out on stretchers, left the vast steel plant in Mariupol where they mounted a dogged last stand and turned themselves over to Russian hands, signalling the beginning of the end of a siege that became a symbol of Ukraine's resistance to Moscow's invasion.

Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner carjacked at gunpoint outside Toronto movie theatre
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner was the victim of an armed carjacking outside a movie theatre in Etobicoke on Monday night, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
Warrant issued for suspect in crash that killed Calgary mother of 5
Calgary police said in a statement issued Monday they have identified a suspect wanted in an incident that resulted in the death of a Calgary mother of five.
Prince Charles and Camilla kick off three-day Canadian tour, PM says reconciliation will be part of visit
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says reconciliation will form part of the discussions Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, engage in during their visit to Canada. Trudeau is in Newfoundland and Labrador today where he will join Gov. Gen. Mary Simon in welcoming the royal couple to Canada for a three-day visit.
Trudeau says inviting Iran to Vancouver soccer friendly is not 'a very good idea'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a soccer friendly between Canada and Iran next month in Vancouver is ill-advised. The merits of hosting Iran were raised by a reporter, citing families who had lost loved ones on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.
Queen makes surprise appearance to mark new London subway line
Queen Elizabeth II made a surprise visit Tuesday to a train station in central London to see a newly completed subway line named in her honour. The 96-year-old monarch, who has reduced most of her public engagements, appeared Tuesday at Paddington Station.
Top 6 moments from the 2022 Ontario election debate
Ontario’s four main party leaders were relatively civil as they sparred at Monday night’s televised election debate in Toronto.
Confusion over RCMP leadership roles marked early investigation of N.S. mass shooting
When a man disguised as a Mountie started killing people in northern Nova Scotia two years ago, there was considerable confusion over who was in charge of the RCMP operation, newly released documents show.
Canadian Blood Services issues urgent call for donors as inventory falls
Canadian Blood Services has issued an immediate call for donors in light of a recent lull in attendance and rising cancellations.