For anyone needing more of a reason to linger at Esquimalt Lagoon – besides the stunning views and abundant wildlife – a vibrant new mural is giving visitors more of a reason to stop and stare.
A flock of Canada geese in flight, a wading great blue heron and mallard ducks now grace what was once the blank wall of the washroom on Ocean Boulevard, opposite the Lagoon Road junction.
Inspired by the natural beauty of the migratory bird sanctuary, the painting is the work of Colwood artist Laura Rechwan.
The hand-painted mural was a “big undertaking” with at least 50 hours dedicated to its creation. But for Rechwan, a lifelong resident of Colwood, it was time well spent.
“The lagoon has personal significance to me,” she says. “I've spent my whole life playing on this beach and now I have my own kids still playing on this beach, so it's a really cool way for me to honour this part of the community and share it with everybody.”
The background of the “playful and whimsy” mural might look like a topographic map of the lagoon, but it is in fact a very small detail of an abstract painting, explains Rechwan.
“It just happened coincidentally,” she says with a laugh. “When I was showing this to friends, a lot of them thought that I had actually taken a map of the lagoon.
“But that was kind of my starting point … I wanted to reflect the lagoon in a realistic way and in a more abstract way.”
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, even before the mural was fully installed.
“When we only had one panel up on the wall, people were sticking their head out their car windows yelling their compliments,” said Rechwan.
Now complete and on full display, the praise has not slowed.
“One friend told me they were standing at it for five minutes taking pictures and 10 people stopped by and said how much they love it,” she said.
The compliment she hears most? “Beautiful,” says Rechwan.
“But I can't take credit for the beauty of the birds themselves … I'm really just trying to capture their beauty.”
Rechwan’s mural is the most recent project made possible by the City of Colwood’s ‘Create Places’ program.
“We had identified this spot as a space that we would love to see beautified, so we were so excited when Laura came forward with her proposal,” said Sandra Russell, manager of communications and engagement.
“I love it – and the city is just very overjoyed with how this has turned out."
First launched in 2021 as a post-COVID program, Create Places was designed to lift folk’s spirits and encourage community connection after months of restrictions and lockdowns.
Since then, it has supported roughly 13 creative projects across the city, helping foster a stronger sense of community pride.
As well as Rechwan’s handiwork, the city recently unveiled an art-wrapped electrical box at the corner of Metchosin and Lagoon roads, created by local artist Sheryl Parsons.
Decorated with goldfinch birds, the box also has a sign pointing in the direction of the Goldfinch Arts Centre.
The location was the idea of the Arts and Culture Colwood Society, which wanted to create a visual sign to help people find their gallery on Goldfinch Road, in “an artful way.”
And more projects are on the horizon. Russell says residents can look forward to a “beautified bike rack” at the Goldfinch Arts Centre and a tool lending library for parks stewardship groups.
The city is now accepting applications for consideration in 2026.
"We encourage anyone in the community to come forward, not just artists, but also residents who see an area that could use some beautification or where they would like to see neighbours come together and gather," said Russell.
For more information about Colwood's Create Places program, visit: www.colwood.ca/parks-recreation-culture/create-places.
