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. Neighbourhoods of Colwood Belmont Park Colwood Corners Esquimalt Lagoon Hatley Park Wishart Royal Roads Triangle Mountain Royal Bay Latoria Walk Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Colwood had a population of 18,961 living in 7,428 of its 7,688 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 16,859. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. The median household income in 2015 for Colwood was $85,688, which is above the British Columbia provincial average of $69,995. Ethnicity Religion According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Colwood included: Irreligion (11,685 persons or 62.2%) Christianity (6,410 persons or 34.1%) Islam (145 persons or 0.8%) Buddhism (115 persons or 0.6%) Judaism (90 persons or 0.5%) Hinduism (80 persons or 0.4%) Sikhism (40 persons or 0.2%) Other (220 persons or 1.2%) Education Colwood is a part of the School District 62 Sooke. There are six elementary schools: John Stubbs (in Belmont Park), Colwood, Hans Helgesen, David Cameron, Sangster, and Wishart. There is one middle school: Dunsmuir. There is also an alternative school program called Pacific Secondary School (formerly WON western opportunity network). A new high school, Royal Bay Secondary School, opened in 2015. Colwood is also home to Royal Roads University. History Esquimalt Lagoon is a beach and wildlife preserve with a view of Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University in the background. A small plaque on a concrete cairn in the shore of the Esquimalt Lagoon outlines its history. "Royal Roads - To seaward lies an anchorage or roadstead first used in 1790 by the Spanish and named in 1846 for its location between Albert Head and