Weekly Free Inquiry Blog Post # 3: PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park)

For my third weekly blog visit I chose PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) for my blog post. My reason for selecting this location is because everyday when I drive to UVic I pass through the Mt Douglas parkway, however I haven’t had the chance to stop and explore the beach and nearby forest it contains. As a result, I explored a beautiful beach that is pictured above.

PKOLS-Mount Douglas Park is situated in Saanich, B.C. where it contains a great deal of history (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026). For the WSANEC People’s PKOLS serves as a border for where the WSANEC Nations meets the Lekwungen People (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026). The name PKOLS for the WSANEC Nation means “white rock” or “white head” which is believed to be in reference to the park previously being a glacier (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026). The Songhees Nation used PKOLS as a stopping spot when travelling from Fort Victoria, and was called “The Hill of Cedars” (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026). In the year 1853, James Tod, from the Hudson Bay Company purchased land nearby and used it as farmland for around 50 years (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026).

In 1899, the park was granted to the City of Victoria by the provincial government and the name was in reference to Sir James Douglas (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026). Since then the park has gone through many changes, but has served many recreation purposes. In 1939, Churchill Drive which serves as the transportation route to its summit was built and constructed (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026). The summit of PKOLS has featured certain events such as serving as a lookout and radio base during WWII and a living place for Emily Carr at one point (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026).

Recently, the park had its named restored with help of the WSANEC Leadership Council and Saanich Council to PKOLS (PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, 2026). Attached here is a link that contains the history of PKOLS and as well many photos such as this from Saanich Archives can be found documenting the history of the park.

Lastly, attached is a video for those who may want to visit PKOLS but might not be able to in person:

References:

PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy (2026). Park History. https://pkols-mountdouglas.ca/wp/about/park-history/