The dirt flew Tuesday morning in Colwood, and with it, a signal that the city’s growth isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
At the corner of Metchosin Road and Ryder Hesjedal Way, local officials and developers gathered to officially break ground on Arbutus Landing – a new 42,000-square-foot commercial hub expected to open in summer 2026.
The site sits between Royal Bay and The Beachlands, two of the fastest-growing neighbourhoods on the Island, and aims to bring fresh retail and services to a community that’s expanding by the month.
Mayor Doug Kobayashi opened the ceremony with a laugh – promising to keep his speech under four minutes – before leaning into the moment.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for our community,” he said. “This development promises to bring vibrant retail options, essential services, and new opportunities to the people of Colwood.”
The star tenant is already confirmed: Rexall is opening its second location in Colwood, adding to the pharmacy chain’s footprint, which has its original location across from Colwood Corners.
For Caroline Lan, Rexall’s senior director of real estate, the decision was easy.
“We knew right away, as soon as we saw this land, this would be the perfect spot for us to call home,” she said. “For us to continue to grow on the Island, we knew this spot could facilitate an opportunity for us to present our best foot forward.”
The project will feature four buildings, one of them two storeys, and 125 parking stalls.
Plans from Astria Properties – the developer behind the build – also hint at potential future tenants, including a veterinary clinic, fitness centre, and nail salon.
For Kobayashi, the Landing isn’t just about new shops and services – it’s part of a larger strategy to prepare for the city’s next phase.
“Within a five-kilometre radius of this area right now, we’ve only got 22,000 people,” he said. “And we’re projected to grow by 30 per cent over the next decade. This project comes at the perfect time to meet the needs of our expanding community.”
Colwood’s transformation has been hard to miss.
Just up the street lies Colwood Corners, which opened its refurbished retail space in 2024. And just across the street from the newly minted Arbutus Landing, the Royal BC Museum’s massive 163,611-square-foot archives and collections facility – known as PARC – is under construction and also slated for a 2026 opening.
Still, Tuesday’s groundbreaking had a more local feel. No cranes in the sky yet – just a stretch of land, a few shiny shovels, and a clear message from city hall.
“We are building more than a development,” Kobayashi said. “We are shaping the legacy of Colwood.”
