Westwood Lake is more than a tranquil retreat; it’s a living testament to Nanaimo’s rich history. Originally settled and farmed by William J. Westwood in the 1860s, the area’s origins trace back to a time when the lake was a shallow marsh that fed Darough Creek. The landscape underwent a transformative shift in 1908 when a dam was created at the head of Darough Creek to create a reservoir for a hydroelectric plant. Although the plant was eventually abandoned, the dam endured, and in 1957, Westwood Lake was transformed into a city park. This submerged history, concealed beneath the surface of a pristine lake and combined with sandy beaches and lifeguarded swimming areas, paints a 150-year transformative narrative of Westwood Lake—from a marshland to a cherished Nanaimo park.