Back to: FRONT PAGE NEWS | BC & NATIONAL | VANCOUVER ISLAND | LANGFORD, COLWOOD & METCHOSIN | SOOKE | Sooke & West Shore Events
SOOKE STUFF TO NOTE [more events and details on EVENTS page] :
- Closed Jan 1 & 2: Sooke municipal hall, Canada Post Sooke Main
- Sun Jan 1, 2017: Mayor’s Levee, District of Sooke – 10 am to 12 noon, drop-in, council chambers
CURRENT HEADLINES: SOOKE REGION
Thursday, December 29 ~ Looking to new year’s eve. The weather forecast for Sooke by The Weather Network for Dec 31 is with temperatures falling to -2°C at night, and back up only to 0°C during the day on January 1, 2017. There is only a 10% chance of rain/snow, according to the forecast.
A Canada 150 fireworks celebration will be held at the Victoria Inner Harbour that evening. Festivities start at 5 pm, with fireworks scheduled for 9 pm. See details on our Vancouver Island subpage.
In Sooke, Mayor Maja Tait and Council will host a levee on New Year’s Day, Sunday January 1, from 10 am to 12 noon in Council chambers, 2225 Otter Point Road. Everyone welcome, and families are invited to bring their children along too.
Wednesday, December 28 ~ SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND. Mainroad South Island Contracting advises motorists to drive with caution today as many locations are encountering black ice. They suggest allowing extra time for travel and to use caution.
Mainroad says that crews have been actively treating these areas around the clock to minimize any problems.
Saturday, December 24 ~ SOOKE.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the community of Sooke!
West Shore Voice News appreciates the opportunity to provide informative and insightful news to the full community of the western shore of Vancouver Island.
Here are the links to the three Christmas issues of West Shore Voice News which always includes the flavour of Sooke: Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 .
Ho ho ho, here’s to a happy Christmas weekend!
Friday, December 23 ~ SOOKE. The grocery store shelves are stock-full this evening in Sooke, ready for last-minute shoppers on Christmas Eve. Sales have been brisk at local gift shops. Everyone seems ready this year, to take a few days off.
Many shops and restaurants will have different hours of being open and closed over this Christmas weekend.
- GROCERY: Western Foods will be open 7 am to 7 pm on Dec 24 Christmas Eve, closed on Dec 25. Open Boxing Day Dec 26 8 am to 10 pm.
- MEDICAL CLINIC: The West Coast Family Medical Centre will be open on Saturday, December 24 from 9 am to 1 pm, then closed Dec 25 & 26 (maybe also closed Dec 27 — call 250-642-4233 to confirm). Weekday hours 1 to 6pm. Open 9 am to 1 pm on Sat Dec 31.
- DRUG STORES: Shoppers Drug Mart will be open 8 am to 8 pm on Christmas Eve, and will be *open* on Christmas Day, 9am to 5pm, and open on Boxing Day Dec 26 from 8 am to 10 pm (regular hours). Peoples Drug Mart will be open 8 am to 8 pm on Christmas Eve, and will be *closed* on December 25 & 26.
THE STICK in the MUD COFFEE HOUSE:Open til 5 pm on Christmas Eve. Closed 25 & Dec 26. But their SpeedStick quick-coffee service *will be open* on Boxing Day December 26 (8am to 2 pm). www.stickinthemud.ca- RESTAURANTS: Mom’s Cafe will be open Christmas Eve Dec 24 from 8 am to 3pm, then closed on Christmas Day. The Stone Pipe Grill will be closed Dec 24, 25, and 26, then open next week for regular hours.
- SOOKE OPTOMETRY: Closed Dec 24 to 26. Open Dec 27-29 regular hours, closed Dec 20 to Jan 2. www.sookeoptometrists.ca
- TD CANADA TRUST (Sooke). Open Christmas Eve to 4pm. Closed Dec 25, 26, & 27.
- SEAPARC Leisure Complex will be open 8 am to 3:30 pm on Christmas Eve, then closed Dec 25 & 26. The Festival of Trees display and fundraiser continues in the lobby til Jan 4.
- SOOKE LIBRARY: open Christmas Eve Dec 24 10am to 4pm. Closed Dec 25 to 27. Reopens Dec 28 (10 am to 8:15 pm).
- CASTLE LIQUOR STORE is open daily 9 am to 11pm, open 9 am to 6 pm on Christmas Day.
- DISTRICT OF SOOKE municipal hall: Closed Dec 24 through Dec 27. Re-opens Dec 28. www.sooke.ca
- SOOKE REGION MUSEUM: Open Christmas Eve, then closed Dec 25 through Jan 3, reopening at 10 am on Jan 4.
- SCHOOLS in SD62 (Sooke, Colwood, Langford): closed Dec 20 through Jan 2, reopening Tuesday Jan 3. www.sd62.bc.ca
For other activities and hours of operation, see our EVENTS page.
Wishing Sooke a wonderful Christmas holiday weekend! We will post any urgent news, but otherwise taking a few days off. Thank you to all of our advertisers, contributors and subscribers throughout the year.
Wednesday, December 21 ~ SOOKE. In the wake of the federal Liberal approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, the not unexpected protests to try and protect the waters of the west coast have begun.
Tonight using the occasion of the winter solstice (from out of the dark comes the light), the Dogwood Initiative organization pulled together a strong crowd for an outdoor protest in the cold this evening.
Gathering at the roadside were over 70 people of all ages, steadfast in their commitment to making sure there is no increase in tanker traffic off the shores of Vancouver Island.
Several commuters in their vehicles on their way home from work honked in support of the roadside protesters who positioned themselves along Highway 14 (Sooke Road) in front of Edward Milne Community School (EMCS) at dusk.
Before the roadside sign-waving, the group heard speeches of varying lengths and intensity from local activists including Diane Bernard, Mark Ziegler and Ralph Hull.
- Diane Bernard, who operates a company dependent on seaweed from the ocean, said to the crowd: “I expect to have him (Prime Minister Trudeau) change his mind. The battle is not over.” She feels that Justin Trudeau “as a young west coaster” has let down the people of BC. She lauded Sooke Mayor Maja Tait for taking the protest against increased tanker traffic to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to bring province-wide attention to the issue.
Mark Ziegler, who used to work in Ottawa as an economist, said in a short speech: “I don’t think it’s fair that our coast is a bargaining chip,” saying that Trudeau has chosen Alberta over BC — oil economy over environment.- Ralph Hull, a fisherman and boat captain — who long ago was instrumental in helping generate a 30-year-moratorium on tanker traffic off the BC west coast (working with then Fisheries & Oceans Minister David Anderson) — inspired the crowd to keep on fighting.
- Another speaker, one of the Dogwood organizers, said: “It’s the beginning. It’s going to be a long process. Watch this space there will be more.”
People held candles in the dark and a song sheet was distributed for people to sing along to inspirational songs before ‘hitting the road’ to stand in the cold along the highway.
Singing along to live guitar, some in the group sang along to “Take Back This Land” lyrics by Bill Henderson. On the flip side of the sheet, the lyrics to the perennial Beatles tune Here Comes the Sun (lyrics by George Harrison).
Other community leaders among the crowd: Jeff Bateman, Jo Phillips, John Boquist, Frederique Philip, Sinclair Philip, Heather Phillips, Rosemary Jorna, Dana LeComte, Gord Fulcher, Lis Johansen, Deb Wood, and Nicky Logins. Several youth from the local high school had made signs and took part in the event.
Signage included messages like: Climate Change, No Pipeline, No More Tankers; Think outside the oil barrel; Who will speak for us; Because our coastline supports many lives; Taking Back our Ocean; Justin: Water and life, please protect it; Keep it in the ground; we vote no.
Tuesday, December 20 ~ SOOKE. In conditions of high winds, trees are down across BC Hydro wires. That and other wind-related issues currently see power out in the Sooke area.
About 1,217 customers are affected across various areas including west of Otter Point Rd (out since 4:29 am, crews expected to arrive around 7:30 am), and southwest of Sooke Road east of Sea Lion Way (out since 5:06 am, crews have been assigned).
Power is also out in Langford (since 5:26 am) with crews expected to arrive around 7:30 am in an area affected north of Monnington Place, south of Jenkins Ave, west of Jacklin Road, and East of Colbourne, affecting 230 customers.
UPDATE at 12 noon: Presently 10,402 BC Hydro customers (approx 30,000 people) in the south Vancouver Island area are without power as of noon today. That includes 2,321 in the Walfred/Metchosin Rd area (Colwood/Langford); 2,056 north of Hwy 1 (Saanich/Langford); 1,812 east of West Coast Road and west of Otter Point Rd; 417 in the West Coast Road area (i.e. west of Sooke); 2,826 in Esquimalt/View Royal; and locations in Duncan. Most of those outages started mid-morning. A few outages from very early this morning (around 4:30 am in the Sooke and Langford areas) have been restored.
Tuesday, December 20 ~ BC. BC Ferries plans to ban smoking on all of its vessels and to not allow passengers to remain in vehicles on lower fully enclosed decks while vessel sailings are underway.
BC spokesperson Deborah Marshall says: “With regards to car decks, we are working to fully implement Transport Canada regulations limiting passenger access to closed car decks while ships are underway.” Closed decks are the lower vehicle decks on the larger ferries. Transport trucks and buses are parked on the lower deck; cars are also parked there when the upper deck becomes full. Customers will continue to be permitted to stay in vehicles on the upper (open) car decks.
“We will be fully implementing Transport Canada regulations to limit passenger access to closed vehicle decks while ships are underway. “Closed” decks are the main car decks. Customers will continue to be permitted to stay in vehicles on the upper (opened) car decks.”
With regards to smoking: “We are currently reviewing our policy with an aim to offer a smoke free environment in the future. The Province recently changed regulations regarding smoke free zones to from 3 to 6 metres away from a door or opening window. This proves challenging on a ship.”
A formal announcement on these two new BC Ferries developments is expected in early January.
Monday, December 19 ~ About 100 people showed up to share some holiday cheer at Randall Garrison, MP’s annual holiday open house this evening. There were light refreshments.
Garrison’s new constituency office that opened earlier this year at 2904 Tillicum Road (corner of Gorge Rd) is more spacious and adaptable than the previous office, including a board room, private office space, and plenty of storage area. Lots of parking too.
Garrison says his office is busy compiling some facts and figures regarding how much employment is already happening in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding and overall in BC in the green-tech/sustainability sector. More on that in the new year.
Sunday, December 18, 2016 ~ SOOKE. Be sure to catch the “Almost Christmas” print/PDF issue of West Shore Voice News. It’s our print edition that drives the news forward each week, with daily breaking news posted on this website.
Having to do with Sooke in the news this week: impact of rural-urban expectations on wildlife; renewal of business licences with fees payable; cat with virus in Sooke is reminder to get vaccinations for your pet; Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce announces their 2017 board; Sooke Lake Reservoir is almost fully refilled after that dry summer; Christmas letter from our local MLA John Horgan; wishing for better safety on Highway 14 this Christmas.
To subscribe to the weekly print/PDF edition of West Shore Voice News there are two ways to go. The Premium PDF version is sent by email directly to subscribers. That’s $28+GST for 18 weeks. To get the direct link to the web version (watermarked), that’s a great deal at $23.45+GST for a full year! Call 250-217-5821 to arrange your subscription and pay by credit card, or send a billing request to news@westshorevoicenews.com .
You can be sure that West Shore Voice News will continue to keep Sooke squarely in the news in 2017 and beyond! There’s no place more fascinating than Sooke! Happy holidays and Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 18 ~ SOOKE. Not unexpectedly, it hasn’t taken long for an environmentalist activist movement to rise up following the announcement of pipeline approvals by the federal Liberals.
A local organizing group called Dogwood Initiative is inviting Sooke residents to gather on Wednesday, December 21 “to support and protect the west coast’s still unspoilt ocean, intertidal zones and beach fronts”.
The Sooke team of Dogwood has organized the “Protect Our Coast: Gathering of the Light Celebration”. It will be held outside the local high school: Edward Milne Community School, 6218 Sooke Rd, starting 4 pm. “Bring a light (candle or flashlight), a sign (optional) and your resilient spirit.”
“Having voted strongly against increased tanker traffic in the District of Sooke’s 2014 plebiscite, local citizens can serve notice to both Kinder Morgan and the federal and provincial governments that Sooke remains steadfast in its opposition to the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX),” says a Dogwood Initiative release.
The evening vigil on Wednesday will include guest speakers and an open mic for public comment. Then they will set up alongside Sooke Road (Hwy 14) to demonstrate their concerns to homebound commuter traffic as the winter solstice (shortest day of the year) marks the return of the light.
Dogwood says the TMX would channel raw diluted bitumen (aka dilbit) from the Alberta tar sands to supertankers in the Port of Vancouver. From there, large vessels will sail under the Second Narrows Bridge and out into the Salish Sea, travelling past Victoria and then into the Strait of Juan de Fuca en route to the far east. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that, unlike conventional crude (light) oil, bitumen will sink in a marine spill. There are no current techniques or processes to recover bitumen after a marine spill.
“No matter the skills of emergency workers, a single human or mechanical error in the Strait of Juan de Fuca could prove to be a calamity for our precious ocean and inter-tidal zones — devastating the richly diverse marine ecosystem and causing untold harm to businesses that rely on the ocean, our region’s tourism appeal, local real estate values and the overall quality of life in this magnificent part of the world.”
Friday, December 16 ~ SOOKE. One of the busiest shops in Sooke this month has been Dumont Tire.
In these cold winter weather conditions people have been taking in their vehicles for various types of service. Checking tires is a big thing this time of year, especially with snow frequently in the forecast.
Dumont Tire is at 2079 Otter Point Road. Call 250-642-6665 for information or to make an appointment for service. Long-time and new customers welcome.
Gift certificates available for the people in your life with vehicles! www.dumonttire.com
Friday, December 16- ~ SOOKE. “It’s in Sooke to give!” That’s why Sooke was chosen by Canadian Blood Services to host an extra mobile blood donor clinic so close to Christmas.
“Bring a friend, family member or colleague along and help us meet the holiday need,” says Canadian Blood Services rep Patricia Willms. “This Holiday Season, give a gift that can’t be bought – give someone their holidays back!”
Blood supply is always needed, especially in the holiday season. Sooke donors have proven themselves to answer the call.
The usual location at the Sooke Legion (6726 Eustace Rd) will be set up for the clinic from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm on Monday, December 19.
Regular donors and new donors are encouraged to take part. Appointments should be booked at www.blood.ca or by using the GiveBlood app. Or phone 1-888-236-6283.
Interruptions of the holiday season can contribute to a shortage of blood products that are vital to the treatment of cancer and trauma patients. As donors are often busy over Christmas with shopping and travel, there is often a drop in donor numbers.
Cancer patients are the biggest users of donated blood and rely on platelets during chemotherapy. Blood supplies are also used during and after surgeries.
Friday, December 16 ~ SOOKE. Randall Garrison, MP will be holding his Annual Christmas Open House on Monday, December 19 at his new constituency office that opened earlier this year.
The office is at 2904 Tillicum Road at Gorge Rd. Plenty of parking behind the building. RSVP is not required. Mingle and enjoy refreshments from 4 to 6 pm.
Garrison was first elected in 2011 when the riding was called Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. He was instrumental in having the riding renamed as Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke for the 2015 election, to better reflect the area in which voting takes place for the federal MP for this region.
Garrison attends many community functions throughout the year in Sooke.
This is a happy, safe deer. Photo taken in Sooke 2016 by West Shore Voice News.
Friday, December 16 ~ SOOKE. NOTE FROM THE EDITOR of WEST SHORE VOICE NEWS. Our apologies for choosing a particular image (of a deer with an arrow apparently through its neck) to accompany our post yesterday on a proposed guns & bow use bylaw in the District of Sooke. Not because it showed what appeared to be an injured deer (that’s the reality if one is out hunting) but because it was not an accurate photo (yikes, altered, but not by us, sorry about that!).
However, mention at Sooke Council (December 12) of a deer seen alive with an arrow in it (in a local Sooke neighbourhood) was the reference point and it does seem to have generated appropriate interest in the deer problem. It is our job as media to bring key issues to the attention of the community.
In our post yesterday, we did ask for public input on this, to include in an article coming up in our December 16th issue of our weekly paper, West Shore Voice News. Thank you to those you contributed your thoughts on how to manage the deer population in the Sooke area.
Some have suggested a proper cull by skilled hunters with the food going to those in need. Others have recommended contraception. Then there’s just the idea of fencing and using deer-resistant landscaping.
The tremendous interest in this topic should indicate to Sooke Council that even just allowing farmers with permits (as in the proposed Bylaw 659) to kill geese, deer and other animals that are apparently causing harm to crops, may not be welcome by the majority of residents of Sooke.
Sooke is fast becoming an urbanized community. The safety of all residents is paramount, and that includes the comfort of the *expectation* of safety.
Anyone who does not wish to see Bylaw 659 go ahead (a bylaw to regulate the discharge of firearms and bows within the municipal boundary) may wish to attend the public input session at the next Sooke council meeting, which is scheduled for January 9, 2017 (7 pm, council chambers, agenda will be posted approx Jan 5 at www.sooke.ca ).
West Shore Voice News is a discussion-generator in the community. We will continue to ask for public input as we compile articles on matters of public interest and concern.
Today’s photo was taken in the Maple Avenue area of Sooke. The deer was not in any danger.
Corner of West Coast Rd (Hwy14) & Maple Ave S at night, Dec 4, 2016 ~ Copyright 2016 West Shore Voice News
Friday, December 16 ~ SOOKE. New sidewalk, new puddles. The ‘sidewalk happiness’ of September 2016 has turned to ‘icy angst’ in cold weather, as rainfall runoff pools along West Coast Road.
On portions of the sidewalk there is no option for pedestrians and cyclists than to walk through the puddles or running water. This could present safety challenges in about five spots along the stretch of sidewalk from 6700-block West Coast Road over to Maple Avenue South.
For motorists, notably at the corner of West Coast Road (Hwy 14) and Maple Avenue South, a pooling of water at that corner becomes ice in sub-zero temperatures. This presents a driving safety challenge for motorists turning their vehicles from West Coast Road onto Maple Avenue South, including the danger of slipping into oncoming traffic on either West Coast Road or Maple.
With a series of photos, West Shore Voice News has brought this matter to the attention of the District of Sooke and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
More coming in the December 16 print/PDF issue of West Shore Voice News.
Thursday, December 15 ~ SOOKE. Safety at Christmas time has some special considerations.
Remember not to place the Christmas tree near the fireplace, near candles, or even near the TV. Those heat sources could cause a real tree or even an artificial tree to catch on fire.
Other types of holiday-season safety include making sure your turkey doesn’t sit out too long to thaw, and that cooked leftovers don’t sit out at room temperature for too long. Make sure that dairy like fresh whipped cream is kept chilled until served.
And of course there’s the whole matter of drinking at the holiday season. While fun with dinner and festivities, drinking sure doesn’t mix with driving.
Thursday, December 16 ~ SOOKE. Should it be okay to kill deer (or other wildlife) with guns or arrows in Sooke? Three municipalities on the BC mainland have been approved for deer culls, while the District of Oak Bay had their deer cull proposal turned down by the BC Government. Here’s Sooke’s approach to the matter:
After a bit of discussion, Sooke Council rapidly passed Bylaw 659 (readings 1, 2 and 3) the other night, December 12. So they’re one step away from final approval on the bylaw (next meeting is in January) that would allow persons *with a permit* (Crop Protection Permit or holder of a federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit issued by the Canadian Wildlife Service) to kill wildlife within the District of Sooke using a gun, pellet gun, or bow and arrow.
To be clear, the proposed bylaw does specify that the distance to any neighbouring house, school, business or group of persons be 150 metres. And there are other restrictions, like scaring or shooting an animal only on their own property.
But this seems to border on the realm of endangering the public. Who knows how far a bullet or pellet spray goes? Where does a wayward arrow end up?
Council is aiming to support crop-producing landowners who feel they have a valid reason to scare off or kill geese, deer, bears and other animals that are endangering their crops and livelihood. As Councillor Kevin Pearson reminded those present at the December 12 council meeting, the topic was initiated about a year ago following a presentation to Sooke council by Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Mike Hicks who was appealing on behalf of farmers in his area.
Councillor Pearson did generally articulate at Council on December 12 that Sooke is in the process of changing from rural to urban. This issue highlights the interface of the two lifestyle expectations.
At the December 12 Sooke council meeting, Councillor Brenda Parkinson said: “The deer that I saw had an arrow through its neck and it actually died on a neighbour’s property”. Parkinson also said that she read in a letter (as sent to the District) that a person felt their grandchildren could be potentially harmed by an injured deer. Parkinson asked for her vote against the motion to be officially recorded (on all three readings).
Mayor Maja Tait says she has received complaints from residents about seeing people out in the neighbourhoods with a crossbow. Tait says she has referred those complaints to the RCMP.
The new bylaw would see enforcement undertaken by Sooke’s own municipal enforcement officer and the RCMP, and lists this action as having a financial impact.
No one is talking about this area being a natural habitat for deer and how urban development is squeezing the deer out of their natural area. Other ways to manage deer include fencing and revising landscaping to be deer-resistant.
Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce president Kerry Cavers [photo by West Shore Voice News]
Wednesday, December 14 ~ The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce has appointed their 2017 Board of Directors. Returning as president for a second year is Kerry Cavers. Directors are: Beth Cougler Blom, Shandra Collins, Lorna Danylchuk, Gillian Dixon, Linda Ferguson, Alison Forster, Steve Grundy, Leslie Haddad, Dan Houle, Alayne MacIsaac, Michael Russo.The new board was sworn in by Sooke Mayor Maja Tait on December 7. Mayor Tait noted at the December 12 Sooke council meeting that most of these directors are new to elected Chamber leadership.
“There are many businesses in Sooke that appreciate the Chamber and the support we offer,” says Chamber President Cavers. “But we are also aware there are some businesses we have disappointed in the past and that we have some trust to rebuild.”
“I am very excited for next year. We have an amazing group of people dedicated to helping businesses in the Sooke region thrive,” said Cavers in a news release.
In the past year Cavers has stewarded the organization to a more positive note in a few areas. Earlier in the year she coordinated a few think-tanks for open discussion.
Mid-year, Cavers pulled out the Chamber from an agreement with the District of Sooke including having to provide non-revenue-generating activities (such as organizing the Sooke Santa Parade). The agreement with the District — while aimed at achieving broader economic support for all businesses in the region over the past three years — was distracting the Chamber from the business of serving its members and draining its apparently limited resources.
Wednesday, December 14 ~ Greater Victoria area. The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board has today approved their Regional Food and Agriculture Strategy (RFAS) which they say identifies the top issues facing the region‘s food and agriculture sector and provides recommendations for addressing challenges.
“The Strategy aims to enhance awareness of local agricultural issues and opportunities and increase local food production. The Strategy has been developed with the intent of complementing existing local agricultural area plans and provincial legislation/policy,” says a release from CRD today.
“Local food production is very important to our food security, local economy and environment. The Regional Food and Agriculture Strategy recognizes the benefits of developing local food systems and sets out concrete steps to support individuals, businesses and First Nations in accessing and adopting local options,” says CRD Board Chair, Barbara Desjardins.
Regional districts, municipalities and electoral areas do not have a specific mandate over food and agriculture. However, the food and agriculture sector is impacted by CRD services such as water delivery, environmental protection and conservation, watershed education and drinking watershed protection and management, liquid and solid waste management (including rural septic programs), invasive species eradication / native plant restoration, and more recently, wildlife (deer, geese, beaver, bullfrog) management. The RFAS identifies how these services relate to food and agriculture and provides recommendations.
The RFAS document identifies approaches to key issues such as:
- increasing access to farm land through a potential land bank or farmland trust,
- increasing farmers’ awareness of tools to address wildlife damage,
- working with partners to increase economic development opportunities, and
- addressing storm water and drainage issues.
Implementation will start with the formation of a regional food and agriculture task force. The task force will provide input to the Planning Transportation and Protective Services Committee to help set priorities and advance the Strategy recommendations. Task force members will represent non-profits, municipalities with significant agricultural land holdings or interests in food and agriculture, First Nations and the Ministry of Agriculture. “Task force appointments are intended to reflect the geographic and sectoral diversity of the Capital Region food and agriculture economy,” says CRD.
CRD says they had strong support and input from the agricultural sector, with the intent of complementing existing local agricultural area plans and provincial legislation and policy. They add that First Nations interests were strongly represented throughout the development of the Strategy.
Monday, December 12 ~ SOOKE.
Tonight the EMCS Robotics Club Film Night is holding a film night showing ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ at 6:30pm in the school theatre. Open to all.
It’s a fundraiser for the group of students to take a trip to Abbotsford next spring to participate in a Skills Canada project competition.
The group of EMCS students is working on some cool kinda robot for the competition. A great educational experience!
Sunday, December 11 ~ SOOKE. While most of our readers are finding West Shore Voice News online right here on this website (as well as through Twitter and Facebook), you can also get the print edition in several places.
The colour print edition is for sale every week on the newsstand at Shoppers Drug Mart in Sooke. Just $1.95. That’s cheaper than a cup of good coffee!
The grayscale print edition is available for pickup or reading on the premises, in many locations around Sooke. We thank these businesses and organizations for their support with advertisements or subscriptions: SEAPARC Leisure Complex (lobby), TD Bank (lobby), RBC Bank (lobby), Castle Liquor Store (front counter), The Stick in the Mud, Peoples Drug Mart, Mom’s Cafe, Stone Pipe Grill, The Uncommon Carrot, Livivi Hair, and Sooke Library (public shelf and reading area).
You can also find copies at West Coast Family Medical Clinic, A&W, Subway, and various other places around town. 
Premium Digital Subscribers can receive the full PDF directly by email ($28+GST for 18 weeks). Sponsors can receive a link each week by email ($23.45+GST for a whole year!).
Snail mail! Some subscribers get the print edition by postal mail (that also includes the PDF by email for fast access each week).
For any of the subscription options, please see the Subscribe page in this website for more info. Or call 250-217-5821 or email to news@westshorevoicenews.com
If you find yourself in Colwood, you can pick up a copy at the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre and the Juan de Fuca Library, as well as Pilgrim Coffee House.
Sunday, December 11 ~ WEST SIDE of VANCOUVER ISLAND. For anyone who’s out shopping for a home at Christmas, or who otherwise just follows the real estate trends in Greater Victoria, this is for you.
A look at the MLS numbers (Nov 2016, Greater Victoria Real Estate Board) shows the trend for best-value right now in Colwood and Metchosin (narrow margin between benchmark and actual raw sale average). Where there’s a considerable margin between the Greater Victoria MLS benchmark (data-adjusted) value and what you actually pay is in Langford and Sooke.
Compare: Benchmark for a single-family home in Colwood is $561,700, with the average of actual sales being pretty close at $551,720. In Sooke the benchmark is $420,900 but the actual sales average works out to $502,775.
Yes, this is a look at one month’s figures, but the trend has been heading this way for a while. West Shore Voice News continues to follow real estate trends in detail with custom little insights that stand apart from regular news coverage.
Click on the above image to see the prices for Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, and Sooke as compared to the overall Greater Victoria area. Or find the original article on page 1 in the print/PDF December 9, 2016 issue of West Shore Voice News.
Sunday, December 11- ~ SOOKE. “It’s in Sooke to give!” That’s why Sooke was chosen by Canadian Blood Services to host a mobile blood donor clinic so close to Christmas.
“Bring a friend, family member or colleague along and help us meet the holiday need,” says Canadian Blood Services rep Patricia Willms. “This Holiday Season, give a gift that can’t be bought – give someone their holidays back!”
Blood supply is always needed, especially in the holiday season. Sooke donors have proven themselves to answer the call.
The usual location at the Sooke Legion (6726 Eustace Rd) will be set up for the clinic from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm on Monday, December 19.
Regular donors and new donors are encouraged to take part. Appointments should be booked at www.blood.ca or by using the GiveBlood app. Or phone 1-888-236-6283.
Interruptions of the holiday season can contribute to a shortage of blood products that are vital to the treatment of cancer and trauma patients. As donors are often busy over Christmas with shopping and travel, there is often a drop in donor numbers.
Cancer patients are the biggest users of donated blood and rely on platelets during chemotherapy. Blood supplies are also used during and after surgeries.
Saturday, December 10- ~ SOOKE. Tonight is the night! Can you hear the sirens? Sooke firefighters are going around Sooke from 4:30 pm to 10 pm in decorated firetrucks.
They hope you will make a donation to the Christmas Bureau food hampers with your donation of non-perishable food items or cash.
Follow the Santa Run online at www.sooke.ca/santa as well as on Facebook at SookeFireRescueService or on Twitter hashtag #SookeSanta or at @SookeCa .
Friday, December 9 ~ SOOKE. Teams of firefighters and many other volunteers are manning the ‘Fill a Firetruck’ setups at the two main malls and other locations in Sooke.
Donations of non-perishable food items and cash are accepted.
Being situated outside both major grocery stores makes it easy to shop and then add your contribution to the Fill a Firetruck grocery cart.
On Saturday, December 10 the firefighters will go around Sooke from 4:30 pm to 10 pm in decorated firetrucks. They hope you will make a donation to the Christmas Bureau food hampers with your donation of non-perishable food items or cash. Follow the Santa Run online at www.sooke.ca/santa as well as on Facebook at SookeFireRescueService or on Twitter hashtag #SookeSanta or at @SookeCa .
Friday, December 9 ~ SOOKE. For Vancouver Island where we can go several winters in a row without snow, there was a relatively big snowfall last night, but not enough to grind things to a halt.
Schools are still open in the SD62 School District (Sooke, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin), except in the Port Renfrew area. School buses are still running but might be behind schedule.
SD62 says it’s always up to parents whether it’s safe enough to send their children to school. www.sd62.bc.ca
Nighttime temperatures started falling below zero a few nights ago, so the snow does not really come as a surprise.
Wednesday, December 7 ~ SOOKE. Yesterday’s snowfall has lingered on sideroads. Otherwise, roads are fairly clear but temperatures will drop below zero tonight, so watch out for black ice.
Tuesday, December 6 ~ GREATER VICTORIA AREA. Need some Holiday Recycling Tips, Green Gift Ideas, or Green New Year’s Resolutions? The Capital Regional District (CRD) wants to contribute to this being a “green” holiday season.
At the www.crd.bc.ca/memories website you’ll find information on holiday waste reduction, gift ideas that will help create memories – not garbage, tips on properly preparing recyclables at the curb, Christmas light recycling locations and much more!
While the winter holiday season brings good cheer and great times with friends and family for many people, it also brings a lot more consumer purchases and waste.
CRD says that the quantity of recycling generated during this time period increases dramatically as people shop more. Discarded items include holiday wrap, cards and ribbon, in addition to the enormous quantity of cans, bottles and plastic containers tossed after holiday celebrations.
Monday, December 5 ~ SOOKE. Two major sidewalk infrastructure projects took place this past summer in Sooke. One along Grant Road West (from Otter Point Rd to Maple Ave S) to the tune of $95,000 and another along West Coast Road (from around The Hope Centre to Maple Ave S) at a cost of $73,900.
The District of Sooke contracted out both of those projects to PLAN Contracting Ltd of Sooke (2016). The work was done in various stages in July to September.
It’s been appreciated by pedestrians, cyclists and people pushing strollers to have a smooth sidewalk surface. But in the dark of night in the rainy season, the drainage aspect of the sidewalk installation along West Coast Road is proving to produce some potentially hazardous scenarios for pedestrians. Rainwater is making its way across the sidewalk, sometimes puddling and frequently actively streaming.
In some sections, pedestrians have no choice but to make their way through the rainwater, as there is wet grass or sloped gravel on one side and the busy highway on the other side. While West Shore Voice News was taking photos of the situation, one passerby said “it’s like walking through a river”. It’s bad enough to walk through puddles of unknown depth and debris. When temperatures reach zero or below, these sections of water will turn to dangerous stretches of ice. At night they will be particularly hazardous to navigate.
The District of Sooke has now seen these photos and will hopefully be looking into the safety conditions of using the sidewalk along West Coast Road (town centre to Maple). The rainwater conditions of the summer-2016 sidewalk along Grant Road West are yet to be determined.
![RBC Branch in Sooke opened new in Dec 2015 [Photo: Nov 2016 by West Shore Voice News]](https://islandsocialtrends.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/115650-RBCBankSooke-Nov2816-web.jpg)
RBC Branch in Sooke opened new in Dec 2015 [Photo: November 2016 by West Shore Voice News]
Saturday, December 3 ~ SOOKE. The RBC Bank in Sooke has had four managers in as many years.As of November 21, 2016 the new manager at RBC Sooke is Elke Paone.
Departing on maternity leave in November was Chelsea Ramsay who arrived new to branch management in December 2015. She had the exciting challenge of opening the brand new RBC building located at 6639 Sooke Road at the roundabout in Sooke town centre.
Before that, first-time branch manager Joanne Walsh started at the Sooke branch in May 2014. Walsh had relieved branch manager Krista Moffett who proved her versatility and resilience.
Moffeet had skillfully piloted the RBC Sooke staff through a rapid succession of big transitions following the destruction of the old RBC Sooke building at 6660 Sooke Road by fire on July 31, 2013. In 2014 Moffett moved on to the Uptown Branch in Victoria.
Saturday, December 3 ~ SOOKE. The December 2 weekly colour print edition of West Shore Voice News is on the newsstand at Shoppers Drug Mart in Sooke.
Just $1.95 … cheaper than a cup of good coffee!
It’s a keeper … see page 5 in this week’s issue for a list of who’s taking part in the Sooke Santa Parade on December 4… walking groups, floats, a fire truck, a boat or two, and a few horses!
The editorial is about pipelines. But who’s thinking about that on a Christmas party weekend?
Saturday, December 3 ~ SOOKE. Just in time for all the Christmas parties going on in town tonight, and of course for the Santa Parade tomorrow night December 4… a brand new aluminum-strand Christmas tree, shiny and bright in Sooke town centre. Right in the middle of the roundabout! Nicely reflected by the wet pavement in the rain tonight.
The supports in the roundabout that are used to secure the tree will stay in year-round, to avoid extensive setup in the years ahead.
Town centre along Sooke Road has a lot more lighting this year, and also along Wadams Way. There are 18 banner stands with decorative lights and birds-in-snow banners.
The District of Sooke has spent about $30,000 on completing the new setup. It’s an investment for the years ahead.
Friday, December 2 ~ SOOKE. Guess who’s going to be in the Sooke Santa Parade on Sunday! Lots of floats, 42, count ’em! The lineup will start with about 40 cadets walking at the head of the parade. They will be followed by Sooke Mayor and Council. Then the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and the RCMP with a vehicle and trailer.
Ho ho ho, there’s more! Harmony Drumline, Home Hardware, mini horses, RE/MAx, BC Nurses, Ogilvie Creations, SEAPARC Leisure Complex, Seahawks Football team, Sooke Boxing, Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue, 2 Reel Fishing Adventures, Sooke Dance Studio, Sooke Food Bank, Your Perfect Gifts, Sooke Soccer, BC Ambulance, Sooke Fire Rescue, Silver Streak boats, A Sea of Bloom, Saltwater Series, Sooke Community Association, Butler Bros, 642 Wear, Ocean Breeze Drywall, 4 Seasons Fishing, Metis, P & D Closet, RCMSAR, Sooke Rotary, A-Line, McDermaids, RBC Sooke, Henry Veasey, Sooke Lions and Santa, Sooke Sailing Association, and Horse’n Around (with two horses)!
This year’s parade has been organized by the Sooke Lions Club with lots of support from the leadership class at Edward Milne Community School (EMCS). The District of Sooke has provided funding.
The parade route starts at Sooke Elementary School, along Sooke Road into town centre, and ending on Otter Point Road just past the corner of Sooke Road.
Christmas decorative lighting will be in full swing in town centre in time for the December 4 parade, including a decorated aluminum tree in the roundabout. This year’s banner/lightstands will be lit up from December 4 into mid-January 2017.
Cold temperatures and possibly even snow are in The Weather Network forecast for Sunday night, December 4.
Thursday, December 1 ~ SOOKE. Students at Edward Milne Community School in Sooke collected 11,007 items tonight during their “10,000 Tonight” food bank drive.
The items were collected door to door and were also brought to the school this evening starting at 4:30 pm. The final tally was announced just before 10 pm.
The items will be donated to the Sooke Food Bank as part of the Christmas Bureau hamper program.
The Christmas Bureau hampers are assembled in the days ahead of Christmas, and delivered about 2 to 3 days before Christmas so that families in need are prepared for a holiday dinner.
The high schools in Langford and Colwood will hold their 10,000 Tonight drives on Wednesday December 7.
Thursday, December 1 ~ SOOKE. The District of Sooke has announced the hiring of Kenn Mount as the new Fire Chief for the District of Sooke. Mr. Mount will officially be appointed to the position at the next Regular Council meeting (December 12, 2016) and will begin as Sooke Fire Chief on January 1, 2017.
Mount recently held the position of the Regional Fire Chief at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, located in Salmon Arm. His experience there has included management and administration of 13 Fire Departments in the Regional District, including the coordination of training, fire prevention and departmental initiatives. “I am excited about the opportunity to move to the west coast and look forward to working with the excellent firefighters in the community of Sooke,” says Kenn Mount.
Kenn Mount will be the new Sooke Fire Chief starting January 1, 2017.
“Mr Mount brings tremendous experience and leadership qualities to the District of Sooke,“ commented Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Teresa Sullivan. “His demonstrated success as a Fire Chief in a multi-faceted regional district speaks for itself, and he will be an invaluable addition to the fire department and senior leadership team.”
Since the summertime retirement of the former long-serving Sooke Fire Chief Steve Sorensen, the post of interim fire chief has been held by former Colwood Fire Chief Russ Cameron. District of Sooke Council at a recent meeting indicated a bit of a budget overrun in 2016 due to the extended period of an interim chief (past October 31, 2016) during the search for a new one.
“We advertised across Canada and went through a rigorous screening process in order to get the right fit for the community,” says Sullivan. “Our career and volunteer firefighters are pleased with the outcome as are we here at the District of Sooke,” she told West Shore Voice News today.
Thursday, December 1 ~ LANGFORD. Running as the BC Liberal Candidate in Langford-Juan de Fuca for the May 9, 2017 provincial election is Cathy Noel. She is a local entrepreneur and charity event organizer.
She will be running head to head with long-time Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan, NDP who has served the region since first being elected in 2005. Horgan became the province-wide party leader of the BC NDP in 2014. Horgan lives in Langford and in the Langford-Juan de Fuca west shore riding has a strong base in Sooke. Horgan has years of background in handling key province-wide issues including energy, education, the environment and the economy.
“I’m ready to take my experiences as an Island business owner, entrepreneur, and mother and use them to make a real difference in our community,” said Ms Noel. She says that a growing riding needs “a strong champion for this growth in the Legislature who understands that the best way to look after the people we love is with a strong economy that creates good jobs on the Island and across BC”,” as stated in a BC Liberal news release.
Noel owns and operates a small business that has organized local charity events for dozens of not-for-profits across the Island. She is also the Race Director of two of the largest races on the Island: the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon and the Victoria Goddess Run, and is past race director of the Times Colonist 10k, and past president of the Vancouver Island Runners Association.
Noel says her top priorities for the region are to grow the local economy to create jobs and opportunities in the South Island, and to get to the government table to deliver on regional needs such as health care, education, and transportation infrastructure.
Noel joins a team of 66 BC Liberal candidates already nominated province-wide.
Thursday, December 1 ~ SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND. Snow is forecasted to sea level on all of Vancouver Island with snow as early as Sunday December 4, but with forecasts for significant snowfall Wednesday, December 7.
Winter tires are mandatory on the Trans Canada Highway (Hwy 1) Malahat section, and on Highway 18 in the Cowichan Valley area, as well as on West Coast Road (Hwy 14) west of Sooke.
- The Malahat on Highway 1 is well known for challenging driving conditions even in good weather. It is an unavoidable section of highway if travelling from/to the Greater Victoria area to/from upisland.
- Highway 18 is a short, 42 km long main vehicle route in the Cowichan Valley Regional District on Vancouver Island, connecting the city of Duncan on the Trans-Canada Highway with the community of Youbou, on the north shore of Lake Cowichan.
- Highway 14 (Sooke Road / called West Coast Road in the section that is west of Otter Point Road in Sooke town centre), requires winter tires anywhere west of the Grant Road West intersection (heading west to Kemp Lake and beyond).
In anticipation of this weather event, Mainroad winter operations will be in effect on all Highways. Their regular winter crews are on shift 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Extra manpower and equipment are brought in as conditions warrant and will continue until the conditions change and highways are back to normal,” says Leon Bohmer, Operations Manager, Mainroad South Island Contracting LP.
“During winter driving conditions we’re reminding everyone to please drive safe especially when approaching a highway maintenance vehicle,” says Bohmer. “Our 24 hour communications centre will pass on all your observations and concerns to our crews when contacted.”
The Mainroad 24hr Hotline is 1.877.391.7310.
Thursday, December 1 ~ SOOKE. It doesn’t get much more important than this, when it comes to planning and growing a community: Economy, Built Form & Infrastructure.
Provide your input on those topics to the District of Sooke at today’s (Dec 1) drop-in forum in the SEAPARC lobby. District staff will be there 2:30-7:30 pm if you have questions or detailed comments. There are also poster-board sheets on various topics where you can write in your comments.
The previous two open houses have had a lot of input. Sooke planner Danica Rice who has headed up this Official Community Plan input initiative has a lot of material to work with! At least six online surveys at www.sooke.ca have also been gleaning public comments and input.
A new draft OCP for 2017 and beyond is expected from the District later this month or early in the new year.
The present OCP was essentially developed in 2008 by a committee of community members, with final approval seen by District of Sooke Council in 2010. A lot has changed in six years, hence the revamp. A broader range of public inputs has been achieved this time.
Thursday, December 1 ~ SOOKE. This is the night for 10,000 Tonight! It’s a Christmas season food drive by Edward Milne Community School (EMCS). Students will go door-to-door from 5 pm to 9 pm collecting non-perishables for the Sooke Food Bank.
You can also bring your non-perishable food items to the school at 6218 Sooke Road. All donations can be dropped off today in the EMCS office during school hours. Donations dropped off tonight can be brought to the school foyer.
Combined with the two other SD62 high schools (Belmont and Royal Bay), last year over 12,000 items were collected for food banks and the seasonal Christmas Bureau hampers.
Firetrucks at Sooke Fire Hall #1 at Christmas time (Dec 2014) by West Shore Voice News
Thursday, December 1 ~ SOOKE. The Sooke Santa Run will take place this year on Saturday, December 10 from 4:30 pm to 10 pm. Presented by the Sooke Firefighter’s Association and IAFF Local 4841, the Santa Run has become a holiday tradition for many families in Sooke. This is the 23rd year that local firefighters have organized this event, the culmination of a weeks-long effort to fill a firetruck with donations of food and cash for the Sooke Christmas Bureau.
Beginning at dusk, four firetrucks will travel through Sooke neighbourhoods decorated with Christmas lights, playing festive holiday music. As the firetrucks reach each neighbourhood, residents are encouraged to come outside with donations of non-perishable food ideas. Get a candy cane and say hello to Santa and his helpers!
For many years, residents have listened for the sound of the firetrucks nearby before heading out the watch for their arrival. They are certainly hard to miss! But did you know that Santa’s location can also be tracked live online? Check out www.sooke.ca/santa for route maps and truck locations.
Updates will also be sent out on Facebook at Sooke Fire Rescue Service and on Twitter @SookeCa with the hashtag #SookeSanta
In case you miss the Saturday night drive, donations for the Sooke Christmas Bureau can also be dropped off at Sooke Firehall #1, 2225 Otter Point Road on December 10 during the hours of 4:30 pm to 9 pm.
Wednesday, November 30 ~ SOOKE. The Sooke Santa Parade is on Sunday, December 4. Floats will begin making their way from Sooke Elementary toward Sooke town centre at 5pm, heading through and around the Roundabout in town centre, onto West Coast Road and to Shields Road. The parade will wrap up around Sooke Community Hall and the Sooke Legion on Shields/Eustace.
Decorative seasonal lights in the roundabout area will lit up starting December 4 in time for the parade. They will be energized nightly to around mid January. Banners with red birds in snow will also be on banner stands in town centre and along Wadams Way until mid-January.
Freshly made swags with red bows were put up in town centre and along West Coast Road as far along as the Hope Centre, adding to festive cheer.
The main organizers of this year’s parade are the volunteers with the Sooke Lions Club, assisted in large part by the leadership class from Edward Milne Community School. Funding for the parade has been provided by the District of Sooke.
Before this year, the Santa Parade had been organized for several years by the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce.
Wednesday, November 30 ~ SOOKE. About 477 BC Hydro customers in the Sooke area have been without power from around 7:20 am this morning (to presently 8:45 am) — about 60 customers in the Phillips Rd/Sunriver area and about 417 customers in the West Coast Road area.
As of about 8:30 am, about 1,033 BC Hydro customers in the East Sooke area lost power due to trees down across wires.
There have been strong winds in the last few hours.
Wednesday, November 30 ~ SOOKE. Mom’s Cafe is known for so many things…. their hearty dinners, their amazing pies, casual seating, and friendly atmosphere.
And now their Prime Rib Dinner is back! On the first Friday of each month. Coming up, Friday December 2. For a 10 oz prime rib just $24.95 including Yorkshire Pudding, Roasted or Mashed Potatoes, and Vegetable of the Day.
If you’re new to Sooke, they’re centrally located at 2036 Shields Road at Eustace, right across from Sooke Community Hall.
Tuesday, November 29 ~ SOOKE. A few weeks of Ethiopian bean sales at $20 a bag have resulted in support for Hum (Eric Anderson) on his trip to Ethiopia in early January.
A fundraiser by David Evans at The Stick in the Mud since the end of September has generated $1,996 to support Hum’s next trip to Ethiopia. Evans issued a cheque to Hum today, with thanks for all of his work for others.
Everyone’s support in the community “was an effective community-building exercise”, says Evans. “I know that Hum will be able to do effective work on the ground, as he has done for decades. The beans were ordered in from Ethiopia by The Stick, and Evans did the roasting himself. All the bags of beans sold in about one month, tabulation of the proceeds from our Point of Sale system took another few days!”
Hum has lived ‘off the grid’ in a small cottage in the Sooke Hills for the last 40 years, writing novels in his spare time.
See background story on page 6 in the September 23, 2016 issue of West Shore Voice News.
Swags going up on poles on West Coast Road, Nov 28, 2016. Photo by West Shore Voice News.
Monday, November 28 ~ SOOKE. Festive LED lights– 18 of them, count ’em, have been installed on the ornamental street lights in Sooke town centre and on Wadams Way along with “Birds in the Snow” banners.
The lights and banners were in place by November 18, but the lights will not be energized until Sunday, December 4 — just in time for the parade. The lights will stay on and banners up to approximately the second week of January, say District of Sooke staff.
The roundabout will have a 6-metre tall LED aluminum tree (similar style to LED lights above) installed in time for the parade. Last week gardeners were prepping the roundabout for installation of the tree by making space among the native plantings of ferns, huckleberry and maples for the tree’s anchors (see cover story in November 18, 2016 West Shore Voice News). Tree anchors will remain in the planted area of the roundabout.
Christmas lights will be set up in the large evergreen trees by the town centre kiosk and Legion building. Ornaments are now in the large tree outside municipal hall — but just the top portion, to avoid vandalism on the lower limbs that are withing reach from the street.
Last Saturday, evergreen swags with red bows were assembled by volunteer ‘elves’ for the utility poles and public buildings. Today November 28 the swags were affixed on poles as far along as the Hope Centre on West Coast Road. This helps stretch the festive cheer from the lit-up roundabout area into the heavily traveled area west of Otter Point Road where about 60 stores, offices and businesses operate within a two-block radius.
Monday, November 28 ~ SOOKE. Peoples Drug Mart in Sooke was getting some new exterior signage installed today, under nice bright skies, no rain. The process took several hours including use of a boom and crane outside the store at 6716 West Coast Road.
The store has a wide selection of holiday gift items and decor, as well as clothing, hats, scarves and boots.
Under new management since earlier this year, Peoples Sooke provides individualized attention to prescriptions, including special dispensing for animals and pets. They provide flu shots at the pharmacy when the vaccine is available.
Peoples Sooke is open daily. Their store hours are Monday to Thursday 8am to 8pm, Fridays 8am to 6pm, Saturdays 9am to 6pm, and Sundays/holidays 10am to 5pm.
Saturday, November 26 ~ SOOKE. The Sooke Seniors Drop-In Centre has announced that they are closing, and that includes cancellation of their Tuesday/Thursday bingo. The president of Sooke Seniors – Carol Pinalski – says they’ve had enough.
The group has been asking the District of Sooke for a seniors centre for six years. The presently small group of seniors who gather in the lower level of the Sooke Comunity Hall twice a week can no longer handle the physical challenges of using that space. And the only activity they feel they can offer at this time — bingo – is not of interest to everyone.
Pinalski says the center will remain closed until a proper seniors centre is available in Sooke.
The District of Sooke has had a Community Centre committee for about two years. That committee (and all others that are not mandated by statute) will end soon. Three new committees will start in January 2017, for which the District is accepting volunteer member applications: Protective Services and Community Safety | Community Developemnt | Arts and Culture
See letter about the plight of the Sooke Seniors group, from Carol Pinalski, on the LETTERS page of this website.
Friday, November 25 ~ VICTORIA. Island Health has issued an urgent message to drug consumers: Avoid using alone.
In response to seven overdose deaths on Vancouver Island in the past week (five of those have occurred on the South Island and four of these in the last 72 hours), Island Health is issuing an urgent warning to individuals who are going to use illicit drugs.
Avoid using alone, and make sure someone is around who is willing and able to seek help if an overdose happens.
This warning applies to all methods of drug consumption – injection, inhalation, snorting, smoking or consuming with alcohol.
“While vulnerable, street-entrenched individuals are still very high risk for overdoses, we are finding that recent overdose deaths involve individuals who are in housing, whether that be a private residence or publicly-funded housing facilities, including shelters,” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “These individuals need to know they are at significant risk of overdose, especially if they use alone.”
Island Health is particularly concerned given the approaching weekend and this week’s issuing of social service cheques. In addition to warning regular and weekend recreational users, Island Health has issued an alert for its front-line staff as a well as community service providers. Island Health continues to work with community service providers to further increase outreach and overdose response capacity.
“The drugs on the street are more potent and dangerous than they have ever been before,” Dr. Stanwick said. “Do not use alone. Please, have someone around who is willing and able to seek help if an overdose happens.”
The following strategies can reduce the risk:
– Avoid using alone; fix with a friend
– Try a small amount of new drugs first
– Stagger use with friends so someone can respond if needed
– Avoid using more than one drug at a time (stacking drugs increases risk of overdoses and contributes to more severe overdoses)
– Carry and use naloxone and have an overdose response plan
– Be close to help
If someone overdoses:
– Call 9-1-1 immediately
– Provide rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth)
– Administer naloxone
Coenraad Simpson, owner-pharmacist, Shoppers Drug Mart (Sooke)
Friday, November 25 ~ SOOKE. Flu shots have been popular this start-of-winter flu season.
In fact, at Shoppers Drug Mart Sooke they did over 1,000 flu vaccinations in about 10 days, says store owner and pharmacist Coenraad Simpson. That was about three weeks ago.
They are awaiting further supply, expected mid-December. That’s about the time the Island Health flu clinics are set for as well. There will be a public flu clinic at at CASA, 6672 Wadams Way, Sooke on Tuesday, December 13 (1 to 3:30 pm). Clinic dates and times: www.islandfluclinics.ca
The 2016-2017 flu shot aims to immunize people against two new flu strains: Brisbane B (expected to cause complications for younger people) and Hong Kong A (which seems to have affected seniors first in an early start to the flu season though mostly in care homes on the BC mainland). The H1N1 flu (which caused a pandemic in 2009) is still out there and causing illness in this year’s flu season; that strain seems to come with strong to severe muscle aches.
All health professionals continue to recommend frequent hand washing as a way to reduce your flu risk. If you cough or sneeze do not do that in the direction of other people; use your elbow or tissues. Anyone who has the flu should stay home until they are completely recovered.
More information on the flu: www.viha.ca/flu
Wednesday, November 23 ~ SOOKE. The EMCS Robotics Club is gearing up to participate in a Skills Canada innovation competition. The event takes place in April 2017 in Abbotsford. The students will compete with a built-from-scratch robot that they are working on at the school.
A few fundraisers are being planned, to help fund the trip for these robotics keeners at Edward Milne Community School (EMCS)! A Guardians of the Galaxy film night on Monday December 12 (6:30 pm, EMCS) is one fundraiser coming up soon. A retro gamers tournament on Monday December 19 (10:30 to 4 pm) is another event being held at the high school toward this cause. Fee to participate all day is $10 per person.
Businesses in the Sooke region are invited to help support this venture. Any donation amount is welcome. Sponsors will have their website address posted on the EMCS Robotics “EMCS Robotics Division” Facebook page.
Why support this venture? “Because the community wants gaming and we need funding to help educate students and give them a unique opportunity unavailable to most of the highschools in Canada,” says Grade 12 student Triston Line who heads up the EMCS Robotics Club.
Equipment is brought in by the participants, they can bring in a Raspberry Pi and we can load a Gaming OS onto their Pi. More about Raspberry Pi for those who don’t know: www.raspberrypi.org/
The theme for the Gaming Tournament is Retro meaning games such as “Sonic, Galaga, Battle Toads, etc”.
To be a sponsor of the EMCS Robotics Club or their tournament, contact EMCS Robotics Club coordinator Triston Line at tmanaok@gmail.com
Sunday, November 20 ~ SOOKE. Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery Inc in the Sooke area says they are grateful for the funding provided by the Buy Local Program. “This allowed us the ability to invest in much needed promotional materials for our business,” says co-owner Dana LeComte.
The BC government’s Buy Local Program is providing funding to local companies to promote their products, increase consumer demand and sales while supporting food security in BC. Three island companies — Canadian Artisan Foods Inc of Victoria, Snowdon House Gourmet & Gifts in North Saanich, and Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery Inc in Otter Point — are in total receiving up to $42,400 in funding to launch advertising and promotional campaigns:
The Buy Local program has received $8 million in BC government funding since 2012 to increase sales of locally grown and processed agrifood and seafood products within the province.
The provincial government’s Buy Local program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia. Applications are available at: http://iafbc.ca/funding-opportunities/buy-local/
Says Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick: “Local companies contribute to generating jobs, building the economy and providing products that come right from our own backyards — guaranteeing the freshest flavours possible. Thanks to the Buy Local program, we can help support these companies and recognize and celebrate their passion and dedication to the BC agrifoods industry.”
Volunteers for the Sooke Christmas Bureau (2015)
Saturday, November 19 ~ SOOKE. “Sooke is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers and community groups that organize fun, family friendly events around the holidays,” says a news release from the District of Sooke this week. Many of these events, such as the Festival of Trees at SEAPARC throughout December, and the Santa Parade on December 4, are offered free or for a low-cost, which helps to ease the financial burden families often find themselves faced with at this busy time of year.
For many Sooke residents, the Sooke Food Bank and the Sooke Christmas Bureau also provide some added financial relief, both during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year, says the District of Sooke.
At their meeting on November 14, Sooke Council approved two grants totaling to $12,000 for support of the Christmas hampers this year (most of that goes to the purchase of turkeys and hams at cost), as well as $4,100 for office items and supplies.
The Sooke Christmas Bureau kicked off its annual campaign on November 18 and volunteers will be collecting donations of food and cash for the next several weeks. Not only do volunteers stand out in the cold at collection stations outside the grocery stores, Shoppers, and other locations in Sooke, they then spend two or three concentrated days (just before Christmas) to sort the thousands of donated items and to pack the hampers.
Donations of non-perishable food items will contribute to those who apply to have access to a hamper of healthy food for their table during the holiday season.
During the rest of the year, the Sooke Food Bank helps to fill this gap in our community. It is estimated that more than 3,600 volunteer hours were spent in operating the Sooke Food Bank last year alone.
The time that volunteers spend collecting and sorting donations are the reason that the Sooke Christmas Bureau and the Sooke Food Bank can help to provide for those who find themselves in need.
The District of Sooke asks area residents to consider donating to the Sooke Christmas Bureau, and throughout the year to the Sooke Food Bank. To volunteer with the Christmas Bureau, call 250-642-1534 and leave a message.
Friday, November 18 ~ SOOKE. There are two major Christmas craft sales coming up at Sooke Community Hall — one this weekend, and the other next weekend.
- This weekend’s All Sooke Christmas Craft Fair at Sooke Community Hall runs tonight Friday, November 18 as well as on Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20.
- Next weekend’s Biggest Little Craft Fair at Sooke Community Hall be one day, on Saturday November 26. Presented by Sooke Fall Fair.
- Then coming up Friday December 9 and Saturday December 10 will be a new Sooke Winter Night Market at the Sooke Region Museum. www.sookeregionmuseum.ca
Friday, November 18 ~ SOOKE. Banners and lighting are being installed onto the bannerstands in Sooke town centre in the roundabout area.
According to a discussion at Sooke Council on Monday night November 14, about $30,000 in expenditures was expected to occur as an investment in seasonal decorative lighting.
Also this week the native plantings in the roundabout boulevard areas were weeded, in preparation for the festive season. More details for the interest of gardeners, coming in the print/PDF November 18 issue of West Shore Voice.
Friday, November 18 ~ VICTORIA. Commuters, cyclists and pedestrians will have their travel schedules interrupted by rock blasting for the McKenzie Interchange highway improvement project on Highway 1(Trans-Canada Hwy). The blasting begins today, Friday November 18.
Traffic interruptions will be intermittent. During the day the traffic waits will be about 15 minutes long, affecting drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. In the evenings traffic will be stopped completely when rock excavation takes place 8 to 10 pm Monday to Saturday. The rock excavation activity in the evening will continue to April 2017. There will be no construction activity on Sundays or statutory holidays.
Travelers using Highway 1 to reach Victoria from upisland, and those generally commuting between the west shore and Saanich and downtown, should check www.Drivebc.ca for the most up to date traffic advisories. Users of the Galloping Goose trail are encouraged to use alternate routes or be prepared to stop during the work periods. Motorists will need to incorporate additional time into their travel schedules.
Completion of the long-awaited McKenzie Interchange is expected later in 2018. Many in the Greater Victoria area have pushed for commuter traffic flow improvements at the intersection of McKenzie and Admirals Road, particularly to serve morning and evening commuter traffic between the western communities of Langford, Colwood and Sooke (which have become ‘bedroom communities’ to the Victoria/Saanich employment hub) and the core area of Greater Victoria.
Tuesday, November 15 ~ SOOKE. The District of Sooke invites applications for new Council Committees that will begin their term in January 2017.
The new Council Committees will be:
o Protective Services and Community Safety
o Community Development
o Arts and Culture
The three new committees will replace all current committees, except those which are statutory requirements. For months now, Mayor and council have made several references to the changing committee structure, appearing to have put a lot of thought and work into it.
“I am excited about this new direction for our Council Committees,” said Mayor Maja Tait. “I believe that this will streamline and improve our decision-making structure and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue with the public.”
The new committee structure is outlined on the Committees page of the District website, and members of the public are invited to apply for appointment to a committee that is of interest to them. Application forms may be obtained from the Council Committees section of the District website at www.sooke.ca or at the District office.
Tuesday, November 15 ~ LANGFORD. TRAFFIC ALERT FOR COMMUTERS. On Wednesday November 16 and Friday November 18, highway road crews will be paving on Hwy 1 in the north bound lane at West Shore Parkway, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
The paving is part of the West Shore Parkway completion project, says Mainroad South Island. The City of Langford is completing the second left turn lane on Hwy 1 northbound, turning left onto the West Shore Parkway.
Paving is weather dependent and has been challenging this fall season given the record amounts of rain on the south island.
Traffic control will be on-site to ensure no major disruptions. Delays may be expected.
Friday, November 11 ~ GREATER VICTORIA AREA. The long-awaited but complex MacKenzie Interchange construction work has begun.
With a notice of drilling and blasting released on November 10, work will occur adjacent to the current highway alignment starting November 10 and lasting to around April of 2017.
• Drilling activities are permitted between 3:00pm & 9:00pm Monday to Friday and 9:00am & 9:00pm Saturdays.
• Blasting is permitted between 8:00pm & 10:00pm Monday to Saturday. Preparatory work for blasting will be completed throughout the day with possible multiple blasts during the permitted evening time window.
• No blasting is permitted on Sundays or Statutory Holidays
For safety, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are asked to obey traffic control personnel. Warning signs will be as follows:
• Twelve (12) short whistles, followed by a brief pause;
• Blast(s) will be detonated;
• A long whistle indicates all is clear.
During construction, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) is committed to minimize delays and maximize predictability for all commuters (drivers, transit users, cyclists and pedestrians) by undertaking the majority of work outside of peak periods. The ministry will not allow lane closures for construction on Sundays, statutory holidays, or during the hours of 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Nighttime work may include 15-30 minute traffic stoppages and advance notice will be provided.
Regular updates and advance notification will be provided as needed through DriveBC, social media, traffic advisories, and changeable message signs. Project updates: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/mckenzieinterchange/construction-updates/
Ministry staff will be monitoring traffic throughout to ensure any delays related to construction are minimal.
Thursday, November 10 ~ BC. Premier Christy Clark will be at the West Kelowna Memorial Service in honour of Remembrance Day. NDP Leader John Horgan will be in Vancouver at a ceremony for Remembrance Day, though today he attended a ceremony at Spencer Middle School in Langford.
On the west shore of Vancouver Island, Randall Garrison, MP (Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke) will be in Esquimalt for Remembrance Day ceremonies, and Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) will be in Langford at Veterans Memorial Park.
In Sooke, a wreath will be laid at the Sooke Cenotaph on November 11 by retired Sooke Fire Chief Steve Sorensen on behalf of Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan.
Thursday, November 10 ~ SOOKE. Last night an energetic and attentive crowd articulated their concerns about Site C and other election issues, in a one-hour Q&A with BC NDP Leader John Horgan (MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca).
“Articulate your policies and we’ll get behind you,” said one enthusiastic NDP supporter, with reference to the upcoming May 2017 BC provincial election.
Horgan was clear that the economy is important to everyone, including of course providing jobs. He says an NDP government would be responsible with taxpayer finances and inclusive to everyone when it comes to education, health and economic growth in BC.
The event held at Edward Milne Community School in Sooke was organized by Awareness Film Night. They screened ‘Peace Out’, a somewhat dated by impactful film about the environmental and community consequences in northern BC if BC Hydro’s Site C hydroelectric project is to proceed.
Horgan explained that electricity usage in BC is not increasing, due to many people doing their best at energy conservation. It might now be over 20 years until the output at Site C (or equivalent) would be required in this province. Wind and solar are two other ‘green’ electricity-producing options that BC Hydro could be investing its money in.
Horgan says that if elected as government in 2017, the BC NDP would focus on green technology as a way to help protect the environment, and which would also create a lot of jobs.
District of Sooke Community Grant Review Committee (from left): Coleen Heenan, Kerrie Reay (chair), Sooke Councillor Bev Berger, and Michelle Stratford. Photo by West Shore Voice News (May 2016).
Tuesday, November 8 ~ SOOKE. Three groups who had made applications to the District of Sooke Community Grant Review Committee did not have their pitches heard at the Monday, November 7 evening meeting. They were ‘sent packing’ from Council chambers, given that their applications fell into the ‘arts’ category.
Earlier this year, Sooke Council decided that grant funding for the arts would be heard through another committee — the Sooke Program of the Arts (SPA) Committee. Somehow that didn’t get translated into the Category B (project) application process that closed on September 30. So the groups not only had prepared and submitted detailed applications, but showed up to make their presentations at the November 7 evening meeting.
Community Grant Review Committee Chair Kerrie Reay started off the meeting by advising the three arts applicants that she’d consulted with Mayor Maja Tait over the weekend about the situation of which committee to apply to. The mayor advised to redirect the three groups to Regular Council on November 14. Representatives of the impacted groups — Sooke Community Choir, Sooke Harbour Players, and Sooke River Bluegrass Festival — did not seem ruffled at not having their presentations heard last night. Likely grateful for the opportunity to pitch for funds either way, they are planning to attend the Regular Council meeting on November 14, applications in hand.
Three other applications on the agenda were heard. The Sooke Christmas Bureau pitched for $12,000 for their Christmas hampers, even though $7,000 is the Category B limit. They got $7,000 from the Grant Committee, but were directed to appear in front of Council on November 14 to perhaps be granted the rest out of contingency. Also, the grant committee decided to recommend to Council that the Christmas Bureau hamper funding of $12,000 be made into a regular line item in the municipal budget, starting in 2017.
- The annual $12,000 hamper expenditure is mostly for the turkeys and hams (that are purchased at cost), with any leftovers being used for other food purchases. For Christmas 2015 the Sooke Christmas Bureau prepared 385 hampers, with another 175 hampers coming from CFAX Santa’s Anonymous including toys.
- The total cost for hampers last year was $30,698.07. Some leftovers helped the Sooke Food Bank manage through “the difficult months” of January, February and March.
- Apparently fresh vegetables will no longer be available to the Sooke Food Bank from the Sooke Community Garden, as grant funding (from other sources) for a person to handle that process has not been renewed.
The same applicants presented for the Sooke Food Bank’s regular business. Their application was approved for the purchase of some capital items to the tune of $4,100. The funds will be spent on new phones, storage totes, and signage. Computer services to the tune of $1,800 could not be covered, as that includes wages. The committee can only approve capital/project expenditures.
The Team Sooke/Juan de Fuca refugee sponsorship group pitched for $3,600 for bus passes for the family of four that they will be supporting for a year once they arrive in spring 2017. The grant committee said yes to that. Sid Jorna of Team Sooke/Juan de Fuca explained that while the community is helping the Iraqi family get settled here, the community itself also benefits by the experience. Team Sooke/Juan de Fuca had already raised close to $50,000 from active fundraising over the past year, including some sizable donations from anonymous individual donors.
So on Monday evening, the committee that started with $50,000 at the beginning of the year, had $18,964.87 to spend on November 7 after spring-season grants had been issued. That night they approved recommendations for $14,700. That leaves shows the committee with $4,264.87 remaining, which presumably looks good on the balance sheet (depending on one’s perspective — spend it all, or prudently have some left over) and in a political position of not having declined any groups or cut them short. Had the arts groups grants been considered on November 7, the total requests would have come to $35,400 and there simply wasn’t enough. By shunting the arts groups over to Council directly, the committee comes out looking good on all counts.
All grant review committee recommendations require final approval by Council.
Friday, November 4 ~ VICTORIA. WorkBC’s ‘Find Your Fit’ will showcase BC’s in-demand jobs at Teen Fest Victoria tomorrow Saturday, November 5 at Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd (open to the public 11 am to 4:30 pm). Young people of Victoria will have an opportunity to learn the skills they will need for tomorrow’s in-demand occupations.
Find Your Fit is an interactive event where individuals of all ages can learn about BC’s in-demand careers and test out some of the skills they would need for those occupations. Participants will also get to know career planning tools – such as Blueprint Builder and Career Trek videos – and the job resources and labour market information WorkBC.ca offers. Parents, teachers and career counsellors may benefit, too – by discovering ways to educate and support youth in their career exploration.
Find Your Fit is part of BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint commitment to re-engineer education and deliver the skilled workforce needed in BC’s growing economy. The tour has had over 180,000 participants so far. The tour was most recently in Burns Lake. It’s next stop on Vancouver Island will be in Duncan on December 1. Other communities can also request a tour stop.
“Through BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, we are committed to preparing the skilled workforce that our growing economy needs. The Find Your Fit tour ensures that our youth have the tools and resources necessary to consider the full range of in-demand occupations available to them,” says Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.
Friday, November 4 ~ SOOKE. Members of the Sooke Detachment RCMP, and RCMP Island District General Investigation Section have concluded an investigation on a local drug trafficking operation.
In the early hours of Thursday, November 3, a 30-year-old man was arrested for trafficking in a controlled substance after officers stopped the taxi cab he was in. At 4 am a search warrant was executed on the male’s residence in the 6700-block of Eustace Road in Sooke. Located inside were several ounces of cocaine, several pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, drug trafficking paraphernalia, a pistol and loaded magazine, a ballistic vest and over $7,000 in cash.
As of last night, the subject of this investigation remains in custody. It is expected he will be released by a Judicial Justice on an Undertaking with condition,” says Sooke RCMP Detachment Commander S/Sgt Jeff McArthur. “Charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, unsafe storage of a restricted weapon, unlawful possession of body armour, and possession of prohibited weapons are expected against this subject,” he says.
“We believe that we have shut down a high-volume, diversified drug trafficker who deals primarily to other dealers and users within the community of Sooke.” said S/Sgt McArthur.
Thursday, November 3 ~ WEST SIDE of VANCOUVER ISLAND. Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Randall Garrison is on his way back from Ottawa to his constituency today, to spend a week on this west side of the island and attend the Remembrance Day ceremony in Esquimalt on November 11.
He is in full support of NDP Leader Tom Mulcair’s statement in the House of Commons today that the Liberal government should hold an inquiry into RCMP/CSIS surveillance of journalists. He adds that while instances of media surveillance have surfaced in Quebec, it’s a bigger problem than that.
“If journalists are under surveillance, then people won’t talk to them. Free press is a fundamental part of our democracy for people’s right to know what’s going on,” said Randall Garrison, MP, today in a phone interview.
Thursday, November 3 ~ VICTORIA. There will be additional BC Ferries sailings on the Remembrance Day weekend, with 24 extra sailings on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route Thurs November 10 through Sunday November 13. An additional round trip has also been added to the Horsehoe Bay – Departure Bay route on the evening of Thursday, Nov 10.
On Friday November 11, BC senior citizens will be able to travel half-price (passenger fares only) on BC Ferries. Throughout the year, discounted travel is offered to BC seniors from Monday to Thursdays (except holidays).
All Canadian flags on BC Ferries vessels will fly at half mast on Remembrance Day in respect of veterans active military personnel. A moment of silence will occur at 11 am on the vessels.
Wednesday, November 2 ~ PORT RENFREW. There will be bridge maintenance on Deering Bridge and Deering Road in the Port Renfrew area, starting Monday November 7 through Thursday November 10, from 8 am to 5pm, says Mainroad South Island.
The 3 to 5 km targeted stretch of roadway runs from Parkinson Road to Pacific Marine Road.
Wednesday, November 2 ~ SOOKE. Today November 2 there’s a great opportunity to provide your input on environmental aspects of Sooke. The District of Sooke’s Environmental Focus Group is a drop-in event, open to the public in the lobby at SEAPARC Leisure Complex from 2:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be display boards, info and an opportunity to discussion and input with District of Sooke staff.
Two more focus groups are coming up on other topics. On Tuesday November 15 will be the Social Community focus group (SEAPARC lobby, 2:30 to 7:30 pm), and on Thursday December 1 will be the Built Form and Infrastructure focus group (SEAPARC lobby, 2:30 to 7:30 pm).
You’ll also find surveys online 24/7 at www.sooke.ca — five of them and counting! For all the input you’ve ever wanted to give to the municipality about Sooke’s official community plan and how the town should develop, this is an easy way to do it!
Tuesday, November 1 ~ SOOKE. Parks and trails are an important component of everyday life in Sooke. Today, November 1, the District of Sooke Parks and Trails Committee will hold their monthly meeting at 1 pm in council chambers. The public is welcome to attend. The agenda is at www.sooke.ca but there is no webcast.
There has been discussion about the need for an off-leash dog park in Sooke at previous meetings. Today’s agenda includes a presentation by Jasmine Guay of Jasmine’s Excavating to give her “professional opinion regarding the available parks for an off leash park”. Some of the concern about needing an off-leash park is that Whiffin Spit has pretty much become the defacto off leash park that dog walkers use. For other users, the number of dogs and amount of feces left behind is a detracting ‘feature’ of this unique, popular and regionally-known walking area.
An update of progress with the new Official Community Plan as it relates to Parks and Trails will be heard by the committee, as well as a budget report.
A proposed trail connection between Horne Road to Goodmere Road will be discussed, and an update about projects at John Phillips Memorial Park will be presented.
Monday, October 31 ~ SOOKE. This year’s flu vaccine is available at both pharmacies in Sooke.
- At Peoples Drug Mart [6716 West Coast Road] the vaccine can be administered during store hours whenever a vaccine-trained pharmacist is on duty. They also have two drop-in flu clinics coming up: Wednesday November 9 [1 to 3:30 pm] and also Thursday November 10 [12 noon to 2:30 pm]. Peoples Sooke is open daily [Mon to Thursday 8 am to 8 pm, Friday 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, Sundays and holidays 10 am to 5 pm.
- At Shoppers Drug Mart [Evergreen Shopping Centre] you can pretty much get the shot any time during their store hours (8 am to 10 pm daily). They’ve already done 100 shots per day last week, as demand is high given the early outbreak of flu this season.
The flu vaccine is also available through physicians and the free Island Health flu clinics coming up in Sooke in November at CASA [6672 Wadams Way]: Thursday Nov 10 (9:30 am to 3:30 pm), Thursday Nov 17 (1:00 to 3:30 pm). There will be one more Island Health free clinic in December, on Tuesday Dec 13 (1 to 3:30 pm). Check dates and times: www.islandfluclinics.ca
The flu shot this year is targeted at H1N1 (California A / the one that caused a pandemic in 2009), H3N2 (Hong Kong A / which is expected to most strongly affect children under age 5), and the Brisbane B swine flu that was prevalent in 2008 but has made a resurgence this year.
At the pharmacies, anyone covered by the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) can get their flu shot at no charge. At the Island Health clinics, anyone with eligibility can get the shot which includes seniors, children age 5 and under, anyone with chronic illness or compromised immune system, health care workers, and others. Check for eligibility at www.viha.ca/flu
Sunday, October 30 ~ SOOKE. Four stores at 6686 Sooke Road are holding a Halloween Spooktacular Celebration from 3 to 6 pm on Monday, October 31.
All ages welcome at this family-friendly event in Sooke town centre. Rain or shine.
Lots of in-store specials, live music, kids activities and medicinal info session.
Sponsored by The Uncommon Carrot, 642 Cannabis, Route 14 and Sooke Boxing Club. Enjoy the trick or treating – for kids and adults! Food and beverages by Route 14 and The Uncommon Carrot (gluten-free, smoothies, and more).
These are all relatively new stores and restaurant establishments, all new within the past few months to a year.
Friday, October 28 ~ SOOKE. Well, wha-d’ya know…. today is a lucky day for District of Sooke Councillor Kevin Pearson! He has won ‘groceries for a year’ from CFAX Radio.
Of the total prize, he is giving $1,000 to the Sooke Food Bank, as a recognition of needs in the local community.
When the Sooke Food Bank has come in front of Council for various grants over the years, whatever they request has been granted. And almost every time, Councillor Rick Kasper remarks how they are not asking for enough.
According to Food Banks Canada, over 850,000 people are assisted every month by food banks, and 40% of those are children. Apparently 13% of Canadians live in a state of food insecurity, which means they do not have reliable access to adequate amounts of safe, good-quality, nutritious food. The root cause of hunger in Canada is low income, which consistently affects more than four million Canadians at any given time.
Tuesday, October 25 ~ VICTORIA. The Victoria Regional Transit Commission has been expanded by creating an additional seat, it was announced this morning by BC Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. The Victoria Regional Transit Commission was formed in 1982, and its mandate is to provide oversight and represent the transit needs of Greater Victoria. The board of directors, through the chair, reports to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, who is the Minister responsible for BC Transit.
“Over the years, the population and demographic makeup of the region has changed with the western communities growing at a much faster rate than the rest of Greater Victoria, largely due to the relatively affordable housing, especially for young families. “It’s important that the western communities’ voice and needs are fairly represented on the Commission,” it was stated in the release.
“In response to the Victoria Regional Transit Commission’s request to expand the number of its members from seven to eight to reflect the growing population in the region, the Province is pleased to announce the appointment of District of Sooke Mayor Maja Tait to the Commission,” said Minister Stone in a news release.
Sooke Mayor Maja Tait has had some interaction with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure over the past few years, largely to pitch for attention to Highway 14 (Sooke Road) as it impacts the 12,000-resident population of Sooke which lies about 35 km west of Victoria. Since the demise of its resource-based economy last decade, Sooke holds onto its rural appeal for many long-time residents. But in the past 10 years Sooke has rapidly become a bedroom community for commuters to Victoria and other parts of south Vancouver Island in recent years. Tait had served as a District of Sooke councillor for two terms, before winning as Mayor in November 2014 with 68% of the vote.
City of Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton also represents the interests of the residents of the western communities on the commission. Hamilton is serving in her second term as Mayor of Colwood, that she won with a strong return mandate of 84% from the Colwood electorate in 2014. She seems to be crafting Colwood as a bedroom community of choice, with a strong office/retail component to the municipality but less of the big-box stores and industrial enterprises than are seen in neighbouring Langford.
Transit service in Greater Victoria is governed by the Victoria Regional Transit Commission. It will now consist of eight members (six locally elected mayors and two councillors) who are appointed according to the BC Transit Act.
Under the act, the following representatives must be appointed to the commission: Victoria’s mayor, a Victoria councillor, the mayor of Esquimalt or Oak Bay, the mayor of Saanich, a Saanich councillor and one of the mayors of Sidney, North Saanich or Central Saanich, as well as two representatives of the western communities – the Mayors of Colwood, Metchosin, View Royal, Langford, Highlands, Sooke or the director of the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area. With Hamilton and Tait being the western communities representation (the only two women who are mayors in the western communities), that leaves the other mayors to focus on other specific needs of their areas.
“Today’s decision will help us continue to build on the transit investments and improvements we’re making in Sooke and the western communities,” said Minister Stone. “Over the last few years, BC Transit and the commission have added double-decker buses to increase capacity, installed additional bus shelters along Highway 14, has adjusted bus routes to improve service to and from SEAPARC Leisure Complex, introduced a Saturday night trip to and from Victoria, and built a new Park and Ride on Highway 14.”
Mayor Tait finally brought a traffic roundabout to Sooke town centre on Highway 14 last summer — which was not mentioned in the ministry release. Since final completion in fall 2015, the roundabout has improved traffic flow in and through Sooke. In Sooke, Tait has overseen some town centre parking improvements, but cramped the style of parking at the Sooke public boat launch and never worked to resolve the issues of seriously impeding access to some businesses and residents with the restriction of turns at the Townsend/Sooke Road intersection, despite a public call to address it.
BC and the federal government have recently announced nearly $160 million in funding to further improve transit services throughout the province. This includes a $10-million extension to the Douglas Street northbound bus lane, from Tolmie Avenue to the McKenzie interchange that will reduce congestion on one of Victoria’s major transit routes servicing West Shore communities.”
“We will continue to work together toward improving and evolving public transit to meet the needs for everyone in Greater Victoria,” said Stone. Victoria is of course the capital city of BC, with the legislature and government providing a lot of activity and employment for the south island region.
Transit service in Greater Victoria is governed by the Victoria Regional Transit Commission. It will now consist of eight members (six locally elected mayors and two councillors) who are appointed according to the BC Transit Act. Under the act, the following representatives must be appointed to the commission: Victoria’s mayor, a Victoria councillor, the mayor of Esquimalt or Oak Bay, the mayor of Saanich, a Saanich councillor and one of the mayors of Sidney, North Saanich or Central Saanich and two representatives of the western communities – the Mayors of Colwood, Metchosin, View Royal, Langford, Highlands, Sooke or the director of the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.
The commission sets routes, service levels, fares and local taxes for transit purposes. It reviews and is responsible for raising the local share of the annual cost of transit in the region. The commission’s members are now:
- Chair – Councillor Susan Brice – District of Saanich
- Mayor Richard Atwell – District of Saanich
- Mayor Lisa Helps – City of Victoria
- Mayor Alice Finall – District of North Saanich
- Mayor Barb Desjardins- Township of Esquimalt
- Mayor Carol Hamilton – City of Colwood
- Mayor Maja Tait – District of Sooke
- Councillor Marianne Alto – City of Victoria
Sunday, October 23. ~ SOOKE. Never a dull moment at the District of Sooke. A motion will be in front of Council tomorrow night at their Council meeting (7 pm, Oct 24 in council chambers) that — if passed — would see taxes go *up* for businesses, but *down* significantly for light industry.
In general, Sooke is not kind to its businesses. Tough to get started in an economy not supported by banks, taxes high, commercial lease costs super high in the few spaces that are available, and limited number of customers 9-to-5 in what is effectively a bedroom community after the Monday to Friday early-morning exodus of commuters to Victoria.
And over the years, broadly-speaking there’s not been a lot of economic development success generated out of Sooke Council. Often, the case is that Councillors are not business people. The awareness of sometimes small and specific steps that could be taken is clearly missed.
For starters, Sooke could follow Langford’s model of charging only once for a business licence, not every year as is done in Sooke (and many other communities). Slow bleed. For what return?
And then there’s home-based business, which is a quiet economic mammoth below the surface in Sooke. The District has yet to really recognize and promote the power of home-based business to serve as a strong bedrock for a small community.
Friday, October 21 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. Influenza (flu) causes more deaths than any other vaccine-preventable illness in Canada, says Island Health. “Arm yourself against influenza – plan ahead and get your flu shot early,” said Island Health in a news release today.
Frequent hand-washing, and perhaps avoiding handshakes is one way to avoid contracting or transmitting the flu. If you need to sneeze, use tissues or sneeze into your elbow, not into your hand or into the atmosphere. If you do get the flu, stay away from other people until you’re asymptomatic and feeling better.
Doctors, pharmacies and Island Health Public Health Units will be providing free flu shots to people at high risk of complications from influenza, their close contacts, and many other eligible groups. Free immunization clinics offered by Island Health’s Public Health Units run between October 24 and December 16, 2016.
For up-to-date information about Island Health’s Public Health flu clinic dates and times, Island residents can visit www.islandfluclinics.ca . Clinics are searchable by date and/or location. “Information on free public health vaccination clinic dates and times is also available on the Island Health website www.viha.ca/flu , and by phone,” said Dr. Dee Hoyano, Medical Health Officer, Island Health. “Planning ahead and getting your flu shot early is an important way to protect yourself and the people in your life who are vulnerable to complications of influenza,” she said in a news release today.
Most clinics are offered on a drop-in basis with no appointment necessary. Residents are encouraged to check ahead at www.islandfluclinics.ca for further details. BC CareCard or other government ID (valid driver’s license) is required. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt is recommended.
Clinics in Sooke as offered by Island Health are on these dates:
- Thurs Nov 10 – 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Sooke Health Unit, CASA building, 6672 Wadams Way, Sooke. Drop in, all ages.
- Thurs Nov 17 – 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Sooke Health Unit, CASA building, 6672 Wadams Way, Sooke. Drop in, all ages.
- Tues Dec 13 – 1 to 3:30 pm, Sooke Health Unit, CASA building, 6672 Wadams Way, Sooke. Drop in, all ages.
Eligible individuals may also get their free vaccine from their doctor or pharmacy. Here is a list of eligibility in BC:
- People 65 and older and their caregivers
- Children and adults with chronic health conditions and their household contacts
- Health care workers
- Emergency responders
- Healthy children from 6 months of age to less than 5 years old
- Household contacts and caregivers of children from birth to less than 5 years of age
- Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
- Owners and operators of poultry farms
- Aboriginal peoples
- People who are very obese (those with a body mass index of 40 or greater)
- Corrections officers and inmates in provincial correctional institutions.
- Those who provide care or service in potential outbreak settings housing high risk persons (e.g. crew on ships)
- Visitors to healthcare facilities
Friday, October 21 ~ ELECTION BC 2017 campaign trail. Why vote NDP? That question was posed by West Shore Voice News to John Horgan in an interview today, as the BC NDP Leader was enroute from Richmond to Bella Bella. Here’s what he says when BC voters ask him that question:
“The BC Liberals have been in power for 16 years, but is your life better today than 16 years ago?. Do the BC Liberals have your interest at heart or are they just holding onto government? When clinging to power, a government is not focussed on the best interest of the public. It’s time for a change,” Horgan stated with conviction.
Earlier this week Horgan announced the BC NDP’s commitment to $10/day child care if the BC NDP form government after the May 2017 election. [Livestream Photo: in Vancouver with NDP MLAs Jodie Wickens and Melanie Mark]. While the BC Liberals issued in a statement that the cost of delivering $10/day child care is not possible, Horgan explains that an NDP government would achieve such a program with the likelihood of negotiating some federal partnership funding, something that Horgan feels wasn’t possible under the Harper government. Ultimately, the difference in approach between the two parties is about the political will to enable affordable child care as one component of an improved economy and society. When parents are confident about child care services, they are more productive employees, employers and contributors to the economy.
In his home riding of Langford-Juan de Fuca, where Horgan has been the MLA since first being elected in 2005, the boundaries have changed (as well as the name of the riding over the years). But that’s because more people are moving to the area for relative housing affordability, so the boundaries over time have become smaller. Electoral area boundaries are reviewed and often revised every couple of years to ensure that the population count is similar among ridings.
“Langford-Juan de Fuca represents the cross-section of challenges that have developed under the BC Liberals,” says Horgan. “The challenges in Langford are the same as everywhere in BC: affordability, how to make family life easier, how well are schools funded, and good transportation options,” says the NDP Leader who saw two new NDP candidates nominated last weekend, with two more nominations coming up this weekend.
John Horgan is heading to the small coastal community of Bella Bella today to see for himself the damage to the pristine waters in the Great Bear Rainforest area due to an oil spill last Friday. Seafood harvesting areas that are critical to the Heiltsuk economy are being contaminated as a result of the spill from a tugboat.
Last month, the Duke of Cambridge delivered a speech in Bella Bella during the Royal Tour, stating his pleasure at protecting the Great Bear Rainforest as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy which was created by Queen Elizabeth to help preserve natural wilderness ecosystems around the world.
Tuesday, October 18 ~ SOOKE REGION. The Great BC Shake-out earthquake drill exercise is coming up Thursday, October 20 at 10:20 am. The drill is an opportunity for everyone to try out their “Drop, Cover and Hold-on” action. You can do that right where you are — at home, school or workplace.
The Otter Point Pod Captains and Juan de Fuca Emergency Management Program are taking an additional step this year. They are planning their actions for the first 12 hours after a massive earthquake / tsunami event. [See photo]
Having food, water and sanitation, and health supplies on hand for at least 72 hours is a minimum recommendation. On the west side of Vancouver Island, a full 7 day period self-sufficiency is recommended by regional fire rescue officials.
Everyone must first ensure their own safety and the well-being of their family and dwelling. This may mean getting to elevation immediately or preparing for shelter in your home, camper or woodshed, or assisting others who have to evacuate.
“Everyone’s situation will be unique. Knowing your local hazards, roadways impassable, tsunami, power outages, communications out, some injuries and worse can give you a notion as to what may be a reasonable approach to self-rescue and survival post even, ” says Al Wickheim, Community Coordinator, Juan de Fuca Emergency Management Program, Otter Point. “It may be the difference between life and death, or between comfortable and miserable.” After the shaking stops, you may wish to get outside.
Wickheim reminds residents that not every situation can be planned for. “But you can Drop, Cover and Hold-on, then make the best of the next 12 hours, first on paper and then, hopefully not, but maybe… in fact,” he said this week.
Over 730,000 British Columbians have already registered at www.Shakeoutbc.ca .
Monday, October 17 ~ Sooke. Tonight the District of Sooke is holding a public info session at Sooke Community Hall, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Billed as the Mayor’s Open House, it will be an opportunity for Sooke residents to learn more about the municipality’s strategic priorities, future plans and initiatives.
The evening is part of the Plan Sooke initiative, undertaken earlier this year by the 2014-2018 term Mayor and council.
Monday, October 17 ~ Otter Point. A cleanup along Otter Point Road near King Road will be hold on Tuesday, October 18, from 9am to 1 pm.
The activity has been organized by OPSRRA, an organization that represents the residents and ratepayers of Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River. “This area has long been a target of illegal dumping because of its relative isolation and handy pull-out spots. Anything from animal carcasses to television sets are strewn in the bushes along the road,” says OPSRRA president Marika Nagasaka.
OPSRRA received a grant from the CRD Community Clean-Up Assistance Program in April 2016. Some of these funds were used then for a clean-up of locations in Shirley and Otter Point, with the much appreciated donation of labour and equipment by Mainroad South Island Contracting LP.
The remainder of the Community Clean-Up grant will be used tomorrow for the upcoming Otter Point Road / King Road effort. OPSRRA has approval from Juan de Fuca Electoral Area (JdFEA) Regional Director Mike Hicks to access JdFEA Grant-In-Aid funding to cover cost overruns. “Sooke Disposal Ltd has generously offered to assist with this event by providing dumpsters and the disposal of the garbage collected. As well, Mainroad will once again donate equipment and operators for removal of large items,” says Nagasaka.
Volunteers from OPSRRA and Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society will work on removing and sorting items for recycling and controlled disposal. Shirley Delicious Café and The Stick in the Mud Coffee House have donated goodies and coffee for the volunteers. Sooke Home Hardware has been very supportive by assisting with our purchase of necessary protective gloves for the job.
Cleaning up of the areas where illegal dumping has occurred in our communities is the first step. OPSRRA, working with CRD Bylaw Enforcement has identified frequently targeted locations in Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River and No Dumping signs have been posted. The maximum fine has been increased by the CRD to $10,000 as a deterrent. Signs have also been posted by CRD Bylaw Enforcement with the contact information for reporting illegal dumping. Raising awareness, educating the public, reporting violations and enforcement of regulations are the next steps to stop the problem of illegal dumping in the communities in which we live.
Sunday, October 16 ~ Sooke. The student population in Sooke School District 62 (SD62) is increasing as more families move to the west side of Vancouver Island in search of relatively affordable housing.
SD62 administration predicts that about 3,068 more students will need spaces in SD62 schools between 2017 and 2026. By volume, most of those student increases will be seen in Langford (1,630), followed by Colwood (681), Sooke (447), Juan de Fuca Electoral Area (170), Highlands (123) and Metchosin (17).
SD62 Superintendent Jim Cambridge projects that at least one new school will be needed in the coming years. This year, student population has already risen to nearly 10,000, that being about 500 more than last year.
This fall, four portables were added to the new Royal Bay Secondary school that opened in September 2015. Belmont Secondary will need a portable, adding to the new school that opened in September 2015. A new classroom is being built at Happy Valley Elementary.
Full article on page 3 in the October 14 issue of West Shore Voice News
Sunday, October 16 ~ SOOKE. Sooke Mayor Maja Tait will host an Open House at Sooke Community Hall tomorrow evening, Monday October 17. The drop-in event is open to all residents, businesses and persons interested in community development, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
It’s an opportunity to learn more about the municipality’s strategic priorities, future plans and initiatives.
The District of Sooke is revising its Official Community Plan based on a wide range of community inputs, including online surveys, comment stations, and focus groups. See www.sooke.ca
If you miss Monday night, there’s another opportunity for input at an open house called Talktober, being held on Thursday, October 20 at Sooke Community Hall, 7 to 9 pm.
Saturday, October 15 ~ Vancouver Island. [posted at 8:15 pm]. Remnants of a typhoon are forecasted to affect Vancouver Island and the BC lower mainland this evening.
All regions BC Hydro crews are pre-positioned in key locations on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland to move quickly into affected areas as strong winds are moving through parts of the province as expected. “Crews will be working through the evening to restore power as quickly and safely as possible for our customers. The safety of our crews and the public remains our top priority,” says a bulletin on the BC Hydro website this evening.
Vancouver Island South is presently experiencing 18 outages, affecting 4,779 BC hydro customers. Vancouver Island North has 15 outages as of 8:15 pm, with 9.703 customers affected. On the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast area, 12,152 customers are without power within 34 areas of power outage.
On the west side of Vancouver Island, about 1,295 customers are affected in the extended Sooke area including West Coast Road west of Grant Road (ETO 11 pm), north of Phillips Rd (no ETO), and various other areas around West Coast Road. Only 16 customers are presently without power in Victoria (Topaz Avenue area). There is one outage affecting five customers in the Highlands area. There are no outages presently reported for Colwood or Langford.
WEATHER. Saturday, October 15 ~ Vancouver Island. Due to the expectation of high winds and dangerous conditions to occur this afternoon and evening, October 15, BC Ferries has today announced a rare cancellation of all sailings between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland beginning at 3 pm today. All regular sailings will resume on Sunday, October 16.
The affected routes are between Swartz Bay<>Tsawwasen, Nanaimo’s Duke Point, and Tsawwassen and Nanaimo’s Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay sailings. BC Ferries is also cancelling sailings from 3 pm Saturday onwards between Tsawwasen and the Gulf Islands.
The third in a series of strong storms is forecast to arrive at about 3 pm this afternoon with winds and wind gusts forecast to be as strong as 100 km/hour this evening on the east side of Vancouver Island. The storm is packing powerful rain and energy from the remnants of Typhoon Songda. There have been several days of warning for this storm, as released by Environment Canada on October 11.
As for road travel on the west side of Vancouver Island, Hwy 14 in both directions is expecting to have water pooling from Port Renfrew to Colwood (95.6 km). This morning on Hwy 14 (Sooke Road) there was a car in the ditch near Gillespie Road, causing a slow-down in traffic to and from Sooke.
Friday, October 14 ~ WESTERN COMMUNITIES. The Sooke School District 62 (SD62) advises parents and families that school bus registration will close for the rest of the 2016-2017 school year, as of 9pm on Monday, October 17. More info: www.sd62.bc.ca/2016/10/13/sd62-bus-registration-closure-refunds-and-passes/
Due to a high volume of riders, the SD62 buses are at or are nearing capacity. All registration must be completed online. All registrations will be placed on a wait list. Link to online registration: www.sd62.bc.ca/about/transportation – For questions about the registration process you can email to emailbussing@sd62.bc.ca . Those who registered outside of the registration window last spring are wait listed and may be asked to move to a different bus if the bus they currently ride is full. Riders not registered will not be allowed on the bus.
SD62 administration is aiming to have all refunds completed by October 31. Their Finance Department has processed over 1,000 refunds, but they still have nearly 1,000 more to complete. “The system was not designed to handle so many refunds at once, so there are daily limits to what we can put through for refunds,” says the school board in an online release. “As a result, you may receive more than one refund. Please continue to check your credit card and bank statements for refund notification. Our goal is to have all refunds completed by October 31. You will receive your refund via the same method you paid, so by credit card or e-cheque.”
Bus Passes are required by Middle School and Secondary School students only. Students must present their passes each time they get onto a bus. Permanent bus passes will be issued to registered riders over the next few weeks. Until then, students are to use the temporary bus passes that have been issued. Apparently the bus drivers will be diligent in checking for these.
The school bus rider registration fee refunds have resulted for anyone who already paid the fees or set up an auto-payment arrangement ahead of September. In the summer, the BC Ministry of Education announced that funds would be available to all school boards to cover the cost of bussing for students attending schools in catchment areas. In this regard, SD62 had a few wrinkles to sort out, as many students travel to schools outside their catchment area based on overcrowded schools and course selection.
While the SD62 board determined that their 2016-2017 budget would have a $115,000 shortfall despite $358,000 coming from the BC Government, the board decided to proceed with full bus fee coverage for all students.
Friday, October 14 ~ SOOKE. It’s been a blustery day. Winds haven’t been all that strong yet (as of 5 pm), but have been consistent with occasional gusts, and as evening approaches are getting stronger. Rain has continued to fall throughout the day.
With the remnants of a typhoon storm approaching Vancouver Island either tonight or by tomorrow, people today were preparing their yards and homes for winds by putting away loose items, as well as shoring up their emergency supplies at home. Apparently there was a run on flashlights and batteries at Sooke Home Hardware this afternoon.
Trees falling across hydro lines can cause damage and outages. Always remain far back from downed lines. [Photo: a downed tree in the Lower Mainland area]. Clearing up yard debris and removing loose limbs from trees can be a wise move ahead of a predicted strong storm.
The District of Sooke advised two days ago that sand and bags are available at the municipal works yard. Bring your own shovel to fill the bags. The Public Works Yard at 2060 Kaltasin Road is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For access to the sandbag supplies on Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16, call (250) 415-3475. www.sooke.ca
Early this morning there was a loud storm with thunder and lightning, witnessed by many who were woken up as the storm got rolling around 5 am (see article below).
Friday, October 14 ~ SOOKE. There was an attention-grabbing thunderstorm between 5 am and 6 am this morning October 14 in the Sooke area… the full works … lightning, thunder and a lot of rain. But not a lot of strong winds.
As of 6 am this morning, 2,421 BC Hydro customers (addresses) in the South Vancouver Island area are without electricity service, most of those in the Central Saanich / Pat Bay Highway area.
About 202 BC Hydro customers appear to remain without power west of Sooke — in the West Coast Road area from Otter Point Rd west to Sheringham Point Road. That outage happened around 7 pm last night.
Thursday, October 13 ~ VANCOUVER. Coast Capital Savings recently held a contest to draw one winner for a prize of $1,000, from among their customers who participated in with feedback during web banking.
“Feedback from our members is extremely important to us – it lets us know what we’re doing well and what we could be doing better,” it was stated in a Coast Capital Savings message to customers, without itemizing what had been learned from feedback participants.
They announced that Annemarie M. from Bowen Island was selected as the winner of the $1,000 prize.
The BC-based credit union says that next week they will be making an announcement about the future of Coast Capital Savings, saying it is an opportunity to “serve our members better than ever before”.
POWER OUTAGE UPDATE. Thursday, October 13 ~ SOOKE [9 pm]. There is just one power outage in the Sooke area this evening under conditions of some heavy periods of rain and some wind.
As of 9 pm this evening, bout 203 BC Hydro customers are without power in the West Coast Road area from Otter Point Rd west to Sheringham Point Road. That outage happened around 7 pm and was still in effect as of 8:47 pm.
Thursday, October 13 ~ SOOKE. The 20th Anniversary of Edward Milne Community School is tonight from 5 to 8 pm at the school, 6218 Sooke Road.
The celebration starts with a staff/alumni basketball game at 5 pm, followed by appys by the Culinary Arts students, and tours of the murals (one in the gym, and one outdoors).
Members of the community are invited to bring pictures or stories for the EMCS Time Capsule.
Student showcases include robotics, musical theatre, band, visual arts, and leadership.
There will be a T’Sou-ke Nation blessing of the 20-year-old building. It’s also the 70th anniversary of a high school in Sooke.
Thursday, October 13 ~ SOOKE. District of Sooke Council, having completed an annual review, has decided to conclude the Fire Services Commission.
“Mayor and Council wish to thank the members of the Commission for their dedicated hours of research and commitment to the citizens of Sooke,” said Mayor Maja Tait.
“Council moves forward more informed about the matters investigated by the Commission, which will prove to be valuable in the future,” said Mayor Tait in a news release
The hiring process for the new Fire Chief is underway. “We are looking forward to having our CAO fill this position and working to advance the objectives of our strategic plan over the upcoming year.”
Thursday, October 13 ~ SOOKE. Pet food and supplies that were collected and to be given away to families in need by the Victoria Pet Food Bank have been stolen from a shed in Sooke.
“We were all happy organizing our Halloween Dog Party event at Clover Point on Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th — the day it will not rain, when something very sad and unfair happened to us,” says Margarita Dominguez, founder of the Victoria Pet Food Bank (aka SAFARS). There was a break-in yesterday into their storage shed at 2075 Otter Point Road in Sooke. The contents were the pet food reserve that was on hand to handle their clientele for the next two months.
“When we opened the door of our shed the feeling we experienced was so devastating that we went right away to the RCMP in Sooke in tears,” says Dominguez. “Our shed is in Sooke because we cannot afford to pay the rent to place it in Victoria. However, our biggest deliveries are to the Victoria Cool Aid’s Rock Bay Landing shelter and to Salvation Army’s Stan Hagen Center for Families.” The group delivers 400 lb of dog kibble and 15 lb bags of cat kibble plus cans and treats every 20 days.
“The supply of food has been going down and down in the last four years and the supermarkets prefer to throw out the food than to give us to us. The pet food stores give it to those who place animals in adoption at their stores. Only Bosley’s Royal Oak helps us,” says Dominguez. She says it has been a real sacrifice to maintain the program, but that she doesn’t want to give up on it. “Every time we get to Rock landing or to Salvation Army the bins are empty, the need has increased dramatically.”
The 50 bags of 33 lbs/15 kg each of dog kibble plus 10 bags of 8 kg/ 17.6 lbs each of cat kibble plus cans, treats, and dog coats was our reserve for the next two months of food from Sooke to Victoria. From Sooke to Victoria we deliver pet food door to door to more than 30 families.
If anyone has information or can help, the Victoria Pet Food Bank can be reached at 778-352-2999. | www.safars.org | www.facebook.com/bonelessproject/
Wednesday, October 12 ~ SOOKE. A Sooke Chamber Business Mixer will be held on Thursday, October 13 at EmPower Natural Wellness, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, refreshments provided. The location is 6825 W Coast Rd in Sooke.
The Chamber reminds those who attend to bring their business cards for networking, and to enter to win the door prize!
Parking is limited on-site. Alternatively, parking is available on the roadside, at Maple Avenue South overflow parking lot and at the Ed Macgregor Park parking lot.
Wednesday, October 12 ~ SOOKE. As a series of winter storms is predicted to hit Vancouver Island this weekend, the District of Sooke would like to remind homeowners to prepare themselves, their families and their homes.
Flooding, power outages and wind damage may occur during winter storms. Residents are encouraged to keep emergency supplies stocked – such as food, water, flashlights, batteries and blankets.
As a precautionary measure, community members are invited to fill their own sandbags using supplies from the District of Sooke Public Works Yard, located at 2060 Kaltasin Road. Sand and bags are available, but please bring your own shovel.
The Public Works Yard is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
For access to the sandbag supplies on Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16, please call (250) 415-3475. www.sooke.ca
Tuesday, October 11 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. Weather forecasters are predicting a series of three storms that will impact Vancouver Island starting tomorrow night, October 12, lasting for several days into Sunday. They are saying there could be potential for tree damage, power outages, flooding and landslides.
A series of intense storms will deliver prolonged heavy rain and strong winds to the South Coast beginning Wednesday evening:
• The first storm will reach the South Coast late Wednesday evening spreading the first round of heavy rain and strong south-east winds. Winds will likely exceed warning criteria (>80km/h) for the west side of Vancouver Island and perhaps Greater Victoria.
• A second round of strong winds and heavy rain is expected to begin late Thursday/early Friday with the arrival of storm #2.
• The third and potentially most vigorous storm is expected on Saturday when the remnants Typhoon Songda approach the South Coast. This third storm will be slow moving and produce heavy rain into Sunday.
• Currently, forecast models are suggesting the possibility for Saturday’s storm to intensify into a major storm. If the forecast holds, widespread damage from extreme winds is likely.
• Daily rainfall amounts will be in the 50-80 mm range. Total rainfall amounts from the three storms could be in excess of 200 mm along coastal sections and even higher over the North Shore mountains.
Environment Canada says that the forecast models are in good agreement regarding overall intensity of the storm cycle. Given that Saturday’s storm is still 4 days out, there is still plenty of time for the forecast to change. As always, forecast certainty will increase with time as the storms approach.
Environment Canada recommends that people prepare for potential power outages. They also suggest that people ensure that culverts and storm drains are free of debris.
Tuesday, October 11. The discussion continues about the possibility of an off-leash dog park in Sooke.
At the October 4 Parks & Trails Committee meeting, a roundtable discussion included reviewing the history of dog parks in Sooke. Past efforts included a group lobbying and fundraising for a location in Pond Parks Corridor.
Committee members discussed John Phillips Memorial Park as a potential location. A new public consultation process could help to determine a suitable location.
Committee member Mark Zeigler offered a motion: “To recommend that Council develop a public consultation plan to examine locations for an off-leash dog park.”. The motion was passed by the Committee, and now goes to District of Sooke Council (October 24 agenda).
Sunday, October 9. BC Premier Christy Clark has issued the following statement on Thanksgiving:
“Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate and appreciate life’s many blessings.
In British Columbia and Canada, we have a lot to be thankful for. We live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, in a tolerant, diverse, and prosperous society.
Our growing economy means more people can take care of loved ones – but we should never forget those who are less fortunate. To all those who donate their time, food and service at community shelters and food banks this long weekend – thank you.
I wish all British Columbians a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving.”
Saturday, October 8. Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! Many people already started their extended weekend over the last few days.
This is one of the busiest travel weekends for BC Ferries (70 additional sailings, most of those on the Vancouver-Victoria route).
Monday October 10 is a statutory holiday.
Saturday, October 8 ~ SOOKE. Sooke is once again a 5-bloom community in the Communities in Bloom (BC) program.
With particular mention of Sunriver Community Gardens, the District of Sooke received the top score of 5 blooms, for 2016 participation in the program. Scoring was based on the critique by two judges who visited Sooke in the third week of July. The results of the judging were announced on October 1.
The other 5-bloom communities Cache Creek and Salmon Arm. The CiB theme is People, Plants and Pride…Growing Together. This was the organization’s 13th annual CiB event.
Friday, October 7 ~ SOOKE. The Canadian Red Cross recently recognized Sooke’s donation with a certificate of thanks.
In May 2016, the community of Fort McMurray was devastated by a terrible wildfire. Entire neighbourhoods were destroyed and residents were forced to flee, leaving behind their homes, their possessions, and their sense of security.
As a community with a strong sense of giving, many residents of Sooke donated to the Fort McMurray relief efforts. A firefighter’s boot was placed at the front desk of the municipal hall in which donations were collected and District of Sooke Council resolved to match donations received. In total, $1,186.06 was collected, and a total donation of $2,372.16 was sent to the Canadian Red Cross on behalf of the people of Sooke.
“The people of Sooke are kind, generous and supportive of those in need,” said Sooke Mayor Maja Tait. “Council is proud of this fundraising effort and commitment to helping build community”.
Friday, October 7 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. UPDATE at 9:30 am. BC Hydro power supply crews continue to work towards restoring outages as a result of last night’s damaging winds across Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland, as quickly and safely as possible. “Individual restoration times will vary as damage is assessed,” says BC Hydro.
As of 9:20 am this morning, 8,213 customers (within 34 outages) are without power on south Vancouver Island. Most of those are in the Duncan, Cowichan and Gulf Islands areas. In Langford around 3:30 am this morning 16 customers in the Humpback Rd area who lost power are still in the dark, and nine customers are similarly affected in Metchosin (as of 5:29 am this morning). About 200 customers were without power the areas of Sooke River and Sunriver Estates overnight (for about 2 hours, with power back on at 4 am).
North Vancouver Island currently sees 2,378 customers without power (41 outages), and the BC Lower Mainland now sees 5,354 customers without power (37 outages).
Friday, October 7 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. A windstorm across Vancouver Island and the BC Lower mainland has seen damaging winds and heavy rain causing several outages that may last through Thursday night and into today October 7, according to BC Hydro. “Crews are working to restore power and additional resources are being organized to assist in restoration.”
As of 1:54 am this morning, October 7, in the Sooke area 200 BC Hydro customers (addresses) had lost power, in the areas of Sooke River Road, Phillips Road and Sunriver Estates.
At last update (2:15 am, October 7), overall in the south Vancouver Island area there are 6,970 BC Hydro customers still without power through the overnight. There are also 14,649 on the north Island, and a total of about 13,028 on the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast, according to BC Hydro. On the north Island, the Courtenay-Comox area was hit especially hard, with about 10,000 outages at one point. It makes for a long night for BC Hydro crews.
Outages are listed and updated on the BC Hydro website. However, it’ must be tough to keep promises to an exact time for power restoration. Estimated On Time used to be posted by BC Hydro, but that information is not longer posted (only the time that the outage posting was last updated).
Last night in Greater Victoria, as of 11 pm, there were large clusters of outages in North Saanich and Central Saanich, as well as outages in Sidney, Saanich, and Oak Bay. Some ferry sailings were cancelled as a result of the weather.
Environment Canada had issued a wind warning for Greater Victoria, east and west Vancouver Island, the southern Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast. A low pressure system caused southeast winds of 70 km/hour, with gusts of 90 km across the region.
Wednesday, October 5 ~ SOOKE. The 4th annual Thanksgiving Skate is coming up at SEAPARC Leisure Complex on Monday, October 10.
You might want to burn off some Thanksgiving dinner calories, and skating is a great way to do it!
The 2-hour skating is open to the public, from 1 to 3pm. Every year about 100 people attend.
Admission is $2 per person along with a food bank donation of cash or perishable food. Children age 4 and under get in free. Skate rental not included.
“This is a great opportunity to do something active with the family on the long weekend, and support the Sooke Food Bank,” says Colleen Hoglund, Program Services Manager at SEAPARC.
The SEAPARC pool will also be open on Thanksgiving Monday, from 12 noon to 6pm.
Wednesday, October 5 ~ SOOKE. The Tour de Rock cycling team of 17 riders will be coming through Sooke today, Wednesday October 5. They will stop at Sooke Elementary School around 1:15 pm, staying for about half an hour.
Gathering at Sooke Elementary School by 1 pm to greet the 17 RCMP riders, will be about 1,500 students from the four Sooke-area elementary schools of Sooke School District 62 (SD62) — Sooke Elementary, John Muir, Saseenos, and Ecole Poirier, and Journey Middle School.
Tour de Rock is a fundraiser for Cops for Cancer. Since 1998, Tour de Rock has raised more than $21 million for pediatric cancer research and support programs, and has spawned three other similar Cops for Cancer rides elsewhere in BC.
This year’s tour dates are September 24 through October 7, covering 1,100 km over the two weeks. The overall ride today October 5 covers Duncan to Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, to Sooke to the West Shore (78 km). Schedule: www.tourderock.ca/events/ride-schedule/
Since 1998, more than 300 police officers have been named to the Tour de Rock team, along with 41 others, including childhood cancer survivors, longtime volunteers and members of the media who tell our story.
A new team is picked every year, and historically, only one person has ridden the Tour de Rock more than once. The men and women named to the Tour de Rock each year sacrifice a lot of their time during the seven months of their Tour experience. On top of fundraising, team members train on their bikes three days a week — hill night, speed nights and long-distance endurance rides — to help prepare the team for the physical demands of the ride around Vancouver Island.
Wednesday, October 5 ~ ‘THE SOOKE HIGHWAY’. Roadwork continues on Highway 14 (Sooke Road) on either side of the under-construction West Shore Parkway intersection. The area has been a sea of traffic cones for drivers to manoeuvre since June, with the number of cones diminishing only last week as some line painting was finally done on freshly paved road surfaces.
Last week webcams were installed to view eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 14. Concrete medians are in place at the intersection.
The 3.5 km West Shore Parkway will be under development over the winter and completed by perhaps mid-spring or summer 2017. That will connect Hwy 14 to Hwy 1 (the TransCanada), allowing commuters and tourists to bypass the commercial core of Langford that often gets congested.
Tuesday, October 4 ~ SOOKE. The Sooke Children’s Garden Club has been awarded a “Happy Birthday Canada” 150th Celebration Garden!
The Sooke Children’s Garden Club is the lucky recipient of a ‘150th Celebration Garden’ — one of 150 such gardens being distributed across Canada. The award comes in the form of 1,000 tulip bulbs from the Canadian Garden Council in collaboration with Vesey’s Bulbs of PEI. It’s all in celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial in 2017.
Tulip bulbs are the international symbol of friendship and an enduring symbol of Canada’s national ethos of kindness and hospitality. The 150th Celebration Garden is a terrific way to say “Happy Birthday” to Our Home and Native Land, says Anne Boquist, one of the Sooke Children’s Garden Club organizers. The local children’s garden club is one of 14 organizations in all of BC to receive the bulbs for planting this fall. Photo: Some of the kids surrounding the boxes of red and white tulip bulbs.
“We feel very fortunate to have received one of these Gardens as we understand that the Canadian Garden Council, the organization behind the 150th Celebration Garden program, received more than 400 applications,” says Boquist.
Everyone, from seniors to school children and the public, is invited to attend the planting ceremony as our community makes preparations to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday next year. “And yes, we will protect them from the deer – we will fence them off so the deer don’t get to enjoy them before we do!,” says Boquist. The garden, consisting of 500 red and 500 white tulip bulbs will be planted at the Sooke Region Museum in late October [date to be announced].
The garden in Sooke — and the other 149 gardens planted across Canada — will be symbolically linked to a Flagship 150th Celebration Garden Promenade, consisting of 25,000 tulips also donated by Vesey’s. All the bulbs are being planted this fall to bloom next spring. The garden at Niagara Falls will be seen at one of Canada’s largest gateways for visitors to our country.
The Sooke garden will be featured on Canada’s Garden Route website at www.canadasgardenroute.ca
SOOKE LOCAL NEWS – ARCHIVE
- SOOKE LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVES – Oct to Dec 2016 [ you are on this page ]
- SOOKE LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVE – breaking news – Aug & Sept 2016
- SOOKE LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVE – breaking news – July 2016
- SOOKE LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVE – breaking news – Feb to June 2016
- MAIN PAGE ARCHIVE – breaking news – Feb to May 2016