Saturday, June 22, 2019 ~ SOOKE [Updated June 23]
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
The long-awaited Tim Hortons that many in Sooke said they wanted is finally here. Last week the new coffee-and-donuts franchise outlet opened at 6080 Sooke Road (Highway 14) on T’Sou-ke Nation land right next to (east of) SD62’s Edward Milne Community School (EMCS) high school.
On June 13 there was a soft opening of the CEK SNANET (Big Mountain) Centre, which consists of a Petro Canada fuel station and convenience store, and a Tim Horton’s restaurant and drive-thru.
With a growing Sooke population and the Sooke/Juan de Fuca region being a outdoor recreational tourism destination, there is no doubt demand for gasoline and convenience food, perhaps ahead of reaching the town centre.
There is a long-standing PetroCan station in the heart of Sooke at Otter Point Road and Sooke Road. There are plenty of coffee shops in Sooke town centre, but nothing with the national brand recognition of Tim Hortons.
The new dual-enterprise will likely provide a significant economic boost to the T’Sou-ke Nation. Their hiring priority is members of their nation.
The commercial development got started in 2017, with completion taking about two years.
Competition for gas stations consists of a Shell Station east of there, and the two gas stations within Sooke town centre: PetroCan and Chevron.
Another Tim Hortons outlet is being considered within the front retail area of Evergreen Shopping Centre at 6660 Sooke Road in the heart of town centre at the roundabout. That mall is owned by Skyline REIT who purchased the mall from Partners REIT last year.
T’Sou-ke Chief Gordon Planes says the development of the first phase is the cornerstone that will ultimately support the future development of approximately 6 hectares of commercial enterprises “that will supply the T’Sou-ke First Nation with its own source revenues that will be directed towards the needs of our Nation,” he told West Shore Voice News this week.
“The Nation had a goal of providing employment for our members and we were successful in bringing upwards of 33 part-time and full-time positions to the T’Sou-ke Nation community and to the community of Sooke,” says Planes. “As well, the construction of the project injected dollars into the local economy.”
“We expect that the positive impact from this initial phase will continue,” says Chief Planes. He says it will help their Nation to take advantage of other economic development opportunities, grow employment, and build capacity for their members.
The grand opening of the new enterprise will be held on July 4.