Wednesday May 19, 2021 | SOOKE, BC
by Molly Pearce for Island Social Trends | Editor Mary P Brooke
The Sooke Region Museum has plans for an exciting summer, with outdoor activities and online events lined up to keep us safe and entertained during the pandemic.
The museum’s permanent exhibits are open to visitors this summer, with the exception of the upstairs gallery, tours of Moss Cottage, and the Triangle Lighthouse. Visitors to the museum should expect to adhere to all the regular measures for COVID-19, including physical distancing, mask wearing, and a limited capacity in their indoor spaces. Only 12 people are allowed in the museum at a time.
Online exhibits in the works:
While the Sooke Region Museum’s temporary exhibits (as usually on display within the main museum building) will be closed this summer, several online exhibits are in the works. One such virtual exhibit will highlight the historical contribution of women in the Sooke Region and will arrive later this summer. Other events that have moved online include the museum’s weekly trivia nights on the region’s history (suitable for people who know the region and its history well). The trivia events are accessible via Zoom links found on the museum’s website and social media pages.
In addition to these events, the museum is ramping up its online lectures and talks this summer. Those interested in attending can check out the museum’s social media platforms for more information on registering and accessing these talks.
Annual Summer BBQ presently on hold:
It is not clear yet whether the Annual Summer BBQ will be able to be held this year due to restrictions on social gatherings, but the Sooke Region Museum is keeping their eyes and ears open for changes that may allow the event to go ahead.
At the museum itself, outdoor “Storywalks” are going strong. These are events where children and their parents can walk around the Sooke Region Museum’s beautiful grounds and listen to storytelling.
Sooke Night Market with physical distancing:
The sixth season of the Sooke Night Market will plough ahead starting June 3, albeit in a slightly stripped-down fashion (with booths well-distanced for COVID safety). The focus for the Thursday night event (5 to 8 pm) will be on the region’s fabulous food vendors to suit pandemic gathering restrictions. Information for interested vendors can be found on the Sooke Region Museum website.
Gift shop open:
Gift shop sales have decreased due to limited foot traffic entering the museum with COVID-19 restrictions. Museum director Lee Boyko says that the number of sales has decreased to about one-third of pre-COVID-19 sales. But he suggests that the sales have been reasonable given the reduced traffic to the museum during the pandemic.
Second COVID summer:
The Sooke Region Museum’s second COVID-19 season poses these challenges. But, with one such summer already under its belt (BC’s COVID Phase 2 in the summer of 2020), the museum is determined to continue to provide educational programming and exhibits for the Sooke region community.
