Archive for the ‘Greater Victoria’ Category
Greater Victoria – Sooke
The District of Sooke is the westernmost of Greater Victoria’s western communities. Only recently incorporated (1999), Sooke can be a largely rural municipality using a developing residential core. The populace of 11,000 is increasing slowly but steadily.
The historical home with the T’sou-ke people, this sheltered harbour containing a salmon bearing river, rich clam beds, and abundant berries and game inside the forests was an ideal site as well as the people living here thrived. Europeans come to the mid 1800′s, the other from the first to reach Sooke was Captain Walter Colqohoun Grant in the Royal Scots Greys, who apparently brought seeds from Scotland of his cherished Scottish Broom, that’s now a lot maligned invasive species overtaking native habitat from Alaska to California.
Fishing and logging will be the industries that built Sooke, and continue, though on a reduced scale, to bring about the local economy. Tourism is now one of the greatest employers, both adventure related and cultural. There exists a vibrant arts community here, and Sooke hosts the premiere juried art show on Vancouver Island – the Sooke Fine Arts Show each summer.
Many residents of Sooke commute to Victoria but have chosen to live in Sooke to emerge from the hustle and bustle with the city, and also as a result of lower property values, you have a large amount of value for your money here! There is a wide selection of housing accessible in Sooke, from condominiums, townhomes and suburban single family residences in and nearby the village, to country residential, hobby farms, and estate properties out of town. Down the Sooke basin there are many amazing waterfront and waterview properties. Neighborhoods of Sooke include:
· North Sooke;
· Saseenos;
· Milne’s Landing;
· Sunriver Estates;
· Sooke Town Centre or “UpSooke”;
· Broom Hill;
· Whiffin Spit;
· Otter Point, and
· Kemp Lake
Policing in Sooke is given by the RCMP and there’s a volunteer based fire department. Municipal water can be obtained to residences near the town core along with the sewer strategy is under expansion. Rural properties can still rely on wells and septic tanks and fields. Sooke possesses his own recreational facility, SEAPARC Leisure Complex, using a pool and ice rink.
Just like many smaller communities, Sooke enjoys a number of annual events which actually bring residents and visitors together to comprehend the flavors of life in a tiny town. Among these is:
Sooke Canada Day Celebrations – including logging sports, a canine agility demo, music and, needless to say, fireworks in the evening;
Sooke Fine Arts Show – a juried art show featuring the most effective local artists and drawing patrons from all over British Columbia, western Canada and the US;
Sooke River Bluegrass Music Festival – this family friendly festival is held each June in the Sooke River Campground;
Sooke Fall Fair Held in September on the Community Focus on Otter Point Rd, and
The Sooke Country Market – Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm mid-May through September, to purchase local produce, plants, bread and crafts.
This calm community in Greater Victoria is proud of its trustworthiness of independence and acceptance coming from all peoples no matter lifestyle, and Sooke is growing to become a diverse, fascinating community for that reason attitude. Individuals who wish to be part of a rural community that provides outdoor adventure, small town atmosphere and also a lively fine arts scene will relish surviving in Sooke.