Reverse order by date. I've found that organizing my thoughts with related links for further reference is essential for this aging, routinely distracted, rather overloaded mind (yes, I did my Wordle this morning, got it in five). It's also something of a community service, I believe, as I'm doing my learning in public and hopefully providing something of value for my colleagues and our successors. My views and perspective keep evolving (as with us all I was so encouraged to discover years ago on first learning about neuroplasticity.) Dive in if and as you wish.  

PS Please note the unfortunate fact that many links in older posts are now dead given new website launches in 2025 by the District of Sooke and the CRD as well as ongoing website updates/deletions at other levels of government. I will endeavour to revise them if and as possible when I find time in future. 

(Local Government 101 education and refresh here and here.) 

* Gathering Place Plebiscite (Aug. 27, 2026) 
* UBCM 2026 Prep (Aug. 24, 2026) 
* Calling 9-1-1 on Provincial Downloads: Shock Price Increase Edition (July 19, 2026) 
* GPs and a GP on Lot A (July 15, 2026) 
* Roadblock to Referendum (June 30, 2026)
* BC Legislation & Report Tracker: Updated (June 29, 2026) 
* Wildfire Season & Disaster Preparedness Update (May 18, 2026) 
* Association of Vancouver Island & Coastal Communities Convention (April 21, 2026) 
* Budget 2026 (Aprll, 2, 2026) 
* First Nations Relations (March 11, 2026)
* Rx for Ever-Improving Sooke Health Care (Feb. 23, 2026) 
​* Budget 2026 (Feb. 16, 2026) 
* Ayre Manor (Feb. 15, 2026) 
* Community Wellbeing ~ Sooke Arts (Feb. 3, 2026) 
* Update: Economic Development & Land Use Committee (Jan. 27, 2026) 

* Adoption Paperwork - Sooke's New OCP (Dec. 11, 2025)
* Simon Fraser University: "Renovate The Public Hearing" (Dec. 4, 2025)  
* Update: Community Economic Development & Land Use Committees (Nov. 29, 2025) 
* Three-Year Review: 2022-2025 (Nov. 11, 2025)
​* Calling 911 On (Seeming) Provincial Downloads (Nov. 9, 2025)
* OCP - Picture Sooke: The Final (?) Frame (Oct. 27, 2025)  
* Sooke School District #62 Update (Oct. 25, 2025)
* Supporting #Sooke Community Organizations (Oct. 19, 2025)
* Union of BC Municipalities 2025 Convention Prep and Follow-Up (Sept. 20, 2025) 
​* #Sooke Gathering Places and Spaces (Sept. 19, 2025) 
* AVICC Convention 2025 (April 10, 2025) 
* Arts File - CRD, West Shore, Sooke (March 20, 2025) 
* Promise and Potential: Sooke Region Tourism (March 2, 2025) 
​* The Road to Referendum (Feb. 23, 2025) 
​* Bill 44 Update: SSMHU Redux (Feb. 17, 2025) 
* Budget 2025 (Jan. 19, 2025) 

​* Twenty Five Years: District Anniversary (Dec. 7, 2024) 
​* Vote! (Oct. 8, 2024) 
* Preparing for the UBCM 2024 Convention (Aug. 28, 2024) 
* Hwy 14: Condensed & Updated (June 13, 2024) 
* Hwy 14 Revisited: Congestion & Safety Edition (March-June, 2024) 
* CRD’s Proposed Transportation Authority (May 23, 2024) 
* Budget 2024 (Feb. 28, 2024) 
* Living With BC’s New Housing Regulations (Feb. 27, 2024)
​* Responding to Homelessness In Sooke (Feb. 2, 2024) 
* Dealing With Our Own Biosolids in the CRD (Jan. 31, 2024) 

* Sooke Food Security (Oct. 25, 2023)
* UBCM 2023 Convention (Sept. 14, 2023)
* Wildfire Season and Disaster Preparedness (Aug. 22, 2023)
​* Council's Last Call This Summer (July 24, 2023)
​* Patience and Process: Back to the OCP (June 18, 2023)
​* Building/Developing Sooke (May 30, 2023)
* Capital Regional District Overview 2023 (May 12, 2023)
​* Housing 101: Preparing for the UBCM Housing Summit (March 31, 2023)
* Budget 2023 Starter: Police, Fire, Climate Action (March 15, 2023)
* Sooke Policing Overview (Jan. 12, 2023) 

* Sooke Selfie: Census 2021 Snapshot (Dec. 21, 2022) 
* Service Agreements: Supporting Sooke Community Organizations (Dec. 12, 2022) 
* #Sooke Gathering Places & Spaces (Dec. 2, 2022) 
* R/x for Sooke Health Care (Nov. 28, 2022) 
* Sooke Lions Centre: Paws & Reflect (Nov. 26, 2022) 
* Years In Review: 2018-22 (Oct. 13, 2022)
* All Candidates Meeting Speaking Notes (Oct. 12, 2022)
* Bathroom Reading: Sooke Sewers (updated: Oct. 8, 2022 & March 29, 2023) 
* Campaign 2022 Q&A Responses (Oct. 5, 2022) 
* OCP Public Hearing Preview (Sept. 27, 2022) 
* Next Step for the Official Community Plan (Sept. 7, 2022) 
* Sparking #Sooke Community Development (Aug. 31, 2022)
* Our Up-Sooke-Sized Building Boom (Aug. 26, 2022)
* Highway 14 Revisited: Summer 2022 Edition (Jul. 22, 2022) 
* BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) Sooke (May 12, 2022)
* Opening Day + Saga of the Sooke Library (Feb. 25, 2022)

* District 101: Facts & Figures from the Citizen Budget Survey (Nov. 30, 2021)
* Budget 2022 (Nov. 25, 2021)
* Draft OCP: My Appreciative Inquiry (Oct. 20, 2021)
* Addressing Homelessness (Visible, Invisible, Pending) in the Sooke Region (Oct. 15, 2021)
* Help Wanted: Interim Climate Action Coordinator (Oct. 12, 2021)
* OCP Update - Fall 2021 (Sept. 4, 2021)
* Paws In Ponds Corridor (July 26, 2021)
* Proposal: Sooke Lions Community Centre in the Park (July 9, 2021)
* Sooke Elder's Complex (aka Gathering Place) Update (June 21, 2021)
* Back to Basics: Food & Shelter Essentials (June 15, 2021)
* State of Sooke's Youth Nation (March 15, 2021) 
* Climate Action: Link Frenzy! - Sooke, Regional, Provincial, National, Global (Feb. 24, 2021)
* Context for Sooke Climate Action (Feb. 19, 2021)
* Help Wanted: Sooke Committees Update (Jan. 24, 2021) 
* What's Next for Sooke's Evolving Road, Sidewalk and Roundabout Network (Jan. 20, 2021)

* Sooke Fiscal 2021 and the BC Restart Fund (Nov. 22, 2020)
* Team OCP: Introducing the Advisory Committee (Aug. 8, 2020) 
* Parks & Transportation Masterplans (July 13, 2020) 
* Burning Issue: Fire Protection Services Bylaw (May 19, 2020)

* Masterplanning Sooke's Smart Growth: OCP Preview (Dec. 20, 2019) 
* The CRD Share of Your #Sooke Tax Bill (Nov. 13, 2019)
* $$$ (Start of a New Five-Year Financial Plan Cycle) (July 29, 2019)
* Climate Cha-Changes (May 17, 2019)
* Notes from Local Government Leadership Academy Seminars (April 10, 2019)
* Climate Change, Pot Shops and Four Lanes (April 7, 2019)
* Highway 14 Revisited: Spring 2019 Edition (March 29, 2019)
* Timbites Sooke (March 26, 2019) 
* Calling All Monopines: Cell Phone Towers (Jan. 27, 2019)
* Seeking Solutions in Saseenos: Lewers/Driver 2 (Jan. 16, 2019)

* X homes + Y people + Z cars = ? (Dec. 18, 2018)
* Council Report: 5 Hours, 47 Minutes Later (Dec. 6, 2018)
* Fresh Paint, Familiar Refrain for Sooke Road (Nov. 17, 2018)
* Learning Curve: Council Dynamics & Respectful Workplaces: Orientation Session (Nov. 6, 2018)
* Proposal: A Forest and the Trees Bylaw (Oct. 16, 2018)
* Verbateman Answers to the Voice News (Oct. 15, 2018)
* Fire Department Overview (Oct. 15, 2018)
* Me & Ms. Reay (Oct. 14, 2018)
* Quoting Myself: All Candidates Debate (Oct. 12, 2018)
* Lemons = Non-Conforming Lemonade: Lewers/Driver 1 (Oct. 11, 2018)
* Thoughts on the Arts (Oct. 10, 2018)
* Zero Waste Version of My 2018 Brochure (Oct. 8, 2018)
* Campaign 2018: Back to the Blog (Oct. 8, 2018)
* No More Tankers: A National Energy Board Submission (Oct. 4, 2018)

* Tonight @ Council (April 13, 2015)
* My CGI Dreams for Sooke (April 13, 2015)
* It Takes A Community (Nov. 11, 2014)
* Looking Glass: Sooke News Mirror Q&A (Nov. 6, 2014)
* Cycling Forward (Nov. 3, 2014)
* Sooke Voice News Questionnaire (Oct. 29, 2014)
* CFAX Candidates Survey: My Responses (Oct. 20, 2014)
* More on the Subjective Sooke News (Oct. 13, 2014)
* The Good (Oct. 9, 2014)
​* First Thoughts (Oct. 6, 2014) 
​

Update - Aug. 27

* District of Sooke's website plebiscite explainer 
​(intentionally neutral as required by Elections BC and the Community Charter)

* Sooke Region Communities Health Network 'Yes' Campaign 
- website FAQ 
- PDF four-sheet version with graphics 
- "Get The Facts" Handbill with QR code 

* File attached above features related reports and other background information as presented in the July 23, 2019 agenda for the Lot A North West Quadrant Task Force.

i) Community Center Advisory Committee chaired by Lee Boyko - Final Report presented at the May 9, 2016 COW + minutes.

ii) Lot A Report presented at the May 27, 2019 Regular Council meeting + minutes 

iii) Sooke Seniors Drop In Centre Society – Visioning for the Future report (2008, Carol Pinalski, Gerry Quiring, Martin Quiring, David Bennett, Vicki Bennett, Susan Winter, Irene Healey) 

iv) Sooke Region Community Health Initiative – Getting it Built: Community Centre Project (2014, Marlene Barry and Ebony Logins for the District of Sooke) 

v) Sooke Age Friendly Committee – Excerpts from its 2019 minutes regarding Lot A

vi) Vancouver Island Region Library – Landscape Concept Plan

vii) Timeline (starting in 1945 with the establishment of the Sooke Over '60s Club, precursor to the Old Age Pensioners Branch #88, which in turn was responsible in part for setting up the Sooke Elderly Citizens Society and the Contact Community Assistance Society.) 











​

​Update - July 14
Council voted last night to proceed with the plebiscite question following receipt of the staff report (pp. 551-561 of the agenda). We also voted in favour of my related follow-up motion asking that Council reserve the remaining lands on Lot A for the Gathering Place and the public plaza for a period of five years to provide certainty and impetus to get the project done ASAP should the plebiscite be favourable and even if not. 

10.5 Non-Binding Opinion Plebiscite: Sooke Gathering Place
The question following amendments that will be asked on the Oct. 17 ballot: 

In your opinion, should the District of Sooke consider borrowing up to a maximum of $5 million to support the construction and initial operational start-up of the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre to be located on District owned property at 6671 Wadams Way? YES / NO

AND THAT Council direct staff to complete the legislative and administrative steps required to include the non-binding opinion question on the October 17, 2026 election ballot; 

AND THAT, should a majority of voters indicate support by voting “YES,” staff report back to Council before any borrowing or project commitments are considered, with information on: 

* feasibility and business planning; 
* capital and operating impacts; 
* potential partner, agency, governance, and delivery models; 
* site and tenure considerations; and 
* any further statutory approval requirements. 

AND THAT Council direct staff to work with Sooke Region Community Health Network and related community health partners.

[My original motion: In your opinion, should the District borrow up to $5 million to construct and operationalize the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre on Lot A in the town centre? YES NO]

 
My follow-up motion 
Five-year guarantee from council that the Sooke Gathering Place Intergenerational Centre will be located on Lot A 
 
WHEREAS the Gathering Place intergenerational centre was identified for a portion of the town centre Lot A in the council-approved Sooke Lot A: A Future In Planning (2019) report along with the library, health care facilities and a public plaza; 

AND WHEREAS the Sooke Region Communities Health Network requires certainty as plans move forward for the Gathering Place and the related plebiscite; 

THEREFORE be it resolved that Sooke Council direct that remaining land on Lot A be held in reserve for a public plaza and the Gathering Place with associated parking space for a period of no longer than five years.


My motivational comments for this second motion ... 
As SRCHN President Nicky Logins writes in her letter in tonight's package: “I am encouraged to know that every person on this council is in favour of making the Gathering Place a reality – and sooner rather than later.

However, she also writes: "It is imperative that we get an answer to access to Lot A. With that we have leverage to engage funders, builders, developers, and donors to support this project.” 

The SRCHN team, the District of Sooke and the Gathering Place fundraisers and supporters have been focused wholly on Lot A these last seven years as the appropriate, necessarily centralized town centre location for the Gathering Place. 

As demonstrated in the 2019 Lot A report that I cite in this motion, it is a logical and consistent part of a quartet of complimentary institutional uses on the District's one and only piece of town centre public land. Namely: Public library, primary care centre, public plaza and this intergenerational centre.

Like the health centre, the GP is a key missing link in Sooke’s community infrastructure. It was identified as a priority need by voters more than a decade ago. 

Yes, The Gathering Place is no longer affiliated with a seniors’ residential component despite the best laid plans of SRCHN and its exceptional team of consultants and architects. In its wisdom, BC Housing has decided for now that Sooke has sufficient affordable housing of the kind that it can provide. 

This unfortunate setback should not derail the vision of the GP on Lot A, however. 

Should the public give borrowing up to $5m the green light in October, the work will proceed with the next council as detailed by staff tonight.  The project is entirely open to creative, multi-storey mixed-use development on Lot A with the Gathering Place as the foundation. 

A more ambitious complex could also incorporate other key community needs: 

i) Sooke Arts Council cooperative gallery and arts maker spaces;
ii) A black-box theatre – described as a cultural “Swiss-army knife” since it can be repurposed for many varied uses … music, theatre, town hall meetings, art exhibits, workshops, public events.  The Amber Academy, Sooke Harbour Players and the Sooke Philharmonic have all requested such a town-centre venue;
iii) Dedicated youth centre;  
iv) Future location for Foundry BC's Sooke office; 
v) Needed community meeting space and/or District of Sooke office space (for public-facing services such as council meetings, communications, bylaw services and community policing);
vi) Integration of this community hub with the plaza area planned for Lot A's southeast quadrant. ((Imagine: Market stalls, adult and child exercise equipment, a water feature, pleasant green space, etc.); and
vii) residential component with a private sector or non-profit developer. 



Original Post - May 22, 2026
Preamble
~ GPs = General Practitioners at the approved Urgent & Primary Care Centre. 

~ GP = The Gathering Place, Sooke's long-awaited seniors and youth community centre as led by the Sooke Region Communities Health Network (and the very definition of preventative health care given its social, recreational and intergenerational ambitions).

~ Lot A = The 5.26 acres of up-Sooke real estate behind Evergreen Mall, purchased by the District in 2016 and intended for institutional uses (public library, health centre, community centre) and multi-story residential in the increasingly walkable heart of Sooke's evolving town centre. 

Our splendid public library opened in 2020. The UPCC and five storeys of affordable housing is moving ahead through Catalyst Community Development Society. The future of the Gathering Place, also intended for its own portion of Lot A, is to be determined now that its long-planned build in collaboration with BC Housing has broken down through no fault of SRCHN. 

Plebiscite Question for the October Election 
On April 27, Council (minus the absent Sooke First colleagues Pearson and Haldane) unanimously passed the following plebiscite question for inclusion on the Oct. 17 election ballot: 

In your opinion, should the District borrow up to $5 million to construct and operationalize the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre on Lot A in the town centre?  YES or NO 

Rather than a binding referendum question that would commit the next council to a required action, the question takes the community pulse and will provide direction to our new set of elected representatives.  [The Community Charter, Chapter 26, Part 4, section 83, states that Council may seek “community opinion on a question that the council believes affects the municipality.”]
​
Please note that "up to" a $5m contribution maximum is highlighted. The focus would be on delivering a cost-effective end product with multiple other funding sources involved. 

Those Sooke homeowners who are crunched by the affordability crisis and tapped out by the growing tax burden of delivering municipal essentials -- 24/7 fire and police service plus asset management reserve funding and union contractual increases -- will likely and logically vote 'no.'  

Many will vote 'yes' however, judging by the passion of Gathering Place supporters who have raised $300k so far in community donations towards a project now estimated at approx. $3m. 

Question to be determined: Are Sooke voters as keen on the idea as we were in 2014 when more than four in five of us voted in favour of moving ahead with exploration of a seniors & youth community centre? And are they willing to add x more dollars to their tax bills to fast-track it in the immediate future? We'll learn exactly how much when staff return with the requested report later this summer. 

A strong "yes" vote will direct the next council accordingly. I'm not running again, but my expressed hope is that a time-limited task force would be created to explore a range of options and provide recommendations on how to fast-track the Gathering Place in association with other potential community needs on Lot A. 

A 'no' vote will require the Gathering Place team led by the Sooke Region Communities Health Network to roll with the punch and move on to other options as explored so thoroughly in the wake of the 2014 plebiscite/ 

Creative, collaborative options for a future new-build on Lot A range from simple to complex given other gaps in Sooke's social infrastructure that need to be addressed for this and future waves of youth and seniors. T

With a commitment to cost-effective planning and access to a maximum $5m District contribution to the overall budget (or perhaps much less given other funding sources), these options would include: 

1.  A stand-alone Gathering Place on remaining Lot A lands not occupied by the library and UPCC and designed to seamlessly blend in with the open-air public spaces intended for the sunny southeast quadrant behind Evergreen Mall. 

2. Utilization of the 5,000 sq. feet of currently unleased space on the ground floor of what is to be the Urgent and Primary Care Centre as Cllr. Haldane's follow-up motion recommends (even though this was already an option in my original motion). 

3.  A more ambitious complex built around the Gathering Place that could also incorporate several of these other key community needs given the available footprint on Lot A and the option to build multiple storeys. Cue the familiar quotations, i.e. Goethe ~ “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Potential component parts ... 

i) Sooke Arts Council cooperative gallery and various kinds of arts maker spaces. (SAC has for some years now been part of the GP conversation. Its current, lovingly refurbished location at the corner of Church and Sooke Road is part of a larger lot -- 2029 Church Road -- whose owner has plans for a six-storey mixed-used rental building with two commercial spaces and 100 residential units. A new, permanent, deeply affordable and stable home base is required.) 

ii) A black-box theatre – described as a cultural “Swiss-army knife” since it can be repurposed for many varied uses … music, theatre, town hall meetings, art exhibits, workshops, public events.  The Amber Academy, Sooke Harbour Players and the Sooke Philharmonic have all requested such a town-centre venue. 
 
iii) Dedicated youth centre (our last ran from 1994-2002 both within SEAPARC and in a parking-lot trailer; see my State of the Youth Nation blog entry.) 
 
iv) Future location for Foundry BC's Sooke office (which now has identified the future site of its Langford HQ and is now exploring in earnest a home for a smaller Sooke location from which to deliver counselling and support services to young people.) 
 
vi) Needed community meeting space and/or District of Sooke office space (for public-facing services such as council meetings, communications, bylaw services and community policing). 
 
vii) Integration of this GP-centric community hub with the plaza area planned for Lot A's southeast quadrant. (Imagine: Market stalls, adult and child exercise equipment, a water feature, pleasant green space, etc.).  

That more complex vision would likely require the $5m maximum District contribution when paired with other funding sources. The simpler iterations would cost less. It would be up to a potential task force to develop these less and more alternatives for council deliberation prior to any borrowing. 

This will, I'm confident, be one of at least two questions on the 2026 ballot - the other related to the community's will to borrow up to $x million (grant dependent) for the connector route referendum.  Both have been identified needs since municipal incorporation a quarter century ago. Our serious traffic issues remain, and we are one of the few communities our size lacking a dedicated intergenerational centre. 

Social infrastructure is as important to Sooke's wellbeing as road infrastructure, so I'm glad that both will be in the hands of voters to help the next council determine how to proceed on both fronts. 

For the Record 
Council Meeting - April 27, 2026
Notice of Motion provided by Councillor Bateman 

2026-173 
MOVED by Councillor Jeff Bateman, seconded by Councillor Tony St-Pierre:

WHEREAS 82.9% of District of Sooke voters on November 15, 2014 were in favour of developing local multi-use community centre facilities serving seniors and youth; 

AND WHEREAS the District and the Sooke Region Communities Health Network have worked extensively on plans to establish the Sooke Gathering Place multi-generational centre on Lot A in the town centre;

AND WHEREAS the community has responded strongly to multiple fundraising efforts in recent years that have raised $293,979 to date towards construction of the Sooke Gathering Place; 

AND WHEREAS this funding falls substantially short of the TBD amount that will be required; 

THEREFORE be it resolved that the District of Sooke provide voters with an opportunity to respond to the following question in October 2026: 

In your opinion, should the District borrow up to $5 million to construct and operationalize the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre on Lot A in the town centre?  YES NO 

AND FURTHER, THAT Council direct staff to report on the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre on Lot A in the town centre, including the steps required for inclusion of this question on the October ballot and the taxpayer implications based on current Municipal Finance Authority rates. 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ~ Tait, Bateman, Beddows, McMath, St-Pierre
Absent: Haldane, Pearson

From the minutes: 
* Council considered a motion to include a referendum question on the 2026 ballot asking whether the District should borrow up to $5 million to support construction of the “Gathering Place” community centre. Notice of Motion brought forward is supported by past public endorsement and ongoing fundraising efforts. 

* Council debated whether to remove the $5 million cap and specific location (Lot A) to avoid constraining future options. An amendment to remove those details was introduced but defeated. 
​
* Council supported keeping the defined amount and location to provide clarity to voters." 

My talking points for the April 27 council meeting as prepared beforehand

1.  I initially brought forward this potential motion to the Sooke Age-Friendly Committee last fall. It was well received and I was urged to proceed. 
 
2. My rationale is listed clearly, I trust, in the Whereas statements. 
 
- Whereas #1 – the 2014 Plebiscite – 82.9% in favour of asking the District to work with the community to develop multi-use community centre facilities.”  That is the largest single official show of support for any such question in the municipality’s history. And yet the seniors remain homeless despite the fact that they are the fastest growing demographic in Sooke. Council owes it to the 8 in 10 of us who voted in favour more than a decade ago to keep pushing onward. 
 
- Whereas #2 – The District and the Sooke Region Communities Network have worked extensively on this project. Here’s a partial timeline following the 2014 plebiscite ... 
 
i) Formation of the Sooke Community Centre Advisory Committee in April, 2015 with reps from the Sooke Community Association, Sooke Fall Fair, SRCHN, Sooke Rotary Club, SEAPARC and Transition Sooke, among others. 
 
ii) The Committee’s final recommendations in 2017 include that (quote) “Council plan for multi-use community spaces at the newly acquired Wadams Way location … spaces may include indoor areas and an outside ‘community square’ gathering space.” 
 
iii) Led by the tireless Carol Pinalski, a delegation in late 2017 asked that the District reserve space on Lot A for a new-build Senior’s Drop-In Centre … which council indeed did in 2018. 
 
iv) In July 2018, the Senior/Youth Centre Reserve Fund was created in the amount of $254k 
 
vi) December, 2018 – Lot A Charette identified the northeast quadrant for a senior/youth drop-in centre with seniors housing above … the health centre was slotted for the southeast quadrant and a public plaza in the sunny southwest quadrant. 
 
vii) July, 2019 – Northeast Quadrant Lot A Task Force was created and developed business case proposals for the drop-in centre paired with seniors’ affordable housing. 
 
viii) Feb. 2021 – Lot A’s eastern half was rezoned 
 
ix) April 2023 -- An MOU between the District and SRCHN was finalized with a focus on … on the Gathering Place plus senior housing on Lot A. 
 
x) July 10, 2023 – Gathering Place Development Permit unanimously approved 
 
xi) July 25, 2025 – SRCHN learns that its latest – the third I believe -- application to BC Housing to fund the senior’s housing component had been declined. It announces that its Board has voted to revert to the earlier plan of building the Sooke Gathering Place independent of a housing component. 
 
And that’s been the process in brief over the last decade.  
 
 - Whereas #3 – The fundraising committee is truly a force of nature. They have raised close to $300k through events like the Grand Parade and the Sooke Spectacular Senior competitions … a book sale … dances at the legion … and a steady tide of generous donations by private citizens. 
 
Groups at the Sooke Senior Family Fair at which Koshin Moonfist was crowned our latest Spectacular Senior included the Sooke Lions, Ayre Manor, the Scouts and Guides, the Sooke Arts Council, Ayre Manor, Contact Loan Cupboard, Elder Dog, Sooke Rotary Club. The Upside Guys from CHEK News were there and they captured the passion, drive and commitment of all these volunteers. Huge energy, commitment and healthy FUN! 
 
- Whereas #4 – All this volunteer fundraising is epic but still well short of the mark – the cost for the Gathering Place is now estimated, with a modular build, at upwards of $2.5m. There is also the need for ongoing operationalization costs. 
 
- The Therefore Clause – given all of this activity over the last decade, it is appropriate now to give voters an opportunity to confirm or not they want the District borrowing funds to complete and operationalize the project. 
 
The results will provide direction to the new council on the value of this community infrastructure and whether or not they should continue facilitating and supporting work on it. 
 
 I have included the “up to $5 million” in the motion since this project could be expanded into a true community cultural hub with all due community consultation – perhaps via a Task Force or Community Assembly -- to include other complimentary multi-purpose uses … 
 
 
CLOSING … I’m seeking a staff report on the process as well as financial implications of borrowing up to $5m. That is a maximum number. 
 
As all of us are entirely and painfully aware, we just passed a split vote budget over a $210 per year increase in property taxes for the average assessed home in the District. 
 
And next month we will be hearing about the road referendum and its own set of significant long-term borrowing costs that must be carried by the taxpayer.   
 
The plebiscite question I’m raising tonight will give Sooke voters a chance to weigh in on whether or not they are prepared to fund “soft” or “social” infrastructure like the Gathering Place … arguably just as important to a community’s health and wellbeing than the “hard” infrastructure of pipes and roads.
 
By putting the Gathering Place to a plebiscite vote in October, we are not forcing borrowing on our residents – we are giving them the agency and free will to make a conscious decision. 
 
If the community feels that up to $5m is too much, then they’ll vote no. 
 
We also need to give folks the chance to vote ‘yes’ given the long process to date and the fact that they have already raised nearly $300k out of their own pockets. 
 
Either way, it will give the next Council direction and impetus to explore this further as the new four-year term begins. 
 
I’ll close with a quote from the Gathering Place fundraising team:

“We are a vibrant group of folks aged 55+, many of whom are active and involved in the community. We volunteer, take classes, exercise, enjoy entertaining and look forward to a long life in pursuit of healthy fun. It’s only right that Sooke has a dedicated space for everyone to gather with family and friends.”