I'm asked occasionally about the notes that I flip through during council meetings. It happened again the other day, and I said I'd post a sample set. Here is the unedited version of what I was referencing in my final night as Deputy Mayor on April 28 for whatever interest it might satisfy. It's a mix of personal notes, clips from the agenda and media sources, and potential questions to be asked should time be available. All part of my mission to be prepared through what some suggest is over-preparation.
Opening Remarks
I’ll respectfully note as always that we are meeting tonight on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Sencoten speaking peoples – in particular the T’Sou-ke and Sc'ianew First Nations. Later tonight we’ll learn about the Sooke Council Club and the young students with which it engages, and I was particularly struck by the territorial acknowledgement used when they gather … so I’ll quote it in full now:
“Before we begin, let's take a moment to acknowledge the land where we live and
learn. We want to thank the T'Sou-ke Nation and the Coast Salish peoples for taking
care of this land. They have been here for many, many years, and we are grateful for
their wisdom and stewardship. Let's remember to always respect the land and the
people who came before us. Let’s raise our hands to say thank you to the T'Sou-ke
Nation and Coast Salish peoples as we get started today.” – Hychka
A note that this is federal election day, of course. Polls are open until 7 PM tonight. If you’ve not done so, whether you’re at home or in the audience here, to please get out, exercise your democratic rights and VOTE!
Before we begin, I wanted to let everyone know the District’s flags have been at half-mast this past week to mark both the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday and now in memorial to those killed at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver. Council heard today from MLA Lajeunnesse’s office with a request to share the supports available to those grieving the loss of loved ones or recovering from the tragic events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver.
"The festival was meant to be a celebration of Filipino strength and culture, and this heartbreaking incident has left many in grief and distress. In this difficult time, we want to acknowledge and thank the police, first responders, and everyone who acted swiftly and continue to help those affected. Now, it is our turn to support the Filipino community. Across all levels of government, our immediate priority is ensuring that individuals receive the care and resources they need. Please remind anyone in need that there are support services available:
· VictimLinkBC: https://victimlinkbc.ca | Call or text 1-800-563-0808
· United Way BC 211: https://bc.211.ca
· Crisis Support: Crisis lines are available 24/7 for those in need:
o Crisis Centre BC
o BC Crisis Lines Network
No one is alone in this—help is here.
Thank you for ensuring this message reaches those who need it most.
With warm regards,
Aakriti
Aakriti Rai (she/her) | Constituency Advisor | Dana Lajeunesse MLA Juan de Fuca - Malahat
Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility
Office: 778.746.3228
April 28 Council
4.1 Public Hearing – 6727 West Coast Road
- First and Second readings – rezone from RU1 to C2
- An Entertainment Center—complete with a bowling alley, restaurant and other establishments. A bakery, for instance.
- Question: Last year you told a reporter that there would be 12 to 16 bowling lanes with a bar and pizza place on the ground floor and a Mediterranean-style restaurant on a second floor. Is this still the plan?
- project’s goal is to provide a family friendly atmosphere and social gathering centre. He said the lanes would offer five- and 10-pin bowling.
- Sooke had a bowling alley in the 1960s, according to Elida Peers, historian at the Sooke Region Museum. Rainbow Lanes was built by Bob Hughes on Highway 14 not far from the proposed new site. The long building still exists and has housed several businesses, including a library and restaurants, and most recently the Route 14 Sooke.
- Greater Victoria currently has three bowling alleys — Langford Lanes, Sidney’s Miracle Lanes and a six-lane operation at Canadian Brewhouse at Uptown shopping centre.
Question: A development pro forma is one of the most important (yet often overlooked) tools in real estate and urban planning. Think of it as the financial blueprint for a development project—it lays out the estimated costs, revenues, and potential profits before a single brick is laid. Have you completed such a pro forma?
Question: Parking concerns raised at our last meeting … let’s see the site map on pg. 21 of the agenda up on the screen, please. How many spaces? Is it sufficient to need? No other parking available in immediate neighbourhood if respect is given to customer-only guidelines at Cedar Grove Mall.
- Apart from the AI image featured with the petition, we have seen no preliminary design drawings … and this is a challenge.
- Luis Almhama, Syrian refugee, arrived in Sooke 2015 with father, uncle and others; Felderhof daycare
- 60% lot coverage, remaining 40% for parking
- lone Large Lot Residential (RU1) zone in the town centre east of the Hope Centre
- two storeys - please confirm
- 10 jobs to be created
- Development Permit process will follow if we approve, but a basic design drawing or blueprint of what you have planned would have been helpful so we can have a sense of form and character
Question: - westbound left-turn lane into the property -- “A subsequent memorandum from WATT Consulting Group, dated December 20, 2024, recommended the installation of a left turn lane to access the site westbound on Highway 14 (West Coast Road). Staff have recommended the inclusion of this improvement in a S.219 covenant registered as a condition of rezoning, with its installation subject to approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.”
- A Public Engagement Meeting (PIM) was held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at 2365 Church Road in Sooke. A summary of the engagement meeting is attached to this report (Attachment 6). Note: I attended the PIM … and spoke with the applicant in the drop-off area of his daycare centre … No materials, site layouts or design drawings were shown – conceptual plan only
- COUNCIL WILL SEE DP as it is a town-centre development and not subject to staff authority … form and character and building design at that time.
- The applicant also conducted a survey to gather public feedback, which had 14 responses that were favorable of the proposal. Note: These quotes are drawn from a public petition which, as of Saturday afternoon, had collected 170 signatures.
Fire Department
- site access
- recommending FireSmart best landscaping practices and building construction
4.2 Bylaw Reading – council discussion and vote
- C2 zones are commonplace and wanted on main corridors in the town centre and this is the right location for C2 uses.
- The OCP specifically mentions need for movie theatre and bowling alley
- parking issues explained – five spots per lane is the norm
- applicant is bringing us a big, bold idea of the kind that many have talked about forever it seems – a bowling alley … bring additional life to town centre in the evenings.
- I am concerned about neighbour reactions … I, personally, would not want a bowling alley in my backyard out on Whiffin Spit, but this is the town centre after all
- this is a kind of pre-zoning
- what are we securing as part of this land lift: i) left-turn lane; ii) frontage improvements; iii) affordable housing contribution should it come to that if a mixed-use building is built in this location at some future date.
- focused development in the town centre
- mix of uses; walk more, drive less …
- the day will ideally come when we will do DP and rezoning applications together … though this is EXPENSIVE for the applicant, no guarantees
5.1 Adoption of Minutes
6.1 Invited Presentation – KPMG
Audited 2024 Financial Statements
- “clean audit opinion from the District’s external auditor.”
- no issues noted in the testing of the following areas of focus
- no issues, no significant factors
- no issues with accounting policies, financial statement disclosures
* no significant risks, exposures or uncertainties
Control and Other Observations
You had recommended last year, I believe, that the District update its IT policies … KPMG notes the technology use and cybersecurity policies were adopted by Council in November 2024 to update the previous 2009 policy.
7.1 Royop: Introduction & Vision of West Coast Road Development Project
Jeremy Thal, President and CEO
Jacob Weber, Senior VP, Development
Royop – Calgary (1964), Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary shopping malls
Moved into residential projects under new CEO Jeremy Thal
Phases?
First project in BC?
What appeals to you about Sooke? What makes this the right fit for your company at this time?
I noticed you applied a “traditional prairie aesthetics” and “modern design” to your Township project in Calgary … have you seen our town centre design guidelines?
Gateway Garrison Woods … mixed use with residential condos … we have a lack of condos in this market, might you address that?
"A Force for Good: At Royop, we believe doing good is more than just good business. It helps build better communities and a better world. That’s why we approach every aspect of our business with integrity and accountability to our partners, our tenants, and our planet."
ENVIRONMENTAL
Low Impact Design
Multi-modal transportation
Water efficiency
Efficient building systems
SOCIAL
Health and safety
Community investment
Support for local businesses
Diverse suppliers
GOVERNANCE
Transparency
Client accountability
Principled integrity
Fair reporting
Circa 2019: 6783 Eustace Road Envisioned for the 6700-blocks of West Coast Road/Highway 14 and Eustace Road at Gatewood Road is a nine-acre project comprised of 156,000 square feet of commercial construction, including 15,000 square feet of offices, across six buildings from developer Mid America Venture Capital Corp. If approved, the shopping centre will become Sooke's largest commercial destination.
To put this scale of development into perspective, the town’s Evergreen Centre retail node along the 6600-block of Sooke Road/Highway 14 (home to Shoppers Drug Mart, Western Foods, BC Liquor Stores and other retailers) has a square footage of 69,000 square feet, while the Village Foods Markets plaza (immediately south of Evergreen Centre) with its assortment of retailers clustered around a grocery store is sized at around 40,000 square feet. Langford’s new Belmont Market, anchored by a 53,000 square foot Thrifty Foods grocery store, will eventually reach 160,000 square feet of leasable retail and office space making it comparable to the newly emerged plans in Sooke.
In recent years rumours have circulated around the prospect of a master-planned commercial project materializing at the site of the current proposal with anchor tenants including a Country Grocer and a Canadian Tire franchise, although no formal applications emerged. The land holding is affiliated, however, with the ownership group of the Country Grocer chain which operates two grocery stores in the Capital Region, two in the Cowichan Valley, a duo in Nanaimo and one on Salt Spring Island.
Mid America Venture Capital Corp's concept is in its early stages of a rezoning application seeking to re-label the land (designated as 6783 Eustace Road) from a rural zoning to a comprehensive Town Centre Mixed Use zone. As of the publication date of this article potential tenants have not been disclosed. Given the timelines typically involved with proposals of this magnitude, it is unlikely for shovels to be in the ground until 2022 at the earliest.
8.1 CAO report
- you have referenced the Thursday traffic nightmare resulting from BC Hydro work in the vicinity of Saseenos Elementary ... tell us more.
9. Public Comment and Question Period
10. Consent Agenda
11. Reports
11.1 UBCM Excellence in Governance Award submission
Time for the District to rightfully, in my and many opinions, toot its horn!
First, a submission to the Union of BC Municipalities Excellence in Governance Award at the Sept. 2025 convention in Victoria.
- the Budget 2024 process
"The District of Sooke has implemented a deliberate, transparent, and community informed
budget process that exemplifies excellence in governance. Engagement begins
early—months ahead of budget adoption—through online surveys and in-person
outreach to capture resident priorities.
- The Community-Informed Budgeting initiative reflects the District of Sooke’s leadership
in modernizing its financial planning process to better align with community priorities
and enhance democratic engagement. Developed through cross-departmental
collaboration and implemented without external resources, the initiative features:
* Early and meaningful public participation, beginning months ahead of budget
adoption;
* A phased approach to deliberations, with Council agendas structured around
themed discussions;
* “What We Heard” reports summarizing input and informing Council’s decision making;
* Multiple engagement channels, including online and print surveys, and in-person
events;
* Plain-language communications, accessible online at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget;
* Capacity-building among residents, increasing understanding of municipal
finances and roles.
As a result of this meaningful and reliable engagement processes, the District has seen
significantly increased engagement—over 1,200 participants in the most recent cycle--
and growing public trust, while supporting Council in making well-informed and
transparent decisions."
COMMENTS:
The What We Heard report is effectively a state of the union address by the people of Sooke back to the District – a spectrum ranging from sincere well dones and high praise all the way over to some pretty harsh criticism. Staff and we on council listen and READ it all, and it definitely impacts our decision making.
Community Safety, for instance, is a high priority and that is reflected in this latest budget.
The Financial Plan book itself is a work of art.
Comment: The submission is an excellent summary of the intentions, the process, the execution. What’s missing for me is a little history … Ms. Gray in her former life as Director of Finance began this from scratch in 2019, I believe. It has been improving through lessons learned, tweaks, new approaches and initiatives ever since – a refinement that has taken staff to a place where they are prepared to make this submission at this time … anyway, I think that is worth mentioning. This sort of model doesn’t happen overnight.
11.2 UBCM Service Excellence submission
- on election day, what better subject to bring forward …
The submission highlights the District’s civic learning lab program, titled "Sooke Council Club"
Hope springs! Encouraging and heart-warming on election day (polls close at 7 PM) to see tonight's agenda item related to the Sooke Council Club. Since its launch last year, some 200 local pre-teen students have learned about local government and their democratic rights in playfully educational sessions led by Mayor Tait and District staff.
Overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, teachers and the students themselves is sure to guide council in supporting a recommendation to submit the program for a Union of BC Municipalities Excellence in Service Delivery nomination this fall.
The Sooke Council Club reflects the District of Sooke’s commitment to excellence in public service through proactive, engaging, and educational civic outreach. As a youth focused civic learning lab, the program introduces students to the role of local government, decision-making processes, budgeting, and community services in a tangible, age-appropriate way. Developed through internal collaboration and administered in partnership with local
schools, the initiative features:
Experiential, place-based learning delivered by District staff and elected officials;
A structured lesson plan aligned with the school curriculum to support delivery
and communication with teachers;
Activities that model democratic processes, such as budgeting simulations and
voting exercises;
Meaningful youth participation, empowering students to see themselves as
contributors to civic life.
As a result of this initiative, the District is nurturing a generation of engaged citizens,
improving civic literacy and building long-term community capacity. To date, the program
has been delivered to more than 200 students. It also provides a replicable model for
other municipalities seeking to deepen youth engagement and embed civic education
into service delivery. positive feedback from teachers, students, and families.
By investing in civic literacy from a young age, the Sooke Council Club supports longterm
community resilience, democratic engagement, and public trust. It aligns with the
District’s strategic plan, particularly goals related to organizational capacity, inclusive
service delivery, and fostering community pride and participation.
<clip> "By investing in civic awareness early, the District is proactively addressing barriers to future engagement—such as low voter turnout and confusion over government roles—and laying the foundation for a more accountable, informed, and involved citizenry."
11.3 UDI membership
- two attempts to book a UDI speaker have been cancelled by UDI … Feb. 18 and tonight, April 27 … “Staff do not anticipate a material impact on day-to-day operations should Council direct staff to not renew this membership.”
We on council routinely receive its email newsletter … question: do staff attend these workshop luncheons or webinars
i.e., May 14 … a luncheon presentation on the structural impacts of new seismic codes in the capital region … $45 for members; $85 for non-member + last month luncheon was a UDI BC Building Code Update webinar
- $750 + GST is the current membership fee
- There are currently 29 regional and local government members of UDI in BC
- Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Esquimalt, Oak Bay and Victoria are local members
- View Royal and Saanich opted out in 2023 on grounds that UDI is a registered lobby group and listed in the BC Lobbyists Registry.
- Sasha Izzard’s CRD Capital Watch page
- UDI, as is to be expected, were among groups contributing submissions as the Province developed Bill 44 to address the housing crisis.
Motion: THAT the District of Sooke not renew its membership with the Urban Development Institute.
I made this same motion in February 2024 and it was deferred so as to hear directly from UDI - didn't happen. Let's end the membership. Staff can pay relatively minimal non-member price to attend important workshops/seminars.
On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 10:35 AM Jeff Bateman <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Mr. Izard,
Thank you again for your close attention to this matter. Clearly there was confusion over the date of the membership renewal, and this to me falls into the category of an entirely human and understandable oversight given all else that District staff must deal with.
More to the point, I am happy to know that we'll hear from a UDI representative directly on April 28. Council will then be in the best possible position to determine whether the membership should be renewed or not.
I welcome your correspondence and backgrounders to inform our discussion that night. Please share it with council, Ms. Gray and the [email protected]email address.
sincerely,
Jeff
Jeff Bateman
Councillor, District of Sooke
Lobbyist Registry
Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia (provincial level only)
- Who is Lobbying Who – monthly report
- Active registrations in 2023/24
- Consultant lobbyists – 692
- Organizations – 752
- In-House Lobbyists – 3,757
The lobbyist defined: "is paid to communicate or to arrange a meeting for the purpose of lobbying with a public office holder in an attempt to influence any of the matters set out in the LTA definition of “lobby”."
The province allows for local governments to establish voluntary lobbyist registries. Local governments are not permitted to compel lobbyists to register.
Kelowna and Surrey are the only two I could find with such registries
Saanich: “All I want to see is greater transparency, good governance, accountability in local government and I want to do my best to influence greater trust among residents,” Natalie Chambers said. In 2023, the council voted against adding a registry to its list of strategic initiatives, saying it was not a priority and there were bigger issues to focus on.
Murdock, who co-sponsored the previous motion with Chambers, said he remains in support. “It just contributes to trust in the decision-making process,” he said. Coun. Karen Harper said there are already tools such as freedom of information legislation and B.C. Elections’ reports into political donations to provide transparency. “Quite frankly, anyone talking to me is lobbying me,” she said.
11.4 7295 Francis Road ALR application (child care)
Whiffin Spit daycare …
The proposed non-farm use is to allow for a Community Care Facility to accommodate up to 100 children within an existing building and outdoor space located at 7295 Francis Road.
0.14 ha of the 2.12 ha property, including an outdoor space, converted residential building, and parking area. The remainder of the property, approximately 1.98 ha, is intended to remain for farming purposes and a residence.
The subject property is zoned Small Scale Agriculture (RU3) and does not permit Community Care Facility use; therefore, should the ALC approve the non-farm use, the owner will be required to apply to rezone the property to permit Community Care Facility use by site-specific text amendment to the RU3 zone.
Conclusion
Staff recommend Council authorize the application to be forwarded to the ALC for consideration based on the following rationale:
- Only a small portion of the property is proposed for Community Care Facility use. Its use will be conducted primarily within an existing building, leaving the vast majority of the parcel to remain for agricultural purposes.
- Childcare is identified as a critical community need in the Child Care Needs
Assessment and Action Plan (2019).
- The property will remain in the ALR and agricultural uses will still be permitted and will remain in use on the property – should Council forward the application to the ALC and the ALC approves the use, staff would consider the use to be
generally supported for rezoning purposes.
Oceanfront Farmhouse Daycare will provide high-quality childcare services for up to 100 children, ranging from infants to school-age, addressing the critical shortage of daycare spaces in the Sooke District.
7295 Francis Rd
Listing Description (circa 2022?)
Over 5 acres of oceanfront property... spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean & the Olympic Mountain Range, situated in the seaside town of Sooke, BC. Walking distance to world renowned Whiffin Spit Park, Sooke Harbour House Restaurant & Inn, minutes drive to shopping, restaurants and schools. There are two brand new buildings: 4233sf with 8 rooms, 4 bathrooms and 3 kitchens. You can rent this building for $6500/Month. 11140sf arena/warehouse with 1 bath. You can rent this building for $6500/Month. You can rent the above two buildings together for $12,000/Month including the land except the hut at entrance. Can accept long-term or short-term rental needs .Flexible lease term with renewal options. Landlord will be responsible for Property Tax and Property Insurance. Renters will be responsible for utilities and the insurance for renter's property and third party. Measurements and listing info are approximate, Renters to verify if important. Luke Chen, MBA, P. Eng. (Non-Practicing), PMP, 778-677-9557 [email protected] Landlord 778-886-0903 (27940678)
- Sooke is a "child care desert" -- one of many such communities across BC lacking sufficient daycare facilities
- Parents are stressed about this, and this is a positive development in a unique daycare setting
- I want to just speak the quality, clarity and plain language effectiveness of these staff reports. BRAVO!
11.5 6600 Helgeson Rd. ALR application (solar panels)
The proposed solar array contains three banks of panels over an area of approximately 0.1 ha of the 61.5-ha property. Cattle farming is currently occurring on the subject property and the applicant has future plans for a second greenhouse and barn to diversify agricultural output.
The applicant has indicated that a yearly energy consumption analysis was completed for the system design to ensure the system does not produce more energy than what is required over the course of a year on the property. However, any excess energy produced throughout the day will be sold to the utility (BC Hydro), and during the evening, if additional energy is required the electricity will be purchased from the utility. Power generated by the array will first be used to power on-site buildings.
Advisory comments were provided from the Building Division, indicating that a building permit would be required for the installation of the solar array, subject to approval of the nonfarm use.
Conclusion
Staff recommend Council forward the Non-Farm Use application to the ALC for consideration based on the following rationale:
The solar array is considered accessory to the farm uses and buildings on site, and is in alignment with the District's Zoning Bylaw, provided it does not expand beyond what is necessary to power on site agricultural buildings;
The disturbance required to install the array occupies a small portion (approximately 1,020 sq. m.) of the large 61.5-ha parcel, leaving a significant portion available for agricultural activity;
Enhanced sustainability and energy dependence are outlined in the applicant’s rationale, reducing dependence on external power sources to sustain agricultural operations
ALC shares comments from Ministry of Agriculture and Food:
Ultimately, while the proposed project only impacts a small amount of land and will be clustered with existing buildings, Ministry staff lack understanding of solar energy production systems and as such, are concerned that energy production may primarily be sold to BC Hydro as opposed to supporting the existing and future agricultural uses of the Subject Property.
STRONG YES!
11.6 6520 Throup Road. ALR application (skate park)
- STRONG YES
- Mention the AAP - opened on April 17, closes on May 23 ... some 1,850 elector response forms must be submitted by that date to derail the borrowing ... $3.1m, a third for the skate park, the remaining for low-carbon heating/cooling system for the pool and arena
- great to see the SEAPARC sign advertising this AAP, many complain about AAPs saying they're not even aware they are underway, so this is part of the solution in addressing this legitimate criticism.
There have been several successful applications to permit non-farm uses on the SD #62 subject property since the 1990s, including those to permit two schools and a storage yard; however, there is no record of formal approval for the skate park as a non-farm use.
The CRD (lessee) has submitted the application with authorization from the School District (lessor/owner) seeking approval for the non-farm use prior to redesign and reconstruction of the skate park on its existing 0.26-ha footprint. The use of the skate park is otherwise permitted in the P2 (Community Facilities) Zone.
The application notes the footprint will not be expanded upon and engineered fill to address drainage and topsoil will be used to re-seed disturbed areas. The CRD is finalizing concept designs, but construction is tentatively scheduled for late spring 2025.
Conclusion
The skate park will be reconstructed within the existing footprint, therefore not
utilizing additional land for non-farm uses;
The history of non-farm uses approved by the ALC and rezoning approval in
2000 indicates the use of the property is intended for community facilities and is
not being used for agricultural purposes;
The zoning of the subject property of P2 (Community Facilities) permits the
proposed use; and
The skate park is recognized as a popular and valuable community asset,
located adjacent to complimentary land uses, such as schools and other
recreational facilities.
12.1 Adoption: Zoning amendment – 2104 Charters Road
A bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 600, Sooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013 for the purpose of amending the zoning on the property located at 2104 Charters Road from Large Lot Residential (R1) to Medium Density Multi Family 2 (RM2).
Question – why did this take nearly two years from third reading to adoption?
12.2 Zoning amendment – 6557 Clairview Road
The District has received an application to rezone the subject property, located at 6557 Clairview Road, from Low Density Multi Family 1 (RM1) to Large Lot Residential (R1) to accommodate the conversion of an existing duplex into a single-family dwelling with a secondary suite. Rezoning is required, as the proposed uses are not permitted in the
existing RM1 zone.
The proposed zoning amendment is supported by policies within the OCP and is consistent with the existing Community Residential land use designation. While Duplex is a permitted use in the R1 Zone, the owner intends to apply for a building permit to convert the duplex into a single-family dwelling and suite in order to rent out the suite on
a short-term basis, subject to rezoning.
Conclusion
Staff recommend that Council give first, second, and third reading to the proposed zoning amendment bylaw based on the following rationale:
The proposed R1 zone is consistent with the OCP’s Community Residential land
use designation.
The existing duplex use is permitted in both the existing RM1 zone and R1 zone; therefore, rezoning does would not create a non-conformity related to the use of the dwelling, should conversion to a single-family dwelling not occur.
Conversion of the existing duplex to a single-family dwelling with suite will be reviewed at time of building permit to ensure compliance with BC Building Code and all other applicable regulations.
Parks Referral
It appears from historical (since 2016) orthophotos that vegetation has been removed from the covenant area. District staff encourage the revegetation of this area with native species to support the protection of marine resources and fish habitat, which aligns with the July 8, 2024, referral comments provided by DFO.
Advisory Note: At such time in the future that the subject property undergoes redevelopment to increase density or substantially change use, the District may request a 5m SRW from the marine high-water mark for a future public trail or boardwalk connection along the waterfront to meet the objectives of the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Parks and Trails Master Plan (PTMP).
12.3 Property Tax Rate Bylaw No. 924
13.1 UBCM notice of motion – FOIPPA
- Tony motion
- CRD stats ...
14. New Business
15. Correspondence
15.1 Asphalt Code of Practice (JB)
This is a super-technical memo from Environment and Climate Change Canada with two very specific asks of local governments who wish to reduce VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions from new asphalt.
1. Require adherence to a new Code of Practice in paving procurement and contracting documents for road construction, maintenance and repair.
2. Ensure that contractors use lower VOC emitting asphalt products, such as emulsified asphalt when possible.
Given that Sooke is home to Butler Brothers, which produces Canada’s Cleanest & Greenest Concrete: With current EPD results consistently 40-50% lower than the Canadian Benchmark, we have also attained the number one spot in North America! This has been achieved by using local, high-quality constituents while incorporating a growing number of initiatives including the adoption of Hydrogen Fuel Cells and CarbonCure technology.
As the first and only concrete supplier on Vancouver Island to adopt CarbonCure technology, Butler Concrete and Aggregate uses leading edge technology to provide greener building materials to the local construction industry. It’s important to us that we reduce our carbon footprint and provide a superior concrete product.
City of Langford has a Low Carbon Concrete Policy
- has any thought been given to introducing such a policy here?
City of Langford Announces Bold, Low Carbon Concrete Policy
November 18, 2021
At its November 17 Council meeting, the City of Langford became the first jurisdiction in Canada to adopt a low carbon concrete policy, boldly accelerating the deployment of technologies to decarbonize the built environment. Effective June 1, 2022, all concrete supplied to City-owned or solicited projects, and private construction projects greater than 50 cubic meters, will be required to be produced using post-industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) mineralization technologies, or an equivalent which offers concrete with lower embodied CO2.
Cement production, the key ingredient in concrete, is responsible for about seven percent of the world’s CO2 emissions. “What I’m most excited about is that Langford has created a transferable policy model to catalyze policy momentum nationwide – and globally – that will no doubt unleash more smart procurement policies to lower embodied carbon of concrete in new construction,” said Lisa Bate, the World Green Building Council Board’s immediate past chair and Global Sustainability Lead/Senior Principal at B+H Architects.
15.2 Sooke Transit Service (JB)
Move to receive this for information and future advocacy purposes with BC Transit.
Peter Stokoe highlighted Mick Rhodes letter to the Sooke News Mirror in March …
Main issues:
1. the lack of amenities at the Langford Exchange – lack of shelter and public washrooms
2. the lack of direct service to Victoria during non-peak hours (i.e., not during the morning and afternoon rush hours, when there is direct service) … particularly inconvenient for seniors and
As Deputy Mayor, I replied and eventually looped in BC Transit’s Senior Manager of Government Relations. Interesting perspectives from Mr. Stokoe and some reality check replies and context from BC Transit’s Senior Manager of Government Relations. I also recommend you read the correspondence on pp. 233-241 in tonight’s agenda.
You will see that BC Transit is in a process …
Improvements to Sooke routes have been identified by the Victoria Regional Transit
Commission (VRTC) as a key investment priority. Service expansion for Sooke routes is
currently planned for the 2026/27 fiscal year, subject to VRTC approval and funding. In
addition, the VRTC recently directed BC Transit staff to look at cost-neutral service
improvements for Sooke. Staff will be conducting public engagement in spring 2025 to inform
these potential changes, which could be implemented later in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
With regards to the Langford Exchange, we continue to work with the City of Langford on
possible improvements to this facility, such as the addition of public washrooms.
The upcoming public engagement will not include the possibility of direct service between Sooke
and Victoria at off-peak times, as through this process we can only engage on cost-neutral
changes, and providing direct service at off-peak times would require additional resources. As I
mentioned, service expansion is currently planned for Sooke for the 2026/27 fiscal year (subject to
VRTC approval and funding), and this could include improvements to Sooke regional service
(such as the Route 61), and improvements to Sooke local service as per the Sooke Local Area
Transit Plan.
Currently, at off-peak times, the Route 61 is schedule to connect with the Route 95 West Shore
RapidBus at the Langford Exchange. This connection does allow for efficiencies, as ridership and
demand on the Route 95 requires the use of double decker buses, whereas the ridership/demand on
the Route 61 warrants the use of a heavy-duty 40 foot bus. I will also add that approximately 40%
more trips were added on Route 61 when the Route 95 West Shore RapidBus Line was launched
in spring 2023.
This is timely because BC Transit is conducting a rider survey that ends this coming Friday.
Victoria 2025/26 Service Changes
“Routes 61 and 65: Opportunities to improve service coverage within Sooke in 2025/26, with the introduction of new local Sooke service in 2027.”
- 23 direct routes to downtown Victoria in total on the #61 and #65 during the morning and afternoon rush hours
- survey seeks opinions on value of extending the #65 along Church and Helgeson, which is going to appeal to those living in those areas but the trade-off is longer wait-times for those not living within walking distance of Otter Point Road
- introduces prospect of new local routes starting in 2027 serving Broom Hill, Sunriver and Whiffin Spit as mapped out in the Sooke Local Transit Area Plan (2020)
Sooke Service (Routes 61, 63, 64, 65) - PDF of Sooke Boards
The Victoria Regional Transit Commission is pursuing improvements to transit in Sooke and there are opportunities building on priorities from the 2020 Sooke Local Area Transit Plan.
The following questions present options for:
- regional-scale changes that would occur later in 2025 or in early 2026
- introductory local service that would occur as soon as 2027.
About 55% of trips that originate within Sooke in the morning rush hour are to destinations within Sooke; 23% go to the West Shore, 20% to the Core, and 3% to the Peninsula. Source: CRD Origin Destination Travel Survey, 2022.
I pulled this not realizing that BC Transit was planning to be at the District’s Earth Day event at the Country Market on Saturday …
There is a survey open until Friday.
One option is extended routes along Church and Helgeson
The good news is that Sooke is getting its share of the new service hours being introduced this and the next two years ... all the better to connect local riders to the evolving RapidBus system.
- 30,000 hours in 2025/26 – 12 buses
- 40,000 hours in 2026/27 – 16 buses
- 50,000 hours in 2027/28 – 20 buses (all subject to provincial funding)
“Improvements to Sooke and West Shore routes and introduction of coverage service in rapidly developing communities” – Royal Bay, for instance. Tweaks to existing routes are also promised following public engagement.
Ideally, we'll be in consideration as a pilot community now that the first on-demand pick-up service is proving popular in one Kelowna neighbourhood.
15.3 Mike and Kathy Hicks – MRDT (Pearson)
15.4 Phase 6 Throup – Kelly Chartier (St-Pierre)
15.5 Phase 6 Throup corridor – Johnny Wright (St-Pierre)
Good Morning J. Wright, K. Chartier,
Thank you for the information you have provided including your concerns regarding large wildlife corridors across HWY 14 (west of the Museum) as well as for the Throup Connector Project. The email below is my response that I provided on November 29 regarding the inclusion of a large wildlife culvert on HWY 14. Accordingly, I can provide you with the following additional information.
Large Wildlife Culvert on HWY 14 West of the Museum
The CRD is in progress with a Watermain replacement project from Phillips to Church Road which they have obtained permits for these specific works from MOTT. CRD does not have jurisdiction or responsibility for the Storm water infrastructure within MOTT Highway Right of Way. Considerations for installation of a Large wild life culvert across the Highway would have to be considered by MOTT independently or at the time there were future plans to rebuild this section of Highway west of the Museum. At this time, there are no plans for MOTT to rebuild this section of their Highway.
I have reached out to the wildlife program manager at MOTT to discuss consideration of a large wildlife culvert at this location. The wildlife branch at MOTT would be able to provide partial funding for the purchase of a large wildlife culvert, but do not have funding available for the installation which would be at a significant cost. Accordingly, this project would have to considered in unison with MOTT consideration of funding a major independent culvert crossing project and/or reconstruction of the Highway at this location. I have ongoing communication with MOTT directors and have flagged this large wildlife culvert project for future consideration in unison with any MOTT works at this location.
Large Wildlife Culvert on Throup Connector
The current design for the Throup Connector project includes an open bottom channel box culvert at the wetland low point of this corridor which accommodates the passage of small wildlife, amphibians, and fish, if they were bearing in this location. There is no current design to incorporate an additional large wildlife culvert west of the wetland low point box culvert location. Large wildlife are anticipated to cross over this corridor. To incorporate a significantly large wildlife culvert as part of this project would increase the overall project cost by $500k to $1M. This major connector corridor project has significant high cost associated with construction implementation as currently designed. I would have to receive direction from Council to initiate a major design change this summer to include this infrastructure as well as to increase the overall anticipated project cost.
I understand this may not be the answer you are looking for, but hopefully this information is helpful.
Tue 2024-11-19 2:21 PM
Good Afternoon J. Wright,
Thank you for your email. The watermain replacement project is work that is being conducted by the Capital Regional District (CRD) within the Ministry of Transportations (MOTI) Jurisdiction. The depth of the watermain excavation, that will be parallel to the highway, will not be close to the depth of exaction required for a major culvert replacement across the highway. Unfortunately, I do not think that it would be realistic for this work to be completed as part of the CRD’s watermain replacement project; however, I will pass on your email below to MOTI and the CRD for their information and consideration.
Respectfully
Jeff Carter
Director of Operations
16. Items removed from consent agenda
17. Board of Variance appointments
- Frank Work
- Jeff Holm
- Stan Dueck
Council Verbal Reports
- AVICC Convention in Nanaimo on the weekend of April 10
- Substantial session … workshops, networking, and the always fascinating resolution session at which we vote on a whole series of issues of concern to local governments.
- Sooke’s resolution asking the Province to increase its funding to the BC Human Rights Tribunal was passed unanimously.
- None of the dozen or so late resolutions were submitted for debate given time limitations … however our two from Sooke re: 9-1-1 funding and the Utilities Tax will be submitting directly to the Union of BC Municipalities … the deadline for that is June 15.
* CRD Environmental Services Meeting
* CRD Regional Parks meeting
* Meeting of the Sooke Multi-Belief Initiative at which we welcomed Nicky Logins to our circle. We’re in preliminary explorative mode re: some kind of volunteer appreciation event that might be scheduled for National Volunteer Week this time next year. We’ll certainly be approaching the District about this and seeking collaboration and/or support. SMBI also intends to host an all-candidates forum for the municipal by-election once we get that sorted out
* Quarterly meeting of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee
April 24, 2025
Access Pro Bono‘s Jamie Maclaren provided a powerpoint update on priority recommendations within his 2019 Roads To Revival review of BC legal aid services. Full credit to the Province for heeding the report’s priority calls for more Indigenous Justice Centres and independent community legal aid clinics; establishing the Immigration and Refugee Legal Clinic at the Immigrant Services Society of BC‘s Welcome Centre in Vancouver; and delivering support to pro bono lawyers working on complex criminal cases.
Much still to accomplish, he argued, in creating a client-centred legal aid system as the report envisions. Maclaren suggests that the Attorney General next be asked to establish an Access to Justice Commissioner to provide independent oversight on justice institutions, including courts and government, and create standardized performance data on the principle of “what’s measured gets managed.” The Committee plans to advocate with Attorney General Sharma accordingly.
Evan James, Manager of Strategic Initiatives for the Umbrella Society, shared outcomes from last year’s VFCYJC grant support of its Navigating Substance Use and Mental Health for Students program. Another guest, Youth Empowerment Society Operations Director Kisae Petersen, confirmed the effectiveness of Umbrella’s work with young people experimenting with substances, primarily alcohol and nicotine.
In other business, the VFCYJC’s third annual open house is set for Wed. May 28 from 3 to 6 PM at Victoria City Hall; the committee voted to ask Chair Little to write the Attorney General in support of recommendations raised by the Be Amazing campaign’s Cathy Peters; the VFCYJC is joining a growing number of local governments that have suspended their X accounts; the latest School Police Liaison Officer Backgrounder was circulated; and there was initial talk of a panel discussion this fall that would focus on three of the essential youth services delivered by Greater Victoria Police Integrated Units , namely the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team, the Regional Domestic Violence Unit and the Mobile Youth Services Team.
* Friday: Broom Busting at Woodland Creek organized by Ms. Moog and the FireSmart team. Some 200 kids in successive waves from Poirier, Journey Middle and EMCS participated along with volunteers from Friends of Sooke Parks Society and others.
* Saturday:
Unfortunately could not attend what i was told was a vibrant and busy Earth Day event at opening day of this year's Sooke Country Market. Booked for morning View Royal at the Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre’s event – a combination of a keynote speech from a renowned arts specialist Alex Sarian and then followed by a design workshop with architects – intended to provide direction from the user groups that will take advantage of this new facility – a 350-seat theatre with associated arts spaces, including working artist studios. I sat with representatives from Sooke Harbour Players and the Sooke Arts Council.
Spent a few hours at Sookerama on Saturday afternoon – hanging out with Al, Kevin and Gail Scott and wandering the hall … putting in a winning auction bid on a six-pack of locally canned salmon.
Opening Remarks
I’ll respectfully note as always that we are meeting tonight on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Sencoten speaking peoples – in particular the T’Sou-ke and Sc'ianew First Nations. Later tonight we’ll learn about the Sooke Council Club and the young students with which it engages, and I was particularly struck by the territorial acknowledgement used when they gather … so I’ll quote it in full now:
“Before we begin, let's take a moment to acknowledge the land where we live and
learn. We want to thank the T'Sou-ke Nation and the Coast Salish peoples for taking
care of this land. They have been here for many, many years, and we are grateful for
their wisdom and stewardship. Let's remember to always respect the land and the
people who came before us. Let’s raise our hands to say thank you to the T'Sou-ke
Nation and Coast Salish peoples as we get started today.” – Hychka
A note that this is federal election day, of course. Polls are open until 7 PM tonight. If you’ve not done so, whether you’re at home or in the audience here, to please get out, exercise your democratic rights and VOTE!
Before we begin, I wanted to let everyone know the District’s flags have been at half-mast this past week to mark both the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday and now in memorial to those killed at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver. Council heard today from MLA Lajeunnesse’s office with a request to share the supports available to those grieving the loss of loved ones or recovering from the tragic events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver.
"The festival was meant to be a celebration of Filipino strength and culture, and this heartbreaking incident has left many in grief and distress. In this difficult time, we want to acknowledge and thank the police, first responders, and everyone who acted swiftly and continue to help those affected. Now, it is our turn to support the Filipino community. Across all levels of government, our immediate priority is ensuring that individuals receive the care and resources they need. Please remind anyone in need that there are support services available:
· VictimLinkBC: https://victimlinkbc.ca | Call or text 1-800-563-0808
· United Way BC 211: https://bc.211.ca
· Crisis Support: Crisis lines are available 24/7 for those in need:
o Crisis Centre BC
o BC Crisis Lines Network
No one is alone in this—help is here.
Thank you for ensuring this message reaches those who need it most.
With warm regards,
Aakriti
Aakriti Rai (she/her) | Constituency Advisor | Dana Lajeunesse MLA Juan de Fuca - Malahat
Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility
Office: 778.746.3228
April 28 Council
4.1 Public Hearing – 6727 West Coast Road
- First and Second readings – rezone from RU1 to C2
- An Entertainment Center—complete with a bowling alley, restaurant and other establishments. A bakery, for instance.
- Question: Last year you told a reporter that there would be 12 to 16 bowling lanes with a bar and pizza place on the ground floor and a Mediterranean-style restaurant on a second floor. Is this still the plan?
- project’s goal is to provide a family friendly atmosphere and social gathering centre. He said the lanes would offer five- and 10-pin bowling.
- Sooke had a bowling alley in the 1960s, according to Elida Peers, historian at the Sooke Region Museum. Rainbow Lanes was built by Bob Hughes on Highway 14 not far from the proposed new site. The long building still exists and has housed several businesses, including a library and restaurants, and most recently the Route 14 Sooke.
- Greater Victoria currently has three bowling alleys — Langford Lanes, Sidney’s Miracle Lanes and a six-lane operation at Canadian Brewhouse at Uptown shopping centre.
Question: A development pro forma is one of the most important (yet often overlooked) tools in real estate and urban planning. Think of it as the financial blueprint for a development project—it lays out the estimated costs, revenues, and potential profits before a single brick is laid. Have you completed such a pro forma?
Question: Parking concerns raised at our last meeting … let’s see the site map on pg. 21 of the agenda up on the screen, please. How many spaces? Is it sufficient to need? No other parking available in immediate neighbourhood if respect is given to customer-only guidelines at Cedar Grove Mall.
- Apart from the AI image featured with the petition, we have seen no preliminary design drawings … and this is a challenge.
- Luis Almhama, Syrian refugee, arrived in Sooke 2015 with father, uncle and others; Felderhof daycare
- 60% lot coverage, remaining 40% for parking
- lone Large Lot Residential (RU1) zone in the town centre east of the Hope Centre
- two storeys - please confirm
- 10 jobs to be created
- Development Permit process will follow if we approve, but a basic design drawing or blueprint of what you have planned would have been helpful so we can have a sense of form and character
Question: - westbound left-turn lane into the property -- “A subsequent memorandum from WATT Consulting Group, dated December 20, 2024, recommended the installation of a left turn lane to access the site westbound on Highway 14 (West Coast Road). Staff have recommended the inclusion of this improvement in a S.219 covenant registered as a condition of rezoning, with its installation subject to approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.”
- A Public Engagement Meeting (PIM) was held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at 2365 Church Road in Sooke. A summary of the engagement meeting is attached to this report (Attachment 6). Note: I attended the PIM … and spoke with the applicant in the drop-off area of his daycare centre … No materials, site layouts or design drawings were shown – conceptual plan only
- COUNCIL WILL SEE DP as it is a town-centre development and not subject to staff authority … form and character and building design at that time.
- The applicant also conducted a survey to gather public feedback, which had 14 responses that were favorable of the proposal. Note: These quotes are drawn from a public petition which, as of Saturday afternoon, had collected 170 signatures.
Fire Department
- site access
- recommending FireSmart best landscaping practices and building construction
4.2 Bylaw Reading – council discussion and vote
- C2 zones are commonplace and wanted on main corridors in the town centre and this is the right location for C2 uses.
- The OCP specifically mentions need for movie theatre and bowling alley
- parking issues explained – five spots per lane is the norm
- applicant is bringing us a big, bold idea of the kind that many have talked about forever it seems – a bowling alley … bring additional life to town centre in the evenings.
- I am concerned about neighbour reactions … I, personally, would not want a bowling alley in my backyard out on Whiffin Spit, but this is the town centre after all
- this is a kind of pre-zoning
- what are we securing as part of this land lift: i) left-turn lane; ii) frontage improvements; iii) affordable housing contribution should it come to that if a mixed-use building is built in this location at some future date.
- focused development in the town centre
- mix of uses; walk more, drive less …
- the day will ideally come when we will do DP and rezoning applications together … though this is EXPENSIVE for the applicant, no guarantees
5.1 Adoption of Minutes
6.1 Invited Presentation – KPMG
Audited 2024 Financial Statements
- “clean audit opinion from the District’s external auditor.”
- no issues noted in the testing of the following areas of focus
- no issues, no significant factors
- no issues with accounting policies, financial statement disclosures
* no significant risks, exposures or uncertainties
Control and Other Observations
You had recommended last year, I believe, that the District update its IT policies … KPMG notes the technology use and cybersecurity policies were adopted by Council in November 2024 to update the previous 2009 policy.
7.1 Royop: Introduction & Vision of West Coast Road Development Project
Jeremy Thal, President and CEO
Jacob Weber, Senior VP, Development
Royop – Calgary (1964), Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary shopping malls
Moved into residential projects under new CEO Jeremy Thal
Phases?
First project in BC?
What appeals to you about Sooke? What makes this the right fit for your company at this time?
I noticed you applied a “traditional prairie aesthetics” and “modern design” to your Township project in Calgary … have you seen our town centre design guidelines?
Gateway Garrison Woods … mixed use with residential condos … we have a lack of condos in this market, might you address that?
"A Force for Good: At Royop, we believe doing good is more than just good business. It helps build better communities and a better world. That’s why we approach every aspect of our business with integrity and accountability to our partners, our tenants, and our planet."
ENVIRONMENTAL
Low Impact Design
Multi-modal transportation
Water efficiency
Efficient building systems
SOCIAL
Health and safety
Community investment
Support for local businesses
Diverse suppliers
GOVERNANCE
Transparency
Client accountability
Principled integrity
Fair reporting
Circa 2019: 6783 Eustace Road Envisioned for the 6700-blocks of West Coast Road/Highway 14 and Eustace Road at Gatewood Road is a nine-acre project comprised of 156,000 square feet of commercial construction, including 15,000 square feet of offices, across six buildings from developer Mid America Venture Capital Corp. If approved, the shopping centre will become Sooke's largest commercial destination.
To put this scale of development into perspective, the town’s Evergreen Centre retail node along the 6600-block of Sooke Road/Highway 14 (home to Shoppers Drug Mart, Western Foods, BC Liquor Stores and other retailers) has a square footage of 69,000 square feet, while the Village Foods Markets plaza (immediately south of Evergreen Centre) with its assortment of retailers clustered around a grocery store is sized at around 40,000 square feet. Langford’s new Belmont Market, anchored by a 53,000 square foot Thrifty Foods grocery store, will eventually reach 160,000 square feet of leasable retail and office space making it comparable to the newly emerged plans in Sooke.
In recent years rumours have circulated around the prospect of a master-planned commercial project materializing at the site of the current proposal with anchor tenants including a Country Grocer and a Canadian Tire franchise, although no formal applications emerged. The land holding is affiliated, however, with the ownership group of the Country Grocer chain which operates two grocery stores in the Capital Region, two in the Cowichan Valley, a duo in Nanaimo and one on Salt Spring Island.
Mid America Venture Capital Corp's concept is in its early stages of a rezoning application seeking to re-label the land (designated as 6783 Eustace Road) from a rural zoning to a comprehensive Town Centre Mixed Use zone. As of the publication date of this article potential tenants have not been disclosed. Given the timelines typically involved with proposals of this magnitude, it is unlikely for shovels to be in the ground until 2022 at the earliest.
8.1 CAO report
- you have referenced the Thursday traffic nightmare resulting from BC Hydro work in the vicinity of Saseenos Elementary ... tell us more.
9. Public Comment and Question Period
10. Consent Agenda
11. Reports
11.1 UBCM Excellence in Governance Award submission
Time for the District to rightfully, in my and many opinions, toot its horn!
First, a submission to the Union of BC Municipalities Excellence in Governance Award at the Sept. 2025 convention in Victoria.
- the Budget 2024 process
"The District of Sooke has implemented a deliberate, transparent, and community informed
budget process that exemplifies excellence in governance. Engagement begins
early—months ahead of budget adoption—through online surveys and in-person
outreach to capture resident priorities.
- The Community-Informed Budgeting initiative reflects the District of Sooke’s leadership
in modernizing its financial planning process to better align with community priorities
and enhance democratic engagement. Developed through cross-departmental
collaboration and implemented without external resources, the initiative features:
* Early and meaningful public participation, beginning months ahead of budget
adoption;
* A phased approach to deliberations, with Council agendas structured around
themed discussions;
* “What We Heard” reports summarizing input and informing Council’s decision making;
* Multiple engagement channels, including online and print surveys, and in-person
events;
* Plain-language communications, accessible online at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget;
* Capacity-building among residents, increasing understanding of municipal
finances and roles.
As a result of this meaningful and reliable engagement processes, the District has seen
significantly increased engagement—over 1,200 participants in the most recent cycle--
and growing public trust, while supporting Council in making well-informed and
transparent decisions."
COMMENTS:
The What We Heard report is effectively a state of the union address by the people of Sooke back to the District – a spectrum ranging from sincere well dones and high praise all the way over to some pretty harsh criticism. Staff and we on council listen and READ it all, and it definitely impacts our decision making.
Community Safety, for instance, is a high priority and that is reflected in this latest budget.
The Financial Plan book itself is a work of art.
Comment: The submission is an excellent summary of the intentions, the process, the execution. What’s missing for me is a little history … Ms. Gray in her former life as Director of Finance began this from scratch in 2019, I believe. It has been improving through lessons learned, tweaks, new approaches and initiatives ever since – a refinement that has taken staff to a place where they are prepared to make this submission at this time … anyway, I think that is worth mentioning. This sort of model doesn’t happen overnight.
11.2 UBCM Service Excellence submission
- on election day, what better subject to bring forward …
The submission highlights the District’s civic learning lab program, titled "Sooke Council Club"
Hope springs! Encouraging and heart-warming on election day (polls close at 7 PM) to see tonight's agenda item related to the Sooke Council Club. Since its launch last year, some 200 local pre-teen students have learned about local government and their democratic rights in playfully educational sessions led by Mayor Tait and District staff.
Overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, teachers and the students themselves is sure to guide council in supporting a recommendation to submit the program for a Union of BC Municipalities Excellence in Service Delivery nomination this fall.
The Sooke Council Club reflects the District of Sooke’s commitment to excellence in public service through proactive, engaging, and educational civic outreach. As a youth focused civic learning lab, the program introduces students to the role of local government, decision-making processes, budgeting, and community services in a tangible, age-appropriate way. Developed through internal collaboration and administered in partnership with local
schools, the initiative features:
Experiential, place-based learning delivered by District staff and elected officials;
A structured lesson plan aligned with the school curriculum to support delivery
and communication with teachers;
Activities that model democratic processes, such as budgeting simulations and
voting exercises;
Meaningful youth participation, empowering students to see themselves as
contributors to civic life.
As a result of this initiative, the District is nurturing a generation of engaged citizens,
improving civic literacy and building long-term community capacity. To date, the program
has been delivered to more than 200 students. It also provides a replicable model for
other municipalities seeking to deepen youth engagement and embed civic education
into service delivery. positive feedback from teachers, students, and families.
By investing in civic literacy from a young age, the Sooke Council Club supports longterm
community resilience, democratic engagement, and public trust. It aligns with the
District’s strategic plan, particularly goals related to organizational capacity, inclusive
service delivery, and fostering community pride and participation.
<clip> "By investing in civic awareness early, the District is proactively addressing barriers to future engagement—such as low voter turnout and confusion over government roles—and laying the foundation for a more accountable, informed, and involved citizenry."
11.3 UDI membership
- two attempts to book a UDI speaker have been cancelled by UDI … Feb. 18 and tonight, April 27 … “Staff do not anticipate a material impact on day-to-day operations should Council direct staff to not renew this membership.”
We on council routinely receive its email newsletter … question: do staff attend these workshop luncheons or webinars
i.e., May 14 … a luncheon presentation on the structural impacts of new seismic codes in the capital region … $45 for members; $85 for non-member + last month luncheon was a UDI BC Building Code Update webinar
- $750 + GST is the current membership fee
- There are currently 29 regional and local government members of UDI in BC
- Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Esquimalt, Oak Bay and Victoria are local members
- View Royal and Saanich opted out in 2023 on grounds that UDI is a registered lobby group and listed in the BC Lobbyists Registry.
- Sasha Izzard’s CRD Capital Watch page
- UDI, as is to be expected, were among groups contributing submissions as the Province developed Bill 44 to address the housing crisis.
Motion: THAT the District of Sooke not renew its membership with the Urban Development Institute.
I made this same motion in February 2024 and it was deferred so as to hear directly from UDI - didn't happen. Let's end the membership. Staff can pay relatively minimal non-member price to attend important workshops/seminars.
On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 10:35 AM Jeff Bateman <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Mr. Izard,
Thank you again for your close attention to this matter. Clearly there was confusion over the date of the membership renewal, and this to me falls into the category of an entirely human and understandable oversight given all else that District staff must deal with.
More to the point, I am happy to know that we'll hear from a UDI representative directly on April 28. Council will then be in the best possible position to determine whether the membership should be renewed or not.
I welcome your correspondence and backgrounders to inform our discussion that night. Please share it with council, Ms. Gray and the [email protected]email address.
sincerely,
Jeff
Jeff Bateman
Councillor, District of Sooke
Lobbyist Registry
Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia (provincial level only)
- Who is Lobbying Who – monthly report
- Active registrations in 2023/24
- Consultant lobbyists – 692
- Organizations – 752
- In-House Lobbyists – 3,757
The lobbyist defined: "is paid to communicate or to arrange a meeting for the purpose of lobbying with a public office holder in an attempt to influence any of the matters set out in the LTA definition of “lobby”."
The province allows for local governments to establish voluntary lobbyist registries. Local governments are not permitted to compel lobbyists to register.
Kelowna and Surrey are the only two I could find with such registries
Saanich: “All I want to see is greater transparency, good governance, accountability in local government and I want to do my best to influence greater trust among residents,” Natalie Chambers said. In 2023, the council voted against adding a registry to its list of strategic initiatives, saying it was not a priority and there were bigger issues to focus on.
Murdock, who co-sponsored the previous motion with Chambers, said he remains in support. “It just contributes to trust in the decision-making process,” he said. Coun. Karen Harper said there are already tools such as freedom of information legislation and B.C. Elections’ reports into political donations to provide transparency. “Quite frankly, anyone talking to me is lobbying me,” she said.
11.4 7295 Francis Road ALR application (child care)
Whiffin Spit daycare …
The proposed non-farm use is to allow for a Community Care Facility to accommodate up to 100 children within an existing building and outdoor space located at 7295 Francis Road.
0.14 ha of the 2.12 ha property, including an outdoor space, converted residential building, and parking area. The remainder of the property, approximately 1.98 ha, is intended to remain for farming purposes and a residence.
The subject property is zoned Small Scale Agriculture (RU3) and does not permit Community Care Facility use; therefore, should the ALC approve the non-farm use, the owner will be required to apply to rezone the property to permit Community Care Facility use by site-specific text amendment to the RU3 zone.
Conclusion
Staff recommend Council authorize the application to be forwarded to the ALC for consideration based on the following rationale:
- Only a small portion of the property is proposed for Community Care Facility use. Its use will be conducted primarily within an existing building, leaving the vast majority of the parcel to remain for agricultural purposes.
- Childcare is identified as a critical community need in the Child Care Needs
Assessment and Action Plan (2019).
- The property will remain in the ALR and agricultural uses will still be permitted and will remain in use on the property – should Council forward the application to the ALC and the ALC approves the use, staff would consider the use to be
generally supported for rezoning purposes.
Oceanfront Farmhouse Daycare will provide high-quality childcare services for up to 100 children, ranging from infants to school-age, addressing the critical shortage of daycare spaces in the Sooke District.
7295 Francis Rd
Listing Description (circa 2022?)
Over 5 acres of oceanfront property... spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean & the Olympic Mountain Range, situated in the seaside town of Sooke, BC. Walking distance to world renowned Whiffin Spit Park, Sooke Harbour House Restaurant & Inn, minutes drive to shopping, restaurants and schools. There are two brand new buildings: 4233sf with 8 rooms, 4 bathrooms and 3 kitchens. You can rent this building for $6500/Month. 11140sf arena/warehouse with 1 bath. You can rent this building for $6500/Month. You can rent the above two buildings together for $12,000/Month including the land except the hut at entrance. Can accept long-term or short-term rental needs .Flexible lease term with renewal options. Landlord will be responsible for Property Tax and Property Insurance. Renters will be responsible for utilities and the insurance for renter's property and third party. Measurements and listing info are approximate, Renters to verify if important. Luke Chen, MBA, P. Eng. (Non-Practicing), PMP, 778-677-9557 [email protected] Landlord 778-886-0903 (27940678)
- Sooke is a "child care desert" -- one of many such communities across BC lacking sufficient daycare facilities
- Parents are stressed about this, and this is a positive development in a unique daycare setting
- I want to just speak the quality, clarity and plain language effectiveness of these staff reports. BRAVO!
11.5 6600 Helgeson Rd. ALR application (solar panels)
The proposed solar array contains three banks of panels over an area of approximately 0.1 ha of the 61.5-ha property. Cattle farming is currently occurring on the subject property and the applicant has future plans for a second greenhouse and barn to diversify agricultural output.
The applicant has indicated that a yearly energy consumption analysis was completed for the system design to ensure the system does not produce more energy than what is required over the course of a year on the property. However, any excess energy produced throughout the day will be sold to the utility (BC Hydro), and during the evening, if additional energy is required the electricity will be purchased from the utility. Power generated by the array will first be used to power on-site buildings.
Advisory comments were provided from the Building Division, indicating that a building permit would be required for the installation of the solar array, subject to approval of the nonfarm use.
Conclusion
Staff recommend Council forward the Non-Farm Use application to the ALC for consideration based on the following rationale:
The solar array is considered accessory to the farm uses and buildings on site, and is in alignment with the District's Zoning Bylaw, provided it does not expand beyond what is necessary to power on site agricultural buildings;
The disturbance required to install the array occupies a small portion (approximately 1,020 sq. m.) of the large 61.5-ha parcel, leaving a significant portion available for agricultural activity;
Enhanced sustainability and energy dependence are outlined in the applicant’s rationale, reducing dependence on external power sources to sustain agricultural operations
ALC shares comments from Ministry of Agriculture and Food:
Ultimately, while the proposed project only impacts a small amount of land and will be clustered with existing buildings, Ministry staff lack understanding of solar energy production systems and as such, are concerned that energy production may primarily be sold to BC Hydro as opposed to supporting the existing and future agricultural uses of the Subject Property.
STRONG YES!
11.6 6520 Throup Road. ALR application (skate park)
- STRONG YES
- Mention the AAP - opened on April 17, closes on May 23 ... some 1,850 elector response forms must be submitted by that date to derail the borrowing ... $3.1m, a third for the skate park, the remaining for low-carbon heating/cooling system for the pool and arena
- great to see the SEAPARC sign advertising this AAP, many complain about AAPs saying they're not even aware they are underway, so this is part of the solution in addressing this legitimate criticism.
There have been several successful applications to permit non-farm uses on the SD #62 subject property since the 1990s, including those to permit two schools and a storage yard; however, there is no record of formal approval for the skate park as a non-farm use.
The CRD (lessee) has submitted the application with authorization from the School District (lessor/owner) seeking approval for the non-farm use prior to redesign and reconstruction of the skate park on its existing 0.26-ha footprint. The use of the skate park is otherwise permitted in the P2 (Community Facilities) Zone.
The application notes the footprint will not be expanded upon and engineered fill to address drainage and topsoil will be used to re-seed disturbed areas. The CRD is finalizing concept designs, but construction is tentatively scheduled for late spring 2025.
Conclusion
The skate park will be reconstructed within the existing footprint, therefore not
utilizing additional land for non-farm uses;
The history of non-farm uses approved by the ALC and rezoning approval in
2000 indicates the use of the property is intended for community facilities and is
not being used for agricultural purposes;
The zoning of the subject property of P2 (Community Facilities) permits the
proposed use; and
The skate park is recognized as a popular and valuable community asset,
located adjacent to complimentary land uses, such as schools and other
recreational facilities.
12.1 Adoption: Zoning amendment – 2104 Charters Road
A bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 600, Sooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013 for the purpose of amending the zoning on the property located at 2104 Charters Road from Large Lot Residential (R1) to Medium Density Multi Family 2 (RM2).
Question – why did this take nearly two years from third reading to adoption?
12.2 Zoning amendment – 6557 Clairview Road
The District has received an application to rezone the subject property, located at 6557 Clairview Road, from Low Density Multi Family 1 (RM1) to Large Lot Residential (R1) to accommodate the conversion of an existing duplex into a single-family dwelling with a secondary suite. Rezoning is required, as the proposed uses are not permitted in the
existing RM1 zone.
The proposed zoning amendment is supported by policies within the OCP and is consistent with the existing Community Residential land use designation. While Duplex is a permitted use in the R1 Zone, the owner intends to apply for a building permit to convert the duplex into a single-family dwelling and suite in order to rent out the suite on
a short-term basis, subject to rezoning.
Conclusion
Staff recommend that Council give first, second, and third reading to the proposed zoning amendment bylaw based on the following rationale:
The proposed R1 zone is consistent with the OCP’s Community Residential land
use designation.
The existing duplex use is permitted in both the existing RM1 zone and R1 zone; therefore, rezoning does would not create a non-conformity related to the use of the dwelling, should conversion to a single-family dwelling not occur.
Conversion of the existing duplex to a single-family dwelling with suite will be reviewed at time of building permit to ensure compliance with BC Building Code and all other applicable regulations.
Parks Referral
It appears from historical (since 2016) orthophotos that vegetation has been removed from the covenant area. District staff encourage the revegetation of this area with native species to support the protection of marine resources and fish habitat, which aligns with the July 8, 2024, referral comments provided by DFO.
Advisory Note: At such time in the future that the subject property undergoes redevelopment to increase density or substantially change use, the District may request a 5m SRW from the marine high-water mark for a future public trail or boardwalk connection along the waterfront to meet the objectives of the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Parks and Trails Master Plan (PTMP).
12.3 Property Tax Rate Bylaw No. 924
13.1 UBCM notice of motion – FOIPPA
- Tony motion
- CRD stats ...
14. New Business
15. Correspondence
15.1 Asphalt Code of Practice (JB)
This is a super-technical memo from Environment and Climate Change Canada with two very specific asks of local governments who wish to reduce VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions from new asphalt.
1. Require adherence to a new Code of Practice in paving procurement and contracting documents for road construction, maintenance and repair.
2. Ensure that contractors use lower VOC emitting asphalt products, such as emulsified asphalt when possible.
Given that Sooke is home to Butler Brothers, which produces Canada’s Cleanest & Greenest Concrete: With current EPD results consistently 40-50% lower than the Canadian Benchmark, we have also attained the number one spot in North America! This has been achieved by using local, high-quality constituents while incorporating a growing number of initiatives including the adoption of Hydrogen Fuel Cells and CarbonCure technology.
As the first and only concrete supplier on Vancouver Island to adopt CarbonCure technology, Butler Concrete and Aggregate uses leading edge technology to provide greener building materials to the local construction industry. It’s important to us that we reduce our carbon footprint and provide a superior concrete product.
City of Langford has a Low Carbon Concrete Policy
- has any thought been given to introducing such a policy here?
City of Langford Announces Bold, Low Carbon Concrete Policy
November 18, 2021
At its November 17 Council meeting, the City of Langford became the first jurisdiction in Canada to adopt a low carbon concrete policy, boldly accelerating the deployment of technologies to decarbonize the built environment. Effective June 1, 2022, all concrete supplied to City-owned or solicited projects, and private construction projects greater than 50 cubic meters, will be required to be produced using post-industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) mineralization technologies, or an equivalent which offers concrete with lower embodied CO2.
Cement production, the key ingredient in concrete, is responsible for about seven percent of the world’s CO2 emissions. “What I’m most excited about is that Langford has created a transferable policy model to catalyze policy momentum nationwide – and globally – that will no doubt unleash more smart procurement policies to lower embodied carbon of concrete in new construction,” said Lisa Bate, the World Green Building Council Board’s immediate past chair and Global Sustainability Lead/Senior Principal at B+H Architects.
15.2 Sooke Transit Service (JB)
Move to receive this for information and future advocacy purposes with BC Transit.
Peter Stokoe highlighted Mick Rhodes letter to the Sooke News Mirror in March …
Main issues:
1. the lack of amenities at the Langford Exchange – lack of shelter and public washrooms
2. the lack of direct service to Victoria during non-peak hours (i.e., not during the morning and afternoon rush hours, when there is direct service) … particularly inconvenient for seniors and
As Deputy Mayor, I replied and eventually looped in BC Transit’s Senior Manager of Government Relations. Interesting perspectives from Mr. Stokoe and some reality check replies and context from BC Transit’s Senior Manager of Government Relations. I also recommend you read the correspondence on pp. 233-241 in tonight’s agenda.
You will see that BC Transit is in a process …
Improvements to Sooke routes have been identified by the Victoria Regional Transit
Commission (VRTC) as a key investment priority. Service expansion for Sooke routes is
currently planned for the 2026/27 fiscal year, subject to VRTC approval and funding. In
addition, the VRTC recently directed BC Transit staff to look at cost-neutral service
improvements for Sooke. Staff will be conducting public engagement in spring 2025 to inform
these potential changes, which could be implemented later in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
With regards to the Langford Exchange, we continue to work with the City of Langford on
possible improvements to this facility, such as the addition of public washrooms.
The upcoming public engagement will not include the possibility of direct service between Sooke
and Victoria at off-peak times, as through this process we can only engage on cost-neutral
changes, and providing direct service at off-peak times would require additional resources. As I
mentioned, service expansion is currently planned for Sooke for the 2026/27 fiscal year (subject to
VRTC approval and funding), and this could include improvements to Sooke regional service
(such as the Route 61), and improvements to Sooke local service as per the Sooke Local Area
Transit Plan.
Currently, at off-peak times, the Route 61 is schedule to connect with the Route 95 West Shore
RapidBus at the Langford Exchange. This connection does allow for efficiencies, as ridership and
demand on the Route 95 requires the use of double decker buses, whereas the ridership/demand on
the Route 61 warrants the use of a heavy-duty 40 foot bus. I will also add that approximately 40%
more trips were added on Route 61 when the Route 95 West Shore RapidBus Line was launched
in spring 2023.
This is timely because BC Transit is conducting a rider survey that ends this coming Friday.
Victoria 2025/26 Service Changes
“Routes 61 and 65: Opportunities to improve service coverage within Sooke in 2025/26, with the introduction of new local Sooke service in 2027.”
- 23 direct routes to downtown Victoria in total on the #61 and #65 during the morning and afternoon rush hours
- survey seeks opinions on value of extending the #65 along Church and Helgeson, which is going to appeal to those living in those areas but the trade-off is longer wait-times for those not living within walking distance of Otter Point Road
- introduces prospect of new local routes starting in 2027 serving Broom Hill, Sunriver and Whiffin Spit as mapped out in the Sooke Local Transit Area Plan (2020)
Sooke Service (Routes 61, 63, 64, 65) - PDF of Sooke Boards
The Victoria Regional Transit Commission is pursuing improvements to transit in Sooke and there are opportunities building on priorities from the 2020 Sooke Local Area Transit Plan.
The following questions present options for:
- regional-scale changes that would occur later in 2025 or in early 2026
- introductory local service that would occur as soon as 2027.
About 55% of trips that originate within Sooke in the morning rush hour are to destinations within Sooke; 23% go to the West Shore, 20% to the Core, and 3% to the Peninsula. Source: CRD Origin Destination Travel Survey, 2022.
I pulled this not realizing that BC Transit was planning to be at the District’s Earth Day event at the Country Market on Saturday …
There is a survey open until Friday.
One option is extended routes along Church and Helgeson
The good news is that Sooke is getting its share of the new service hours being introduced this and the next two years ... all the better to connect local riders to the evolving RapidBus system.
- 30,000 hours in 2025/26 – 12 buses
- 40,000 hours in 2026/27 – 16 buses
- 50,000 hours in 2027/28 – 20 buses (all subject to provincial funding)
“Improvements to Sooke and West Shore routes and introduction of coverage service in rapidly developing communities” – Royal Bay, for instance. Tweaks to existing routes are also promised following public engagement.
Ideally, we'll be in consideration as a pilot community now that the first on-demand pick-up service is proving popular in one Kelowna neighbourhood.
15.3 Mike and Kathy Hicks – MRDT (Pearson)
15.4 Phase 6 Throup – Kelly Chartier (St-Pierre)
15.5 Phase 6 Throup corridor – Johnny Wright (St-Pierre)
Good Morning J. Wright, K. Chartier,
Thank you for the information you have provided including your concerns regarding large wildlife corridors across HWY 14 (west of the Museum) as well as for the Throup Connector Project. The email below is my response that I provided on November 29 regarding the inclusion of a large wildlife culvert on HWY 14. Accordingly, I can provide you with the following additional information.
Large Wildlife Culvert on HWY 14 West of the Museum
The CRD is in progress with a Watermain replacement project from Phillips to Church Road which they have obtained permits for these specific works from MOTT. CRD does not have jurisdiction or responsibility for the Storm water infrastructure within MOTT Highway Right of Way. Considerations for installation of a Large wild life culvert across the Highway would have to be considered by MOTT independently or at the time there were future plans to rebuild this section of Highway west of the Museum. At this time, there are no plans for MOTT to rebuild this section of their Highway.
I have reached out to the wildlife program manager at MOTT to discuss consideration of a large wildlife culvert at this location. The wildlife branch at MOTT would be able to provide partial funding for the purchase of a large wildlife culvert, but do not have funding available for the installation which would be at a significant cost. Accordingly, this project would have to considered in unison with MOTT consideration of funding a major independent culvert crossing project and/or reconstruction of the Highway at this location. I have ongoing communication with MOTT directors and have flagged this large wildlife culvert project for future consideration in unison with any MOTT works at this location.
Large Wildlife Culvert on Throup Connector
The current design for the Throup Connector project includes an open bottom channel box culvert at the wetland low point of this corridor which accommodates the passage of small wildlife, amphibians, and fish, if they were bearing in this location. There is no current design to incorporate an additional large wildlife culvert west of the wetland low point box culvert location. Large wildlife are anticipated to cross over this corridor. To incorporate a significantly large wildlife culvert as part of this project would increase the overall project cost by $500k to $1M. This major connector corridor project has significant high cost associated with construction implementation as currently designed. I would have to receive direction from Council to initiate a major design change this summer to include this infrastructure as well as to increase the overall anticipated project cost.
I understand this may not be the answer you are looking for, but hopefully this information is helpful.
Tue 2024-11-19 2:21 PM
Good Afternoon J. Wright,
Thank you for your email. The watermain replacement project is work that is being conducted by the Capital Regional District (CRD) within the Ministry of Transportations (MOTI) Jurisdiction. The depth of the watermain excavation, that will be parallel to the highway, will not be close to the depth of exaction required for a major culvert replacement across the highway. Unfortunately, I do not think that it would be realistic for this work to be completed as part of the CRD’s watermain replacement project; however, I will pass on your email below to MOTI and the CRD for their information and consideration.
Respectfully
Jeff Carter
Director of Operations
16. Items removed from consent agenda
17. Board of Variance appointments
- Frank Work
- Jeff Holm
- Stan Dueck
Council Verbal Reports
- AVICC Convention in Nanaimo on the weekend of April 10
- Substantial session … workshops, networking, and the always fascinating resolution session at which we vote on a whole series of issues of concern to local governments.
- Sooke’s resolution asking the Province to increase its funding to the BC Human Rights Tribunal was passed unanimously.
- None of the dozen or so late resolutions were submitted for debate given time limitations … however our two from Sooke re: 9-1-1 funding and the Utilities Tax will be submitting directly to the Union of BC Municipalities … the deadline for that is June 15.
* CRD Environmental Services Meeting
* CRD Regional Parks meeting
* Meeting of the Sooke Multi-Belief Initiative at which we welcomed Nicky Logins to our circle. We’re in preliminary explorative mode re: some kind of volunteer appreciation event that might be scheduled for National Volunteer Week this time next year. We’ll certainly be approaching the District about this and seeking collaboration and/or support. SMBI also intends to host an all-candidates forum for the municipal by-election once we get that sorted out
* Quarterly meeting of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee
April 24, 2025
Access Pro Bono‘s Jamie Maclaren provided a powerpoint update on priority recommendations within his 2019 Roads To Revival review of BC legal aid services. Full credit to the Province for heeding the report’s priority calls for more Indigenous Justice Centres and independent community legal aid clinics; establishing the Immigration and Refugee Legal Clinic at the Immigrant Services Society of BC‘s Welcome Centre in Vancouver; and delivering support to pro bono lawyers working on complex criminal cases.
Much still to accomplish, he argued, in creating a client-centred legal aid system as the report envisions. Maclaren suggests that the Attorney General next be asked to establish an Access to Justice Commissioner to provide independent oversight on justice institutions, including courts and government, and create standardized performance data on the principle of “what’s measured gets managed.” The Committee plans to advocate with Attorney General Sharma accordingly.
Evan James, Manager of Strategic Initiatives for the Umbrella Society, shared outcomes from last year’s VFCYJC grant support of its Navigating Substance Use and Mental Health for Students program. Another guest, Youth Empowerment Society Operations Director Kisae Petersen, confirmed the effectiveness of Umbrella’s work with young people experimenting with substances, primarily alcohol and nicotine.
In other business, the VFCYJC’s third annual open house is set for Wed. May 28 from 3 to 6 PM at Victoria City Hall; the committee voted to ask Chair Little to write the Attorney General in support of recommendations raised by the Be Amazing campaign’s Cathy Peters; the VFCYJC is joining a growing number of local governments that have suspended their X accounts; the latest School Police Liaison Officer Backgrounder was circulated; and there was initial talk of a panel discussion this fall that would focus on three of the essential youth services delivered by Greater Victoria Police Integrated Units , namely the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team, the Regional Domestic Violence Unit and the Mobile Youth Services Team.
* Friday: Broom Busting at Woodland Creek organized by Ms. Moog and the FireSmart team. Some 200 kids in successive waves from Poirier, Journey Middle and EMCS participated along with volunteers from Friends of Sooke Parks Society and others.
* Saturday:
Unfortunately could not attend what i was told was a vibrant and busy Earth Day event at opening day of this year's Sooke Country Market. Booked for morning View Royal at the Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre’s event – a combination of a keynote speech from a renowned arts specialist Alex Sarian and then followed by a design workshop with architects – intended to provide direction from the user groups that will take advantage of this new facility – a 350-seat theatre with associated arts spaces, including working artist studios. I sat with representatives from Sooke Harbour Players and the Sooke Arts Council.
Spent a few hours at Sookerama on Saturday afternoon – hanging out with Al, Kevin and Gail Scott and wandering the hall … putting in a winning auction bid on a six-pack of locally canned salmon.
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