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Community Overview history & maps |
The District of Sooke is on Vancouver Island, and is located approximately 50 kilometers (40 minutes) south of the Capital city of Victoria on the Trans Canada Highway #14. Map
Sooke offers small town hospitality and spectacular scenery. Many residents, preferring to live in a small community, commute to work in Victoria. There is a vibrant volunteer spirit in Sooke, with lots of annual and seasonal Community events.
A majority of residents of the Sooke area were at one time employed either directly or indirectly by the forestry and fishing industries. However, with the downturn in these industries, the population has seen a growth in its tourism. There are over 80 Bed & Breakfasts, hotels, resorts and numerous fishing charter companies that sustain a vibrant tourism economy.
Sooke's relaxing lifestyle and relatively low cost of housing make the community attractive to seniors and young working families. The area offers a multitude of recreational and learning opportunities.
Education is available from kindergarten through grade 12 and post-secondary opportunities are available at Edward Milne Community School.. Emergency services include a fire department, R.C.M.P. detachment and ambulance service.
Recreational opportunities abound in the area with modern facilities such as the SEAPARC swimming pool and arena. The Rotary Club SK8 (skate) park and numerous outdoor playgrounds. The Sooke River Potholes Park and other salmon bearing streams delight locals and tourists, along with kilometers of oceanfront for shoreline activities.
Current infrastructure includes a water main to most homes in the Sooke core and a sewer system proposal to be decided on in the year 2002. Currently, all businesses and homes rely on septic tanks and on-site sewage treatment. Many homes are dependent on wells for water.
Other services include two drug stores, two banks and a credit union, realty offices, two malls, and "fast food outlets" such as MacDonalds, A&W and Subway. Business listings
Surrounding Area
The trading area encompassed by CRD includes the communities of Sooke, East Sooke and Shirley. The population of the entire area is approximately 10,000.
Geography
History
You can search the interactive database of families that lived on Vancouver
Island and were part of the census of 1881- see
if you had ancestors on the Island!
The town of Sooke is well documented by the the Sooke Historical Society
and the Sooke Region Museum and Information Center located on the Sooke
Highway at Phillips Road, the Museum is open all year round.