1. travel
2. tourist facilities
3. bed and breakfast

at Murray Rd
Valentine’s Breakfast
Saturday, February 14
$8.95 pp
Catering for Open daily 6am to 4pm
local events
250-642-1460
Friday, February 6, 2015
Something of a trav elling road
show is underway by Capital Regional
District (CRD) Board Chair Nils Jensen
and the CRD senior executive staff.
For the past week or two, and in the
weeks ahead, they are visiting each
Council of the 13 municipalities in the
CRD with a presentation about their
Regional Sust ainabi lity Strat egy
(RSS).
Their RSS presentation to the
District of Sooke Council was on Monday night, February 2 in Council chambers, formally a ddressing Sooke
Mayor Maja Tait and Sooke Councillors Ebony Logins, Brenda Parkinson,
Kevin Pearson, and Kerrie Reay
(Councillors not in attendance: Bev
Berger, Rick Kasper).
Key points of the presentation
included a projected population increase in the south island area of
100,000 people over 28 years (from
371,000 to 471,000 during 2013 to
2041) in search of our temperate climate and active outdoors lifestyle. This
tips to concerns over adequate supply and service for water, housing, and
transportation as well as wastewater
management and solid waste management.
Jensen described the Capital Regional District as "big and beautiful -it's large, it's diverse, and also complex". CRD provides over 200 services
to the community that includes both
urban and rural, "and some communities are a little bit of both".
Jensen said that CRD owns
about 900 properties or parcels of
land. There are 750 km of pipes in the
region that are maintained and services on an ongoing basis. Hazmat
services are centralized for the CRD
out of a Central Saanich location. Over
100,000 calls to 911 are handled annually.
The CRD’s water conservation
program has been successful, said
Jensen. The “water scare” due to
drought in 2001 prompted expansion
of reservoir facilities in 2002-2003.
And while the Greater Victoria area
has grown 7%, water use has dropped
24% due to conservation measures
across the region as well as use of lowflow fixtures and high-efficiency appliances. About 130 million litres of water are treated and delivered every day.
“We thought we would need a greater
water supply for 2023, but now we
won’t need a new water source until
2050,” said Jensen who chaired the
CRD Water Commission for 12 years.
Sooke taxpayers are fortunate
to have local wastewaster management already in place (with EPCOR).
Says Jensen, when it comes to regional waste water management: “You
The
Sooke Voice News!
Insightful & well-written
independent
SVN
news coverage.
Print &
Call: 250-642-7729 Digital
News and views for attentive,
inquisitive readers! ~ 4 pages this issue
Web Courtesy edition - Please subscribe - 250-642-7729
News about
News about Vancouver Island’s West Shore & beyond,
with a focus on wellness, learning & insightful living.
of Vancouver
Island
Big turnout for foo d waste do-i t-yo urself i nfo .... .... .... .
Small businesses are the lifeblood of Sooke [Editorial] .......
Higher assault count, more break-ins in Sooke in 2014 ...
Questioning education in the 21st century [Event Profile] .......
Valentine’s all through February at Le Sooke Spa ...........
Sooke & the
West Shore
Sooke,BC
v3
1
2
3
3
4
Pineapple Express
W E B V E R S I O N brings warm rain
to west shore
SOOKE VOICE NEWS on the beat
CRD Chair Nils Jensen discovered
the webcam during Sooke’s Committee of the Whole on February 2.
Webcasted meetings have the
camera set on Council from a
considerable distance, leaving
audio to be quite important for
following the spoken details of the
meeting. Formal agenda items
are posted online for availability
during the live transmission at
www.sooke.ca .
Archived video files are
available online, within about
24 hours of Council and
Committee of the Whole meetings.
W E B V E R S I Ofolks
Nare out of this game”, unlike the rest
of the CRD that must grapple with find-
Subscribe to
at Shoppers
Sooke Voice News
French toast special with fresh
fruit and whipped cream,
with a fresh fruit sauce.
CRD talks
sustainability
Colour print edition $1.75
ing a solution to sewage wastewater issues quite soon. Presently about 100
million litres of wastewater leaves outfalls
into the ocean every day.
About 400 tonnes of waste is delivered to Hartland landfill daily. A biogas
facility at Hartland produces enough electricity to power 1,600 homes; the electricity is sold to BC Hydro via their grid.
In 2013, about 7,700 tonnes of kitchen
scraps were diverted from Hartland
landfill. As of January 1, 2015 there is
further diversion now that several municipalities (including Sooke, Colwood,
Langford, Metchosin and Highlands) are
now required to separate out scraps from
their household garbage.
The RSS pays attention to climate
action, community health and well-being,
emergency management and natural
disasters, energy systems, and food and
agriculture systems.
Thursday, February 5 and Friday,
February 6 were grey, foggy, rainy
days in Sooke on this west side of
Vancouver Island, but there seemed
to be no complaints around town.
In what meteorologists call the
Pineapple Express -- rain brought to
the Pacific west coast by warm winds
from the Hawaiian Islands area -- the
high reached at least 14°C and there
was little to no wind.
And although this is the middle of winter with snow for most of
the rest of Canada, here we could go
about the day with perhaps an umbrella in hand and with windshield
wipers swishing quickly, but otherwise
unencumbered. SVN
1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
2. Be resilient
3. Manage growth
4. Foster wellbeing
5. Enhance our natural environment
6. Optimize infrastructure
Adisplay about the sustainability
strategy was available at the Sooke Library until February 5, then was relocated to the Juan de Fuca Library in
Colwood fromFebruary 6 to 16. Apublic input survey is online to February 15
at www.crd.bc.ca/sustainability SVN
Family Day
in BC
Mon Feb 9
Vol.5 No.3
ISSN 1925-2722
BC & national:
@SookeVoiceNews
Island west shore:
@WestShoreVoice
@SookeVoiceLOCAL
Tweets also posted live at:
www.sookevoicenews.com
Insight news published weekly
on Fridays (print & online) by
Brookeline Publishing House Inc.
Saturday
Feb 14
Live
Music
6 to
9pm
Regular
menu
also
available
Dinner for 2
$124
1 Night’s Stay pp*
(double occupancy)
Breakfast for 2
4-Course
$55
Romantic Dinner pp*
Live music 6 to 9pm
Reservations 778-425-0888
6929 West Coast Road, Sooke
Big turnout for food waste
do-it-yourself info
There was a strong and steady turnout all
day last Saturday at Sooke Home Hardware
with dozens of customers coming in to learn
more about food waste digester equipment.
On the store floor from 10am to 4pm
was Compost Education Centre executive director Marika Smith. She handily answered
questions both basic and detailed about Green
Cones, composting and other aspects of handling food waste.
By mid-afternoon over 20 of the 50
Green Cones brought in at a special price for
the event had been sold at $135 each. A wide
range of other food digester equipment options
were front and center for sale as well.
CRD helped with event costs. SVN
Jan.31
report
W EB V ER S IO N
WE B VERSI ON
Where
does
Sooke
fit
into
“Shift
2038”
?
Drug Mart Sooke
Compost
Education
Centre rep
explains use of
Green Cones to
customers.
Sooke Voice News
Cathy’s Corner
Cafe 6697 Sooke Rd
Webcast screenshot www.sooke.ca
AK
WE B VERSI ON
www.sookevoicenews.com
Violence-Free BC launched with 10-yr plan
BC Premier Christy Clark has announced initiatives and funding to work against
violence against women. “The Violence Free BC (VFBC) strategy is our roadmap
to creating a province where each of us does our part, working together, to keep
women safe from harm," she said in a news release on February 6.
Last year's throne speech promised a concrete plan toward ending domestic violence, and the VFBC strategy is delivering on that promise. It combines immediate actions with a long-termvision, and identifies five key priorities
for moving toward a violence-free BC over the next decade. These include:
Challenging beliefs and behaviours.
Ensuring services are responsive, innovative and co-ordinated.
Supporting women to rebuild their lives.
Addressing violence against Aboriginal women.
Fostering strong relationships and new partnerships.
Up to $3 million in civil forfeiture proceeds is available this year to support
anti-violence and prevention initiatives throughout the province. Funding streams
focused on violence against women and identified in 2014-15 civil forfeiture grants
include: training and education for service providers; school-based prevention
programs; preventing the exploitation and human trafficking of women and girls;
innovative partnerships; healing and rebuilding after violence for Aboriginal
Women. Other funding streams include Serving Victims through Restorative Justice and Community/Youth Crime Prevention.
Expanding the number of Domestic Violence Units (DVUs) in BC was one
of 14 ministry-specific initiatives outlined in Attorney General Suzanne Anton's
mandate letter from the Premier on June 10, 2013. The three-year, $5.5 million
Provincial Domestic Violence Plan included a $1-million investment to assist the
start-up and implementation of DVUs across the province. SVN
WE B VERSI ON
Building removal at Whiffin Spit
DOG WALKERS
During the week of Feb 9, work will occur on behalf of Fisheries & Oceans
Canada to remove two small buildings adjacent to the lighthouse at the end of
Whiffin Spit Park. The trail will remain open to the public.
Trail users are asked to use caution on the trail and move well off to the
side when vehicles are passing through, says the District of Sooke. SVN
WE B VERSI ON
Page 2 of 4 :::
Copy deadline: 5 pm Mon.
Ad deadline: 5 pm Wed.
Breaking news at: www.sookevoicenews.com
EDITORIAL
SVN editorials aim to explore broader issues of concern to
the local community, economy and society as a whole.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of
Sooke: Council ingenuity could help
For anyone who has observed the rise and fall of many a small business in this small
town, not much of the rest of this editorial piece will be news to you.
There are recurring factors that affect small business efforts and enterprises in
Sooke. There is no primary industry here. Long gone are the days when forestry and fishing
drove the local economy. Apart from the basic profile of essential retail (grocery, hardware,
pharmacy), it is the small business realm (much of it home-based) that defines the Sooke
economic horizon in these post-recession times: arts & crafts, development at the computer desktop, small-item manufacture, refuse handling and recycling, repairs, and professional consulting. And of course there is a plethora of thrift stores, gift shops and cafes. Plus
yoga and fitness. And the community-service domain of museum and library. Tourism is
ever-present -- some of it large (hotels) but most of it small (B&Bs, fishing charters, tours).
Do small businesses want bigger spaces, and do home businesses want to fly
from the nest for the 9 to 5 environment? Even if they did, there has, for years, been a
dearth of right-size, right-budget commercial spaces. When a small business must follow
the golden rule of commercial real estate, i.e. the tenant pays for most if not all improvements and leaves those costly investments behind if they move on, the effect is often crushing to the degree that it is difficult for small businesses impacted in that way to recover. Even
in downtown Victoria there are storefront vacancies galore; commercial premises holders
can afford to wait out the blight but departed retail businesses often end up crippled.
So long as the winding Sooke Highway is the only road in-and-out, there won’t be
big-box stores in Sooke. And so long as the economy in this town is bereft of enough jobs,
most working adults leave daily beyond Sooke boundaries for gainful employment.
Will Sooke’s municipal government really and truly put on its collective thinking
cap and nurture the small businesses that are the town’s lifeblood? It will take more than
seeking a wish list from a committee or abdicating powers to local associations. It will take
WE B VERSI ON
BC NEWS
PLEASE SU BSCRIBE
Friday, February 6, 2015 ::: SOOKE VOICE NEWS
The Sooke Voice News
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Published by Brookeline Publishing
House Inc., Sooke, BC, Canada
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Mailing: PO Box851,Sooke,
BC, Canada V9Z 1H8
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Email:news@sookevoicenews.com
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Publisher, Editor, Writer, Layout,
& Ad Sales: Mary P. Brooke, B.Sc.,
C ert PR
Publishing Assistant:
Jennifer Brooke. Delivery Support:
Les Haddad. Contributors: Karam
Barzekar, Ellen Lewers. Contributions
some real ingenuity. It will take some cou- welc om e from the c om m unity.
rageous policies on behalf of Mayor and W ebserver Management: Les
Oberg. Printing: in-house. DeliverCouncil, who will hopefully seek and value ies: Bulk drop to various coffee shops, hotels,
the input of experienced owners of truly banks, community areas; to some residential
small-business (less than 5 employees) addresses, some weekends. Readership:
Base of 3,500 print & online; includes print
and home business business folk as deliverydirect to selected businesses weekly.
Council gets into their strategic planning Retail: Colour print edition $1.75 at Shoppers Drug Mart (Sooke). Online: Print/PDF
process next week.
courtesyedition: www.sookevoicenews.com
When a small business fails it is
Digitalsubscription
almost never for a lack of hard work. Usu(PDF by email):
ally it comes down to unseen or external
$28+GST for18 weeks
factors that end up being too big to mount.
Printsubscription (weekly
Small towns need big vision for the reby 1st class postal mail):
$35+GST for 20 issues in
maining post-recession small busigrayscale, or 12 in colour.
BC & National Twitter stream: @SookeVoiceNews
nesses. Getting beyond “dog eat
Letters published in Sooke
dog” could happen with a vision by Voice
News do not necessarily
Council and a realistic understandrepresent the opinion of the
publisher, editor or staff.
ing of how small businesses -- that
The publisher reserves
will help lead to better health research, and evenlike being small, but must be resilthe right to decline any
tually, improved treatments and outcomes for paarticle, ad or contribution.
ient -- can be the engine of the local
tients.
Current edition (PDF),
economy.
The work to streamline the various health
archives, breaking news:
www.sookevoicenews.com
information policies is part of the ministry's strategic priority Setting Priorities for the BC Health
Councillors were elected to deal with
System document which aims to: recognize the
need to review health information legislation in
infrastructure & planning letters@sookevoicenews.com
order to improve the overall health of the popula- Thank you Jeff Bateman for your version of events leading to
tion; enhance the experience and outcomes of
Sooke Council fielding its non-binding referendum on the vexing
patients; and achieve the best outcomes for the
question of possible increased oil tanker traffic in our coastal wahealthcare dollar.
ters (Sooke Voice News, January 30, 2015). This topic has genThis work also aligns with the 2014 report
erated strong viewpoints and I agree that citizens should have the
from BC's Information and Privacy Commis- opportunity to declare their considered opinion on the matter. Howsioner, Elizabeth Denham, in which she called ever, we should remember that the impressive count of two to one
for comprehensive health information standards,
against really does not accurately reflect taxpayers stance on the
with consistent rules for public bodies, such as
issue since a mere 40% of the electorate voted in the November
hospitals, and private ones, such as doctors' of- Municipal Election.
fices.
If I remember correctly, it took two tries to persuade Counwww2.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/index.page
cil to float this question; then-Mayor Wendal Milne opposed this
www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/
proposal and it was shelved only to be resurrected at a Council
2014/Setting-priorities-BC-Health-Feb14.pdf SVN Meeting that he did not attend. Persistence and eloquence apparently won the day. This decision cost the taxpayers of Sooke
around $6,000 in staff preparation time and in printing and publishing costs. Transition Sooke took a leading role in pushing its
agenda and shrewdly let Council carry the cost.
Personally, I think that it is quite undemocratic for Council
The current BC Scholarship program for Grade
to
purportedly
speak for all Sooke residents on this matter and I
12 grads heading further to post-secondary instifeel
that
Council
should give priority to the good governance of
tutions was created in 1987. At the time, the inour
community
and
deal with the many infrastructure and plantent was to award student achievement, motivate
ning
issues
that
are
before
it. Councillors were elected to do this.
high school students to graduate, and encourage
~ Errol Anderson, Sooke
students to pursue further education through post-
WE B VERSI ON
BC seeks input on health info management
The Ministry of Health says it wants to
hear ideas from stakeholders and the public over the next year on how to improve management, protection and storage of health information, announced Health Minister Terry
Lake this week.
The ministry is creating a framework
that it says will “establish clear and consistent rules for the use and protection of personal health information in the public and
private sectors”. As part of this work, the ministry is interested in hearing different points
of view on health information and privacy.
"BC has at least nine separate pieces
of legislation and many regulations dealing
with managing health information," Lake said.
"That's a confusing and complex system. As
the ministry works to streamline health information management, it's essential that we
hear from those most affected by any
changes, and that certainly includes patients."
Throughout this year, the ministry will
hold engagement sessions with stakeholders
interested in health information and privacy,
such as Patients as Partners; Doctors of BC;
the BC Nurse Practitioner Association; the
BC Nurses Union; the BC Pharmacy Association; and various health profession regulatory colleges. The ministry will also hold
engagement with the BC Civil Liberties Association; the Office of the Information and
Privacy Commissioner; the Office of the Chief
Information Officer; and health authorities,
including the First Nations Health Authority.
The public may join the conversation
through GovTogether BC, the province's
online engagement portal which will be ready
later this year.
“Creating a framework for health information would make it simpler for the ministry to create electronic health records. This
would make it easier for patients and their
health care providers to access a person's
complete medical information, leading to
better, more informed health care for patients,” the news release said.
“Health researchers could also have
faster access to more complete data, which
Upcoming Public Meetings
Regular Council Meeting
Tuesday, February 10 at 7pm
Schedule subject to change.
Call 250-642-1634 to confirm meetings.
Agendas:
www.sooke.ca
LETTERS
WE B VERSI ON
BC Scholarship program
undergoing revision
secondary institutions or job-training programs.
Recent updates to scholarships and awards
include:
Graduation Program Examinations Scholarships were capped at 5,000.
District/Authority Awards were increased
from 3,000 to 5,500.
Two new categories of achievement were
added to the District/Authority Awards criteria:
- community service
- technical and trades training
The Ministry begun phasing out the Passport to Education Program in 2013, the last allocation goes out this spring to Gr 12 grads only.
Now the question is how to best recognize
student achievement, especially since it is being
redefined to include all facets of learning.
The review will look at the current scholarships and awards program to find innovative approaches to recognize student learning and
achievement, with an attention to skills training.
The Student Certification Branch (SCB) is
leading the consultation process with the advice
of a Ministry steering committee. The consultation will target parents, students, employers and
key stakeholders through multiple channels of
communication. www.gov.bc.ca/bced SVN
WE B VERSI ON
BC Family Day dollars to big
organizations 3rd Annual BC Family Day
The BC government is providing significant funding to organizations that will likely attract large crowds on this third BC Family
Day, coming up Monday, February 9.
The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
announced this week that it has provided $300,000 to support
Family Day events in
these large venues: BC
Recreation & Parks
($250,000); Royal BC
Mus eum ($ 40,00 0);
Friendly service!
Bring in this
and the Vancouver Art
coupon for
Gallery ($10,000).
In Victoria, the
Royal BC Museum is
on your next 872 Langford Parkway
offe ring s pecial BC
250-590-5678
oil change!
Family Day activities
i nc ludi ng a Bea ve r
Open daily ~ in Langford
Mount station where
Mon-Sat 8-6 & Sun 10-5
families can pose with
Like us on Facebook!
a cute beaver for a BC
VicGreatCanadianOilChange
Family Day photo. SVN
$8 off
Drop-In Service!
WE B VERSI ON
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SOOKE VOICE NEWS ::: Friday, February 6, 2015
West Coast Lifestyle
WE B VERSI ON
LOCAL NEWS: @SookeVoiceLOCAL & @WestShoreVoice
Sooke, BC
LOCAL NEWS
www.sookevoicenews.com ::: Page 3 of 4
Daily news updates - Sooke & West Shore:
www.sookevoicenews.com/SOOKE-LOCALbreakingnews.htm
as in January 2014. This continues
“Replacing wishbones EXAMINING EDUCATION Sooke HPI down 3,489
a mid-2013 trend with fewer listings in the
Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB) market than in the same month of the year
with backbones”
MLS sales in January were up 2.6% in previous, said VREB on Feb2.
WE B VERSI ON
January, compared to the first month of
The HPI value for a single family
the year in 2014: 351 properties sold in home in the Victoria Core was $561,600
WE B VERSI ON
the Greater Victoria area compared to in January, up from $548,500 a year ago.
by Mary P. Brooke, B.Sc.
Sooke Voice News
Panel about the future of education, at UVic Alumni event on February 1.
Panelists, from left: Mark Neufeld, Lorna Williams, Ralf St Clair, and Leslie Lee.
Lee concluded the energetic session saying that she hopes educators will “replace
wishbones with backbones” and effect real change for education in BC.
In the Westshore HPI was up to $405,000
(from $403,500 Jan 2014) and the Peninsula HPI last month was $522,500 (up
from $499,400 in Jan 2014). The overall
condo HPI was $287,600 last month, with
townhomes at $401,200 -- bothupover 2014.
Fifteen single family homes sold in
Sooke in January, at an average sale price
of $368,637 (HPI was $338,700, down
from $342,800 a year ago). SVN
Homelessness, homefulness,
and seniors on scooters COUNCIL Preview
The BC Government has lately been rolling out the results of some obvious
planning and hard work for restructuring K to 12 public school curriculum delivery, as well as processes for the transition to post-secondary, and fortifying certain areas of focus in post-secondary training (such as trades).
Meanwhile, within the delivery mix of education policy and initiatives
are the teachers, administrators and trainers of teachers who walk the walk and
-- who last weekend -- talked the talk.
Apanel of four education professionals debated various aspects of where
the education of children and young adults has been in BC and where it now
seems to be heading.
The panel was organized by the UVic Alumni Association and chaired by
Helen Raptis, PhD, Associate Dean, Faculty of Education. The gathering was
held in one of the large theatre-style lecture halls in the center of campus on
SuperBowl Sunday, February 1, which made the audience size of 75 people
seem all the more impressive. The crowd included local educators, and several
of whom had travelled from the mainland to take part in the 2-hour think-tank.
Some of the comments from educators in the audience were thoughts
held by many, finally spoken aloud:
“Children who have strong academic ability have just been left to manage. The resources have not been there to develop their potential,” said an
experienced female teacher.
“Educators have the power to change the world. It takes time and energy
to work with kids, to show that you care and share your own vulnerabilities. But
the ability to provide that level of connection comes down to money in the system,” said a young male teacher who noted that the private education system is
50% funded by the BC government.
Panelist Mark Neufield -- a teacher who launched the Institute for Global
Solutions at Claremont Secondary School in Victoria -- said re the public vs
private inequities: “If we do a good enough job that problem will right itself.”
Neufeld was referring primarily to the introduction of personalized learning but
also to “enable students by not being afraid (as teachers) to be who we are”. He
said that teachers “get into teaching because we want to change kids’ lives” and
“when are we going to get out of the way of our kids (and let them flourish)”.
When one educator in the audience said that it was time for some “moral
outrage” to effect change, panelist Ralf St Clair, Dean of the UVic Faculty of
Education, piped up with this: “Moral outrage is what has got me to where I am
now. If educators have no moral outrage, they have no right to be in the job.” He
suggested that part of breaking the paralysis of today’s classroom environment
is to “think of the classroomexperience as relationships instead of assessment”.
He said: “Personalized learning will look really good when it gets here. It will
recognize learning styles and equity.” He concluded that all educators can “agree
on one thing -- that we want the system to change”.
Panelist Leslie Lee, principal at George Jay Elementary in the urban core
of Victoria, questioned how prepared new teachers are who come into the teaching system. She suggested that other teachers be brought in as sounding boards
or mentors for new young teachers.
Panelist Dr Lorna Williams, OBC, former Canada Research Chair, and
scholar in Indigenous Language Revitalization said that education is the most
powerful institution in any society. She made her mark on the entire gathering
with a metaphor that seemed to leave an indelible impression on panelists and
audience alike: that those who can manage to change the education system are
like piano tuners ... the instruments itself seeks to be brought back into tune. As
a First Nations educator, she said that for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples
there are two storylines in education: that of the power of education to destroy,
and that of the power of education to revitalize and create.
Other key issues that were surfaced during the discussion included:
Mental health and anxiety are a number one issue -- how to deal with it,
who deals with it, and what resources can be applied to it.
How can teachers become experts in digital-based learning?
We need to change the way we teach. The brick-and-mortar building environment is changing from being the only way, to being just one way.
Educators are “thinkers, changers, and difference-makers,” was the slogan for the afternoon event. SVN
The usual Monday-night meeting of
District of Sooke Council will be on Tuesday next week, due to Monday being the
BC Family Day statutory holiday.
The February 10 agenda is online
at www.sooke.ca f or view ing or
download. The meeting starts at 7pm.
There will be presentations by
three delegations: Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness with a regional update; Creating Homefulness
Society about t he Woodwyn Farm
project; and the Sooke Elderly Citizens'
Housing Society (SECHS) regarding the
challenges of using mobility scooters in
Sooke.
Mayor Tait and Council will give
verbal reports. The Sooke RCMP December 2014 year-end report will be presented by S/Sgt Jeff McArthur.
There will be motions to extend existing maintenance service contracts for
an additional year (beyond last January's
one-year extension) to Arterra Landscaping (ornamental areas and public washrooms), Angela Sinclair (trails and walkways), Steve's Portable Sawmill and Tree
Service (greenspace maintenance), and
Drew Porter (John Phillips Memorial Park
maintenance). A motion passed by Council in January 2014 included that Maintenance Service Contracts be open to tender or Request for Proposal at the end of
one-year contracts. SVN
WE B VERSI ON
WE B VERSI ON
Higher assault count & more
break-ins in Sooke in 2014
The overall tally of assaults in Sooke was higher
last year than in any of 2011, 2012 or 2013, according to statistics published in the February 10, 2015
District of Sooke council agenda.
There were 61 assaults in Sooke in 2014, with
a further six of those classified by Sooke RCMP as
sexual assaults.
Break-ins were also higher in 2014 than in the
previous three years, seeing 37 break-ins to residences, 25 at businesses, and 13 others.
There were 103 thefts from vehicles in Sooke
in 2014 (down from a peak that was seen in 2013).
A higher tally of incidents reported under the
Mental Health Act occurred in 2014 (122) compared
to previous years. Regardless of the source of an occurrence, each occurrence can only be recorded under one category, explained S/Sgt Jeff McArthur at
last month's District of Sooke Council meeting. SVN
SOOKE RCMP 2014
Sexual Assaults
Assaults
B&E Business
B&E residence
B&E other
Theft of vehicle
Theft from vehicle
Theft over $5,000
Theft under $5,000
Mental Health Act
Mischief/Damage
6
61
25
37
13
17
103
6
168
122
154
Total Calls 2011-2014:
16,695
2014 2013 2012 2011
4,246 4,425 4,098 3,926
BC predicts 2.6% GDP growth in 2015
The BC Ministry of Finance says that the Economic Forecast Council is forecasting 2.6% real GDP growth for BC in 2015, down from the 2.7% forecast in
December.
This is part of the annual pre-Budget update for BC's economic outlook.
The Economic Forecast Council's revisions include lower forecasts for inflation,
as low gasoline prices helped slow Canada's inflation rate to 1.5% in December
from 2.0% in November.
The council predicts BC's real GDP growth will increase to 2.8% in 2016,
up 0.1 percentage points from their December 2014 estimates. The outlook for
2017-19 remains unchanged at 2.5%. The BC government's provincial forecast
will be published with Budget 2015.
Overall, the domestic and international market situation remains fluid, said
a February 5 release from the finance ministry, adding that the effect of significantly lower oil prices on the BC economy is uncertain. ”While the reduction in
crude prices is generally not expected to have a significant negative effect on
the province, it has increased uncertainty as low oil prices are accompanied with
downward pressure on other commodity prices, including natural gas.” SVN
WE B VERSI ON
WE B VERSI ON
Bank stabilization at Jordan River
W E B V E RKitchen
S I scraps,
ON
@FoodScrapsSOOKE
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composting,
garbage pickup
KitchenScrapsSooke@shaw.ca
www.KitchenScrapsSooke.ca
CRD Parks
Info
News Updates
Services
Construction at Jordan River Regional
Park was underway until February 4.
Crews were conducting bank stabilization
at The Point to shore up the area, which
has been affected by recent super tides
and storm surges, said the Capital Regional District (CRD) in a media release
on January 29. The work is required to
protect the day-use area parking lot. ParkJordan River Regional Park is a 187-hectare ing may be limited during construction.
mixed coastal forest park along the Juan de Park visitors were to use caution around
Fuca Strait, open to the public since 2010 (now the equipment and crews. SVN
for day-use only).
Sooke Voice News
Questioning education in the 21st century
342 last year.
“We don’t expect to see big numbers in January. It’s a slower month traditionally for real estate,” says VREB
President Guy Crozier . “Even this slight
increase after the 11.67% year-over-year
increase in sales we saw in 2014 shows
the continued stability of our market.”
At January month-end there were
3,283 active property listings, down from
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WHAT’S GOING ON
Semester 2 starts at Edward Milne Community
School. Fri.Feb.6. Gr 9 to 12. emcs.sd62.bc.ca
Regional Sustainability Strategy CRD display Fri.
Feb 6 to Mon Feb 16 at Juan de Fuca Library in Colwood.
Sooke Minor Fastball registration. Sat Feb 7.
10am to 12 noon. At SEAPARC. www.sookefastball.com
[Also Feb 22, Mar 9, Mar 25 at various times]
Family Fun Hike. Sat. Feb. 7. WithCRD parks naturalist at Thetis Lake. 1 to 2:30 pm Meet at main parking lot
at Thetis Lake.All ages. www.crd.bc.caparks-events
A Taste of BC. Sat. Feb.7. Fundraiser by Sooke
Harbourside Lions. 7-9:30pm at EMCS.
BC Family Day. Mon. Feb.9. Statutory holiday.
Feb 14
Prize
Draw!
Value
$100
Open Mon-Sat
6716 West
Coast Rd
Genacol:
a collagen
production
contributor
West Coast Natural Foods
Drop off-pay by the bag:
Household goods, kitchen scraps, wood,
construction materials, tires & batteries,
old paint, yard waste, electronics.
2049 Idlemore Rd in Sooke
NEXT TO ARDENS SELF STORAGE
Mon, Wed-Sat 8:30-5 | Sun 10-4
Free Scrap Metal Drop-Off
Info: 250-642-5297
Friday, February 6, 2015 ::: SOOKE VOICE NEWS
250-642-2268
Free event postings courtesy as space permits.
PRIORITY TO ADVERTISERS
MORE EVENTS: www.sookevoicenews.com/Sooke-area-events.htm
District of Sooke. Regular Council Meeting Tues.
Feb.10 at 7 pm.
SD62 Education Committee of the Whole. Tues.
Feb.10 at Journey Middle School, 7 pm. www.sd62.bc.ca
Sooke Voice News ~ deadline Wed.Feb.11 5pm
for Feb13 Valentine’s edition. 10% off multi-week print/
online ads.250-642-7729 advertising@sookevoicenews.com
Awareness Film Night. Wed.Feb.11. DamNation
~ damming of rivers. 7pm, EMCS, 6218 Sooke Rd. By
donation. www.awarenessfilmnight.ca
Sooke Midget A Raffle. Draw date: Fri. Feb.13.
Prizes are tickets to Canucks games.
Valentine’s Dinner Sat Feb 14 atWest Coast Grill,
Prestige hotel. $55pp. Reservations: 778-425-0888
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Genacol
Gift Pack
subscriptions@sookevoicenews.com
New to Sooke? New
mom? Bride to be?
www.sookevoicenews.com
Supreme Court
says yes to doctorassisted suicide
The Supreme Court of Canada announced on February 6, 2015 their
unanimous ruling that physicians may
assist people with ending their life.
The ruling only applies to competent
adults with enduring, intolerable suffering who clearly consent to ending
their lives.
Federal and provincial governments have 12 months to develop
legislation to respond to the ruling; the
ban on do ctor-a ssiste d suic ide
stands until then. If the government
doesn't write a new law, the court's
exemption for physicians will stand.
The court also found an individual's response to "a grievous and
irremediable medical condition" is a
matter critical to their dignity and autonomy. The law already allows palliative sedation, refusing artificial nutrition and hydration, and refusing lifesustaining medical equipment. SVN
Valentine’s spa all
through February
There are customized Valentine's
specials for everyone at Le Sooke
Spa for the full month of February.
As well as couples and singles, there are gal-specials for girlfriends and mother-daughter. Spa
and Dine is another feature, as well
as Just for You & Her, and of course
‘just for him’ and ‘just for her’.
“Valentine’s weekend fills up
fast,” says Le Sooke Spa operator
Michelle Glanfield-Bohn, “so we’re
celebrating Valentine’s for the whole
month of February!”
The spa is located on the
lo we r le ve l of t he Pre st ige
Oceanfront Resort at 6929 West
Coast Road in Sooke.
www.lesookespa.com SVN
‘Purple Up’ Day
An online ‘purple up’ day has been
organized via social media this year
encouraging members of the public
to wear purple on Friday, February 6
to show support and break down the
stigma surrounding eating disorders,
says Island Health.
Those who participate are asked to
post their photos of themselves
wearing purple on a locally organized Facebook page.
One of the biggest myths
about eating disorders is that it’s
about being thin and driven by images in the media. Eating disorders
are mental illnesses having little to
do with looks, eating or beauty. In
fact, most people will continue with
the behaviour long after they reach
REGISTER in the SEAPARC lobby:
Sat Feb 7 [10 to 12 noon]
Sun Feb 22 [1:30 to 3:30pm]
Mon Mar 9 [4 to 6pm]
Wed Mar 25 [6 to 8pm]
Get the forms ahead of time at
www.sookefastball.com and
bring payment by cheques.
Off to the bridal fair
Local floral and gift shop owner Karen
Bloom wares at a bridal fair on Sat. Feb 7
at the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria,
10am to 6 pm. She will have a display of
wedding florals as well as some elegant
place setting displays. SVN
their “target” weight, said Island Health in
a news release for Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Feb 1 to 7.
Another myth around eating disorders is that it is a disease of teenage girls.
Although the statistics for anorexia in males
are not as well documented, it is estimated
that up to one-quarter of people with anorexia are male. The disease can look different in males, where the focus could include eating foods to increase muscle
mass and over-exercising.
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are two of the most common eating
disorders with distinct signs and symptoms.
Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of
any mental illness. SVN
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This 2014/2015 flu season has seen only partial protection against the H3N2
flu virus from this year’s vaccine (about 23% effectiveness), as the H3N2 has
mutated part-way through this year's flu season, says Island Health.
On Vancouver Island there has been a high incidence of flu in 39 seniors
care homes (down to eight as of the end of January), compared to rapid-spread
in only one care home last year, says Island Health.
Across Canada, as of January 31 there have been 4,079 hospitalizations
for flu this season (up from 3,589 in just the past week) and 270 deaths (up from
236 at January 24).
Over the last four flu seasons, the number of paediatric hospitalizations
has been relatively stable, says the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Help prevent the spread flu by frequently washing your hand, not sneezing
toward other people, and staying home if you're not feeling well. SVN
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Coast Capital awaits new ATMs
Steaming soup
Sooke Voice News
WE B VERSI ON
Be part of Sooke Minor Fastball’s
rich heritage! 2015 Season!
Kids 5-8 Learn To Play
Ages 9-18 in organized league play
W E B V E R S I O N Stones will be off to present her A Sea of
H3N2 targets seniors in 2014/2015
Two ou tg oing ATMs
were out of service on
February 4 and 5 at the
Sooke branch of Coast
Capital Savings. The old
ma chines had bee n
moved to the opposite
side of the lobby, pending
installation of new machines.
With the ATMs being unav ailable the re Bye-bye old Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) at the
were long lineups at the Coast Capital Savings branch in Sooke.
service counters.
Installation of the new ATMs was expected either Thursday evening or
Friday, February 6, according to branch management.
Advance notice of the ATM downtime was not provided to customers. There
was a sign on the door on the days that the service was unavailable. SVN
Juan de Fuca NDP 7th Annual Valentine’s
Fundraiser. Sat. Feb.14. Olympic View Golf Course.
Dinner 7pm. $100 pp. dixonwaukesha@yahoo.com
Victoria Cat Rescue Corps annual ‘spay/neuter blitz’ starting Mon Feb16 for a limited time. For cats
of low-income pet owners. Stray/feral cats welcome.
250 656-1100 www.victoriacatrescue.com
Sooke Region Tourism Association (SRTA)
AGM. Wed. Feb.18. 7 to 9 pm at Sooke Harbour
House. All who are interested in tourism are welcome.
Tri-District Pro-D. Fri. Feb.20. Non-instructional day; all schools in Sooke & Greater Victoria area.
Peoples Drug MartSooke ~ 25th Anniversary.
Fri. Feb.20 & Sat Feb.21. Prizes, contests.
The Sooke Fall Fair market on Sat Jan 31at
Sooke Community Hall had a successful turnout, said organizer Ellen Lewers. “We had 11
vendors of many wonderful products and items.
Great fun.”
The Fall Fair will be holding another market on Feb 28 including plants, seeds and
house- and garden-related items. “We will also
be serving healthy steaming, organic leek, potato and kale soup, pumpkin soup, and organic
turkey stew with the options of gluten-free or
whole grain bread with a grilled cheese sandwich option.” The market runs 10am to 3pm.
There will also be a healthy selection of muffins for breakfast or afternoon coffee. SVN
BC Grants to arts & community
More than $6.9 million is being provided to 277 artists, museums and arts organizations in 97 British Columbia communities as part of the latest round of successful BC
Arts Council grant adjudications following BC Arts Council's independent peer-review
process between Nov. 1, 2014 and Jan. 31, 2015.
Sooke Community Arts Council has received $7,248 and the Sooke Region Historical Society was awarded $15,000 for operating assistance as a public museum.
The West Shore Arts Council received $9,041 while the Community Arts Council of
Greater Victoria received $23,842.
Of the overall funding, $430,000 was awarded in total to 50 creative writers.
The funding is part of the $24 million provided to the BC Arts Council by the BC
Government to support the arts and culture sector in 2014-2015. SVN
To S U B S C R I B E: subscriptions@sookevoicenews.com
Throne Speech
Feb. 10
Lt Gov Judith
Gu ic ho n wi ll
open the fourth
session of the
40th Parliament
of BC and read
BC Lt Gov
the speech from Judith Guichon
the throne on Tuesday, February 10 at 2pm. Proceedings at
the BC Parliament Buildings in
Victoria will be webcast live
st arti ng a t 1: 15 pm a t
ThroneSpeechBC.ca SVN
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