The painted rocks in Sooke’s town centre are staying.
A month ago painted rocks began randomly appearing on the new municipal boulevard along Sooke Road. The rocks, all very colourful, have sayings such as I Love Sooke, Rock Exchange and Gender is a Social Construct.
The project was not approved by the district, at least not officially. And there were musings that the rocks might be moved elsewhere in the district.
Now officials say the rocks are going nowhere.
“The [District of Sooke] loves the rocks and we encourage more people to add to the pile,” said chief administrative officer Teresa Sullivan.
Mayor Maja Tait is a big fan of the community-initiated art project.
“I think it’s a positive thing,” she said. “We want to encourage people to paint them.”
The art project is even going beyond the confines of the boulevard.
Last week to the amusement of municipal staff, someone with a sense of humour dropped by the district office and left a painted rock for mayor and council, with new monikers for each councillor.
And the district’s main entrance has had a painted rock propping the door open since incorporation in 1999.
Tait doesn’t think the boulevard art initiative won’t come across as tacky or gaudy.
“It adds colour to our community. To me what looks tacky is when you see a bunch of weeds and litter amongst rocks and graffiti tags,” she said.
“I think when more colourful rocks are added, it will actually look quite nice.”