September is approaching faster than a seal towards a hooked salmon and this signals a number of things.
First, the kids are back in school and this means drivers need to be aware of their speed in school zones.
September also means the days are getting shorter and the cool chill of autumn air becomes the norm. It’s still summer though until the mid-September. Campers are enjoying the last of the nice weather and it also means campfires are allowed, except in Sooke. The fire chief feels there is still a risk of fire because of the extreme arid conditions over the summer. With expected rain this may change over the next week.
September also means most of the community groups will be gathering once again to begin a new season. The Sooke Community Arts Council is seeking a few good people to take over some of the organization of the council. The same folks have been running the show for far too many years and they feel it is time for some new blood. If you want this organization to continue then people have to step forward. The arts are an important component to our lifestyle in Sooke and we need to support the art and the artists as much as possible. Perhaps this might be the time to consider combining a few of the arts groups under one umbrella. Not just the visual arts but also the performing arts. Each of these groups struggles with the same issues and an arts council encompassing the Sooke Folk Music Society, the Harbourside Players, Sooke Philharmonic Society, community choirs, film society, etc., may be just what is needed. Everyone relies on volunteers, so why not utilize them in a larger, broader way and get more for less. This works in other communities, so there is no reason it wouldn’t work here. All it needs is a broader vision for Sooke.