I’ve never lived in Sooke, but as a Metchosin resident I’ve always felt like I knew Sooke and often thought of it as my neighbour.
Over the years I’ve enjoyed going to Mom’s Café for lunch, swimming at the Potholes and enjoying the windy drive to enjoy the small-town feel of your community.
I was a reporter for the Goldstream Gazette for six years and recently I made the job change to work for M’akola Group of Societies. In my new position I have been spending a lot of time in Sooke promoting M’akola’s latest project, a four-storey apartment building on West Coast Road.
The 25 units are geared towards 19-31 year olds and I have really been enjoying myself making connections through this project. It’s been really rewarding meeting young adults in Sooke and helping to provide access to affordable housing.
Aside from helping others, residents of Sooke have been helping me too. In these past few months I’ve been learning about what Sooke is all about. It doesn’t feel like a town anymore, I can tell the residents of Sooke are more like family. Everyone here seems to know one-another and honestly care how each other are doing.
The hospitality of your district has brought me back for fun adventures of kayaking in the bay and strolls downtown Sooke.
I’ve been hosting open houses at The Hope Centre and it seems that everyone who comes to check out the building all know each other and inquire about specific details of their lives and families. It’s really nice to see.
When I am in Sooke I’ve been meeting with stakeholders in various services and businesses and the hospitality and humbleness of the people of Sooke is just astounding.
The more time I spend in Sooke the more I realize what a special place you live in and I am honoured to come and visit.
Members of the T’ou-ke Nation have also been very hospitable and have been teaching me a lot too.
Every time I am asked to work in Sooke I am excited to go back. It’s just a small drive from Victoria and the West Shore, but Sooke sets itself apart from other communities in the Capital Region.
This weekend I will be working a booth at the Wadams Way Public Market and sure hope to meet more Sooke residents. The M’akola Group of Societies tent will be offering free coffee from Stick in the Mud and free caramel apple making for kids.
Thank you Sooke for being so friendly and showing me all you have to offer. Could the friendliness of Sooke be the best kept secret of the Capital Region?
The Wadams Way Public Market is on Saturday Sept. 27 at the intersection of Townsend Road and Wadams Way from 10:30 -2:30 p.m.