October 29, 2008
Fall Fair wins at convention
One hundred and seventy-five delegates representing 49 fairs met in Vernon last weekend for the British Columbia Association of Agricultural Fairs & Exhibitions Annual Convention and Awards Banquet.
Martha Moore and Ida McDonald brought home Sooke Fall Fair’s third consecutive Award of Excellence along with the Agricultural Achievement of the Year Award.
Sooke’s heritage mural along the back wall behind the Sooke Community Hall was considered a big winner according to BC Fairs evaluators who visit all agricultural fairs throughout the province. Sooke’s community support was also noted as a positive reflection of success.
October 29, 2003
Counter-petition fails; search, rescue receives over $60,000 in funding
The volunteers who find and rescue injured and missing people are themselves feeling out of the woods after being guaranteed over $60,000 in funding for next year.
A Juan de Fuca Electoral Area residents’ counter petition opposing funding of Juan de Fuca Ground Search and Rescue (SAR) failed, after only 94 counter-petitions were collected following the Oct. 21 deadline. Capital Regional District corporate secretary Carmen Thiel said 223 signatures would have been necessary to stop funding from tax-payers.
Last year, SAR took part in about 15 rescues. Its most recent trek into the wilderness was earlier this month when SAR helped locate two Port Renfrew men Oct. 7 in the Pandora Main area.
October 28, 1998
Sooke fire district taxes drop slightly
Sooke Fire Protection District taxpayers will see a slight decrease in the taxes they pay for fire protection in 1999.
The district has dropped its total budget from $519,707 in 1998 to $492,097 in 1998, a difference of $27,610.
SFPD chair Wendal Milne said the difference is due to increaseD growth in the community and the elimination of the fire chief position earlier this year.
“So the taxpayers of Sooke will get a reprieve because we’ll take the growth and add the change … and it’ll be a little bit of a reduction,” Milne said.
October 27, 1993
Sooke picks Reform Party
Sooke was quite clearly looking for Reform.
Dr. Keith Martin’s federal election victory in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca was more dramatic in the Sooke Electoral Area than other areas in the riding. Martin garnered 36.3 per cent of the popular vote here, compared to 33.2 per cent overall, and topped established NDP incumbent Dave Barrett in all Sooke area polls except Port Renfrew, where Barrett won 47 to 36.
Meanwhile Sooke regional director candidate Bob Clark, who was working for Progressive Conservative candidate Grace Holman, was stunned by the resounding PC defeat.
