Sooke has a lot of stories to tell and the EMCS series, Sooke Talks, is helping to bring those stories to life.
It’s the third time that the EMCS Society has invited local residents to share their stories; stories that help to frame the character of the community.
Consider the tale of the mercury that once poisoned our waterways.
It seems that, back in the mid 1990s, the CRD’s environmental engineers noticed an extremely high level of heavy metals in the region’s sewer system.
Sooke’s Dr. Chris Bryant worked with the CRD and others to identify the source of those environmental poisons and now he’s telling his story as part of the most recent Sooke Talks event; a series that showcases the fascinating people living in our midst.
“We were at the point where the waste water system in our region was close to being shut down and today the levels of heavy metals in that water are below detection levels,” said Bryant.
But Bryant’s story will be only one of the presentations at Sooke Talks.
The presentations are co-presented by the EMCS Society and Sooke Harbour Toastmasters and forms part of the fundraising efforts of the EMCS Society for the renovation of the Community Theatre at EMCS.
“It’s going to be a great evening and we encourage people to come early and mingle in the lobby before the presentations,” said Jeff Bateman, the Past President of the EMCS Society.
Sooke Talks features a total of seven speakers who, like Dr. Bryant, will regale the audience with tales of Sooke and beyond.
Other presentations will include a discussion of music in the region by Bob Whittet and Fred Andrew, the theatrical experiences of 15 year old Hannah Dahmer, and the challenges faced by longtime community volunteer, Kimbely Anderson.
Four members of the Sooke Arts Council , Tanya Darling, Linda Green Abraham, Linda Gordon and Frederique Philip, will also be on hand to read poetry form the Arts Council’s most recent anthology.
Bateman pointed to the presentation of Doug Dalquist as a particularly inspiring part of Sooke Talks.
“Doug had a long career as a mountain guide and instructor. He scaled K2, Everest and Mt. Logan but later developed Parkinson’s Disease. He went off to the United States where he was treated with deep brain stimulation therapy.
-Now he’s largely recovered and acts as an advocate for the treatment,” Bateman said.
“Then we have Tyler Johnson-Grant. He’ll be acting as our MC and final speaker. He’s has an English-Ojibway cultural background and will share the poetic tale of his essential journey between heart and mind.”
It’s the third in a series of talks that started in Feb. of 2018, but Bateman said that it won’t be the last.
“We have a treasure trove of interesting individuals; each with their own stories to tell. I think we can continue this series for quite some time,” Bateman said.
Tickets are $15 tickets and are available at the door and in advance at the Stick in the Mud Coffeehouse and the EMCS Society office at the school.
mailto:tim.collins@sookenewsmirror.com
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