Kudos to the Sooke community citizens who annually pull together the always memorable Sooke Fine Arts Show. As a former 10-year resident of Sooke who moved to Victoria for employment, I remember the community spirit well, and am pleased to have assisted with some of the archival activities at the Sooke Region Museum which allowed me to spend some time with a wonderful group of people.
However, that community spirit, one of the major assets of that Sooke I knew, is not visible, though it is obviously still there, at least in places. What is visible is the “Langford Wannabe” destruction-friendly (oops, development-friendly) mindset.
The Sooke that visitors and former residents look for has all but disappeared.
It won’t be long before the view of the entire Sooke Basin is blocked with condo developments. And you can kiss the Juan de Fuca Trail as you know it goodbye.
It won’t be long, if that mark has not already been passed, before Sooke has nothing Sooke-ish about it, and is filled with site-inappropriate mistakes like the “plantation style” hotel that stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Think carefully, Sooke, when you vote for a mayor and council in the next municipal election.
Diane McNally
Victoria