I am writing this from the Volunteer Futures Conference in Richmond. I couldn’t help but think about our lovely town when I tried to walk down the sidewalks here. This shot is of a section of no sideway/sidewalk on Alderbridge Way, a main road. Richmond has a population of 200,000, was incorporated in 1879 and has a full time works crew.
We would benefit from cutting some slack in Sooke with a population of just over 10,000 and incorporation date of 1999 and no public works crew. Sidewalks are an important priority to identify and work on when the opportunity arises. Looking at the state of sidewalks here makes me realize that they are an on-going process and always will be. Here there are sections of lovely lock-brick sections that have sunk and paved sections that have been dug up or heaved up by roots. Together with miles of sidewalk in great condition. In a perfect world we would all have great sidewalks.
I look forward to bring information home from the conference around the changing dynamics of volunteering and how we in the Sooke region can grow with these changes. Statistically volunteerism is continuing to rise, it’s only the way in which volunteers connect and engage that is changing. If any one would like more information on volunteering in the Sooke region please check out the community based website www.sookeregionresources.com, email us at volunteersooke@gmail.com or call 250-208-7520
Marlene Barry, Chair
Sooke Region
Volunteer Centre