Nov. 24, 2010 — A green investment
Last year, the field along Phillips road contained only a sign that asked “Interested in getting a plot?” Today, it has an irrigation system, fences, a shed and outhouse, a gazebo and even a fire pit thanks to the Sooke Region Food CHI Society.
The society came about in 2008 as the result of a group of citizens who had been sharing pot luck suppers and spoke of local foods and ideas since 2007.
With money from the Vancouver Island Health Authority, a part-time coordinator was hired to help develop and promote food security strategies and programs. A legion of volunteers also came on board to make sure all of the good ideas took hold.
Nov. 22, 2006 — Warning bells result from survey
Over a hundred students from elementary to high school level in Sooke took part in a psychology survey in September that showed some surprising results.
Administered by Wayne Hammond, a Calgary-based clinical psychologist who has conducted similar surveys with over 80,000 students in across Canada, it was his first foray into B.C.
The study dealt with things from how much TV they watch to how often they get drink alcohol. Results showed a relative acceptance of binge drinking among Sooke Youth. Hammond said it appeared the phenomenon was part of a wider culture, an overriding acceptance of alcohol use.
Nov. 24, 1999 — Local school bus stops dangerous
Local emergency response personnel fear school busses which stop on Sooke Road to unload children are a disaster waiting to happen.
The busses have long been frustrating to motorists on the congested road who have to wait while the students disembark.
But while a few minutes delay for motorists is an inconvenience, the same wait for the fire and ambulance servicr could be a tragedy.
“The ambulance can’t get by,” said ambulance driver Bob Hudson. “They’re tying up the traffic when they have a parking area at Sooke Elementary,” he said of a bus that stops in front of the school.
Nov. 27, 1996 — EMCS set to open
This Thursday, the public is invited to the opening ceremonies of the new high school at 1 p.m. to celebrate the work of students, staff, administrators, the public and the government that made the $19.6 million project possible.
Speeches during the ceremony will be related to the theme of coming together with speakers sharing stories.
The event will feature the T’Sou-ke Nation Elders presenting the new school with a special hand-carved canoe and cedar totem pole, the work of Fred Peter and student carvers who spent a month ad a half this summer creating the design.
Nov. 27, 1991 — Four laner in four years?
By 1995, Could the preferred road route between Sooke and Victoria be an 80 km/h four-lane highway running along Sooke Road to Humpback and then along a realigned Humpback to the Trans-Canada Highway?
That’s what a Western Communities transportation study suggested to serve the needs of an expanding community. The report was passed on to the Sooke Advisory Planning Commission at its meeting last week for comment.
The report defined the Western Communities as View Royal, Colwood, Metchosin, Langford and Sooke. It predicted that in the next 20 years the population of the Western Communities would increase by 24 per cent, to 61,000, with a further increase to 71,790 by 2010 — a 46 per cent total increase over 1990.
