A look through the Sooke News Mirror archives:
July 16, 2008
Silver Spray plans tent houses as part of resort
Michael Thornton believes he has brought the best possible players to help develop Silver Spray and any promises made in the past were delivered — to the best of his ability.
The 63.8 hectare (158 acre) planned resort and residential development has been sitting in limbo for many years as potential developers looked at the potential of the site and passed on the opportunity. At present there are only a few completed homes on the residential portion. The developers want to build at least 15 tent suites on Iron Mine Hill. These semi permanent houses would cascade down the hillside offering spectacular views of the water and the pounding surf below. The area is zoned for cottages and Thornton says the tent houses are well within the definition of “cottages.”
July 16 2003
Sooke likely first in B.C.to charge all riders
Even though a user-pay bus policy failed in one B.C. school district, the Sooke school district is forging ahead with its plan to charge its students to ride the bus.
During budget meetings this spring, the school district personnel repeatedly said other school districts in B.C. and Albert make students pay to ride the bus.
However, the only example Sooke school district board chair and Transportation Review Committee member Denise Riley could cite was the Kelowna school district.
When the Sooke News Mirror called to confirm that Kelowna was making students pay to ride, it learned that their short-lived user fee policy was a flop and students are once again getting a free ride.
July 15, 1998
Port Renfrew opens new Info Centre
July 1 marked the grand opening of Port Renfrew’s art and information centre.
Owners Bruce Cominuik and Eleanor Amon celebrated the birth of Port Renfrew’s first permanent information centre in typical West Coast style with wine, cheese and, of course, Port Renfrew smoked salmon.
Open from nine till nine, seven days a week, and nine to seven in the winter months, the centre is already serving approximately 20 people per week and 55-60 on weekends.
July 14, 1983
Welcome to the 59th All Sooke Day
On Saturday, July 17, 1993 the Sooke Community Association will sponsor the 59th annual All Sooke Day.
All Sooke Day is the longest running annual loggers sports event in Canada and maybe even North America. It is held on the banks of the Sooke River at the Sooke Community Park (Sooke Flats) on Phillips Road in Sooke.
All Sooke Day is one of the fundraising events of the Sooke Community Association. Another is the mini All Sooke Day Convention entertainment which is comprised of an hour-long logging show, followed by a salmon barbecue supper and dance. This is held in the community hall and is available to any interested organizations.
July 13, 1988
Sooke’s weather was cooler, wetter in June
Due to the westerly winds that have prevailed over the past few weeks, Sooke’s weather during June was slightly cooler and wetter than is usual for this time of year.
Records kept at the Coast Guard Radio Station on McMillan Road show that the mean temperature for the month was 12 degrees Celsius, half a degree below the 22-year average mean of 12.5.
Looking ahead July is usually Sooke’s driest month with rainfall averaging only 21.6 mm and temperature average of 14 degrees. The hottest July day was July 23, 1974, when the temperature reached 29.4 degrees.
