A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about a slight population drop in Sooke; (Sooke population drop raises questions) that perhaps the lack of in-town amenities may have shooed some folks away from here in the last year or so.
But like the Sooke Potholes, the vast coastline and trails that embody the whole of Sooke District, there’s just something about this place that cannot be missed, or replicated anywhere else on the island.
A… “sweetness in the air” as Sue-Daniels Ferris, manager at the Pemberton Holmes Sooke office puts it.
“Lots of people walk into our office and say, the air is so fresh out here,” she said. “There’s something about the sweetness of the air when you get out in Sooke.”
Having worked as a realtor for 26 years and an active resident of Sooke, Ferris says the town’s charm goes beyond the more obvious elements that make up a usual small town.
“People come to Sooke for different reasons, but they stay there; it’s not the taxes, the road, or cheaper gas, its the community, the unique people who live here,” she said.
In the end, she adds, it’s about keeping the community together.
“There are so many good things happening out there in Sooke that people are doing and contributing to; let’s not take away from that,” Ferris said.
Ferris tells the story of the king who hands over a big package of sticks to his three sons; whoever breaks it becomes king. Well, each tried to break it but nobody could – until he undid the bundle and broke up each stick separately. The king then tells his sons, “if you come apart, if you don’t manage this kingdom together, it will break apart too.”
A wise king indeed.
