HELLO, GOODBYE … For the last 18 months, the RCMP has been struggling to fill civilian job vacancies at the Sooke detachment.
Recently, a key position was filled with the hiring of office manager Yahna Neufeld, who arrives here from Chilliwack RCMP.
Neufeld no sooner had her seat warmed when Staff Sgt. Jeff McArthur learned that another civilian staffer, Michele Isaac, was leaving for a position with the Vancouver Island Major Crime Unit. McArthur expects to fill the position quickly.
Also leaving is Const. Chrissy Klein, who has been transferred to Nanaimo, while rookie Const. Heidi Sherman is now in Sooke undergoing field training with Const. Reid Miller.
The detachment is now at full strength with the number of officers.
•••
WORLDLY PASTOR … Holy Trinity Anglican Church has welcomed a new pastor into the flock.
Pastor Rev. Dimas Canjura, formerly of El Salvador, is becoming quite acquainted with the Sooke Region.
A person of “great faith,” he willingly shares in the work of God both at Holy Trinity Church and the Church of St. Mary of the Incarnation, in Metchosin.
Welcome, Pastor Canjura.
•••
HELP WANTED … They’re lining up to replace Gord Howie at the District of Sooke.
Howie, the district’s chief administrative officer, decided not to renew his three-year contract.
The district received a bundle of applications as the result of a recent job posting. Now it’s up to a committee of three from council, led by Coun. Kerrie Reay. The committee will short-list the applicants and all members of council will decide on the final hiring.
The district hopes to have a replacement by Feb. 1.
•••
ON THE RUN … A few weeks ago a loyal reader dropped me a quick line on runner Robert Butterfield.
The Sooke runner won his age (75-79) category at the recent GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon. Butterfield finished the half marathon in 2:06:15 – more than four minutes faster than Ken Pungente, who we profiled in a story leading up to the marathon and placed in the top 10 in the 70-74 age category.
Methinks there was a bit of a competition going on here between these two Sooke athletes.
There were 6,819 finishers in the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon – 1,204 in the marathon, 3,257 in the half marathon, 2,358 in the 8K, plus 1,087 in the Thrifty Foods Kids Run, for a total of 7,906.
•••
Kevin Laird is editor of the Sooke News Mirror. He can reached by email at klaird@blackpress.ca or by phone at 250-642-5752.
