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News & Business
April 2010
ARCHIVED news:
April 29. The BC government aimed to issue a pro-HST flyer to work against the signing of anti-HST petitions by a large number of BC voters, a move Bill Vander Zalm has called "totally out of control" . HST digest | Letter Apr.29/10 from Bill Vander Zalm
April 27. Some new landscaping at the corner of Otter Point and Sooke Road (Murray Road side) appeared over the weekend. One large tree obscures the view of buildings beyond (approaching along Sooke Road) -- what was the planning? Otherwise the removable of bramble has resulted in a considerable visual improvement to one of the main intersections in town centre.
April 23. Local volunteers are setting up a regional volunteer centre. This follows from an Open Spaces conference held at Edward Milne Community School (May 2009) with support from the Sooke Region Community Health Initiative (Jan.2010) inviting reps from more than 140 not-for-profit organizations and the general public to an initial meeting. Two steering committees were formed –- one to explore setting up a foundation, and the other to look at forming a volunteer centre. Doni Eve chairs the Sooke Region Volunteer Centre steering committee. Next meeting on April 27. News release.
April 17. There
was a significant turnout to sign the Fight HST
petition in Sooke today, at the Sooke Community Hall. As of 2:30
pm approximately 700 signatures had been collected and there was a
steady stream of visitors at the door; doors open til 7 pm. In our Juan
de Fuca riding 3,490 signatures are required.
HST digest |
Letter April
24/10 from Bill
Vander Zalm
April 16. Cultural mapping is underway in Sooke through the ArtsWave project spearheaded by Evonne Black and managed by Rebecca George. Surveys are being made available to residents, artists and arts organizers in the Port Renfrew to Beecher Bay region, toward a presentation of survey results in mid June and a final report that will be posted on the Sooke Fine Arts website. The survey will be available online under the "What's New" section of www.sooke.ca .
April 14. The Fight HST campaign spearheaded by former premier Bill Vander Zalm needs petition signatures from 10% of registered voters in each BC riding. For the Juan de Fuca riding that means 3,490 signatures are required. Petitions are available in several Sooke locations. Public meetings hosted by Vander Zalm will be held in Victoria at the Ocean Pointe Resort on Thurs. Apr.15, 7:30 pm and in Nanaimo at the Beben Park Rec Centre at 12 noon on Fri. Apr.16. Petitions may be signed at a central location (tba) on Sat. Apr.17 in Sooke. HST digest.
April 13. A total of $1500 in support funding was approved by the Sooke Community Arts Council (SCAC) tonight at its regular monthly meeting: $1000 to the Sooke Fine Arts Show for the "Juror's Choice" award and $500 to the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce's "Taste of Sooke" catered event which occurs as part of the Sooke Fine Arts Show. SCAC, chaired by Marion DesRochers, recently received a $2500 grant from the District of Sooke and currently holds about $4835 in a GIC.
April 12. A traffic-related injury occurred this morning outside of Dumont Tire on Otter Point Road in Sooke Town Centre. An employee of Dumont Tire was injured and taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries; according to RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve Wright, the driver of the oncoming vehicle was under the influence of alcohol. Story & photos.
April 6. The District of Sooke Council will be reviewing its financial plan and 2010 budget tonight at its Committee of the Whole (Council) meeting. A property tax increase of 4.81% (municipal portion) was recommended. The proposed 2010-2014 Financial Plan includes $20,000 for the Sooke Region Tourism Association and a $10,000 increase in the funds provided for operation of Sooke Community Hall. Read full District news release
April 4 and 5. No 'active weather' in Sooke. Quiet. A lot of businesses closed this holiday Easter Monday.
April 3. The high winds from Friday's (Apr.2) storm made a repeat performance in the wee hours this Saturday morning (Apr.3). Road crews were out on April 2 to clear away fallen logs and foliage debris along Sooke Road. A power outage due to trees down on BC Hydro wires was experienced by 145 customers north of Willowpark Way from 8:07 am to 8:40 pm on April 2, while 2,448 customers west of Goodridge Road and northwest of West Coast Road were without power from 7:21 am to 7:24 pm on Friday. As of 3:45 am April 3, approximately 3,525 Sooke-area customers were without electrical service due to the continuing windstorm.
April 1. A property tax increase of 4.81% (municipal portion) will be recommended to the Committee of the Whole (at its upcoming Apr.6 meeting, 7 pm), by the District of Sooke's finance committee. The 4.81% increase includes a 1.74% increase in the transfer to the Capital Program. Read full District news release
April 1. MLS housing sales in Greater Victoria increased 27% in March over the previous month, with an average single-family home price of $633,938 (up from $620,833 in February). In a similar upward trend, the average Sooke house sale price was $418,146 in March (up from $411,684 in February). Townhomes in Sooke sold for $343,804 in March while Sooke condos sold on average at $216,914. Current Victoria Real Estate Board stats
April 1. Issues that affect the long-term health and viability of communities are the subject of a 5-year research program at Royal Roads University that recently received $500,000 in grant funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. RRU News release
ARCHIVE MARCH 2010: click here
ARCHIVE FEBRUARY 2010: click here
ARCHIVE JANUARY 2010: click here
ARCHIVE DECEMBER 2009: click here
ARCHIVE NOVEMBER 2009: click here
ARCHIVE OCTOBER 2009: click here
ARCHIVE SEPTEMBER 2009: click here
Send comments and news releases to: editor@maplelinemagazine.com
Community Events
April 2010
Events Hotlist:
Easter Eggstravaganza. Family event at SEAPARC. Sun. April 4. 12 noon to 3 pm. Easter egg hunt and games. Door prizes. Free admission. Info.
Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce - monthly meeting. Tues. Apr.6 at 12 noon. At Village Food Markets upstairs lunchroom. Phone the Chamber office to register. 250-642-6112.
District of Sooke Protective Services Committee. Tues. Apr.6 at 1 pm. At the District of Sooke municipal hall, meeting room.
District of Sooke - Committee of the Whole (Council meeting), Tues. Apr.6 . 7 pm At Council Chambers, District of Sooke municipal hall. 7 pm. Financial plan will be presented. [Note, council meetings usually held on Monday nights, shifted this month to Tues night due to Easter Monday holiday.] www.sooke.ca
Association of BC Landowners - AGM. Thurs. Apr.8 at 7:30 pm. Sooke Community Hall. Open to rural area property owners and residential owners. Info
District of Sooke Program of the Arts Committee. Mon. Apr.12 at 9 am. Open to the public. At the District of Sooke municipal hall, meeting room.
Sooke Community Arts Council. Regular monthly meeting. Tues. Apr.13 at 7:30 pm. At Sooke Harbour House. Info
District of Sooke ~ Sooke Economic Development Commission. Wed. Apr.14. Open to the public. 7 pm. At the District of Sooke municipal hall, meeting room.
Official celebration: Charters Creek Salmon Stewardship & Interpretation Centre. Fri. Apr.16 at 9:15 am. Open to the public. At Sooke River Rd. and Mountain Park Rd. RSVP 250-642-6351 or historian@sookeregionmuseum.com
Sign the HST Petition. Sat. Apr.17 at 9 am to 7 pm. At Sooke Community Hall, dining room.
Sooke Community Development Association. Monthly meeting, Wed. Apr.21. 7 pm. At Village Food Markets meeting room.
District of Sooke Sign Bylaw Committee. Tues. Apr.20 at 7 pm. Open to the public. At the District of Sooke municipal hall, meeting room.
Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce. Wed. Apr. 21. Quarterly general meeting. 7 pm. At the T'Souke Band Office, 2154 Lazzar Rd. All Chamber members welcome. Agenda includes changing the 1st-Tuesday lunch meetings to another day/time, and a new concept of how to get council and chamber together. Info
Earth Day Tree Planting. Thurs. Apr. 22. Royal Roads Univ. 11:30 am & 2:30 pm. To mark 40th Earth Day anniversary .Trees will be planted at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Participants to gather on the Quarterdeck. RRU Grounds and Gardens staff will take observers and volunteer helpers to the tree planting location at those times. 2005 Sooke Rd. in Colwood.
Sooke BizNet. Thurs. Apr. 22. Regular meeting. 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Open to the all businesses. At 6669 Horne Rd., Sooke. Topic: Going Green. Fee: $20 for refreshments.
Family Arts Fair. Sat. Apr. 24. At SEAPARC. 10 am to 3 pm. Free admission. Crafts and activities for children and families.
Sooke Community Choir: SPRING CONCERT ~ Roots of Rhythm. Sat. Apr. 24. At EMCS. 7:30 pm. Spring concert. Public welcome. www.sooke.org/scc
Sooke Literary Association. Mon. Apr. 26. 5:00 pm. New members welcome. At the MapleLine Business Centre, 6707 West Coast Rd. www.sookeliteraryassociation.org
District of Sooke Council Meeting. Mon. Apr. 26. 7:00 pm. At Council Chambers. Agenda online: www.sooke.ca
Sooke Region Volunteer Centre. Tues. Apr. 27. At CASA. 6:30 pm. Next meeting of the steering committee. For more information, contact DoniEve@shaw.ca
Sooke Rotary Auction & Spring Fair ~ Sat. May 1, 2010. 10 am to 10 pm. 20th annual spring fair and auction. Business Expo (about 80 businesses and organizations with tables and displays), plant sale, used bike sale, children's play area. At the SEAPARC arena. www.SookeRotary.com
ARCHIVE MARCH 2010: click here
ARCHIVE FEBRUARY 2010: click here
ARCHIVE JANUARY 2010: click here
ARCHIVE DECEMBER 2009: click here
ARCHIVE (Nov.09): click here
ARCHIVE (Oct.09): click here
ARCHIVE (July to Sept.09): click here
Click here for a summary of 2010 PRINT EDITION
editorial themes and ad deadlines.
Sooke Leaders
Health, Environment, & Arts
April 2010
Awareness & being involved.
Save Our Natural Health Products . National momentum is being garnered by Save Our Natural Health Products to preserve the right of consumers to access a range of natural health products. They encourage writing to your MP. www.saveournaturalhealthproducts.ca
G8
Summit ~ June 25 & 26, 2010. The Canadian
government will host leaders of the world's wealthiest industrialized
"G8" countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK,
USA, Russia)
in the small northern Ontario town of Huntsville, in June this year. The
Muskoka 2010 Canada summit (see
PMO's June 2008 announcement) will include a discussion about
maternal health. Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP, Dr. Keith Martin, says the
exclusion of reproductive health issues from the summit discussion is a
"regressive policy decision" by the Prime Minister.
Article by Dr. Keith Martin.
ARCHIVE (April 2010):
Awareness Film Night - Wed. April 14 at 7 pm. Prospects of change to protect wild salmon. Farmed Salmon Exposed: The Global Reach of the Norwegian Salmon Farming Industry and Aquaculture Revolution: Science vs. Salmon Farming. Coastal salmon at risk for more than sea lice. Discussion after the films, with Michelle Young, Georgia Strait Alliance. At EMCS, 6218 Sooke Rd., Sooke. By donation.
ARCHIVE MARCH 2010: click here
ARCHIVE FEBRUARY 2010: click here
ARCHIVE JANUARY 2010: click here
ARCHIVE DECEMBER 2009: click here
ARCHIVE NOVEMBER 2009: click here
ARCHIVE (summer-fall 2009): click here