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News & Business
March 2010
Current news:
Mar.9. Businesses in Sooke heard about the 'mechanics' of the pending 12% HST tax straight from CRA reps today, at a meeting hosted by the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce over the lunch hour. About 28 business people had a range of questions for the two presenters who explained in detail about the HST phase-in which -- in some cases -- will see HST being charged as early as May 1, 2010. BC Government website: business info about HST | Federal HST business transition info
Mar.7. The 6th annual Women's Wellness Show at the Sooke Family Resource Centre enjoyed a record turnout of both visitors and exhibitors at their March 6 evening event. The $12 admission include cuisine by Epicure. Massages, psychic readings and a range of items for purchase (e.g. jewellery, books, skin care products, etc.) were presented by over 20 exhibitors.
Mar.5. In a relatively surprise fashion, the Capital Regional District (CRD) has negotiated to purchase from Western Forest Products more than 2,300 hectares of waterfront and forest land on the southwest corner of Vancouver Island, days before it was to go on sale. The $18.8 million agreement includes more than 3.5 km shoreline along Sandcut Beach, the Jordan River surfing beach and the townsite; it also takes in land beside Sooke Potholes Regional Park and areas (such as Weeks Lake) that will add to the buffer around the Greater Victoria water supply's catchment area. The deal sees 49 of the 61 Western Forest Products land parcels going to CRD which is receiving some financial input from The Land Conservancy. Most of the area will be protected as parkland but some on the inland side of West Coast Road could be sold to help pay for the purchase. The BC government has not yet confirmed if it will make a financial contribution.
Mar.4. A low-key federal budget was announced today, aimed at achieving fiscal austerity and promising to find $17.6 billion in savings over the next 5 years (partly by a slowdown in military spending and a freeze on foreign aid funding) to achieve a balanced budget by 2015. The government says it will focus on "jobs and growth" as a reflection of what it perceives to be the consumer focus.
Mar.1. Housing sales were strong in February (580 residential properties were sold compared to 386 in February last year). The average single-family home sale price was $620,833 last month in Greater Victoria, compared to Langford at $513,839 (33 sales) and $401,948 in Sooke (where 26 sales took place). Stats from Greater Victoria Real Estate Board.
Feb.27. A tsunami advisory has been issued for all of coastal BC following today's 8.8 earthquake in Chile. The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center says a tsunami advisory means there is a possibility of strong localized currents. No significant inundation is expected, but low-lying coastal areas and beaches are at risk. The provincial emergency system says experts predict the first wave arrival time of 15:11 PST at the southern BC coastline. The District of Sooke says "persons should move out of the water, off the beach and out of the harbours and marinas from the arrival time and up to 2 hours afterwards". Info/updates will be posted on the District’s website. See: Canadian Press Story | District of Sooke bulletin
Feb.26. Today is Sooke Day at the Olympics O|Zone venue in Richmond, BC. A Mayor's Reception hosted by Janet Evans will greet invited guests as well as volunteers who have helped with the display. The interactive display reached its target of 100,000 visitors by Day 5 (of the Feb.12-28 venue action), according to Evan Parliament, Chief Admin Officer, District of Sooke. Samples of smoked salmon courtesy of E-Fish-Ent will be distributed to visitors. Eco-tourism and the visual arts have been the primary thrust of the presentation, in the District's work to put Sooke on the tourism map. Sooke-Day Story
Feb.25. The bronze medal in Women's Ice Skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics was won by Canada's Joannie Rochette tonight. She skated second to last on the 24-skater program.
March 2010 archive:
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
March 2010
Events Hotlist:
District of Sooke Sign Bylaw Committee. Tues. Mar.9 - 7 pm. Open to the public. Meeting includes discussion of illuminated lighting. At the District of Sooke municipal hall.
Volunteer Recognition Awards Ceremony. NEW DATE: Sun. March 21. Open to public input. At Sooke Community Hall. (Was previously announced for Mar.7.) Details tba. www.sooke.ca
New Notary office opening in Sooke. New Notary Public (Cheryl Vavra) is opening an office in Sooke, mid-March 2010. www.notariesinsooke.ca
ARCHIVE (Mar.2010):
Sooke school choirs perform at EMCS. Mon. March 1. 7 pm. Open to the public. At Edward Milne Community School theatre.
District of Sooke ~ Committee of the Whole. Mon. March 1. 7 pm. Municipal Hall. Everyone welcome. Agenda includes Maple Park Terrace, Secondary and Small Suites Legalization Policy, and Community Amenity Contribution Policy. Info.
Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mon. March 1. 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Open to public. Hosted by Dr. Keith Martin, MP who will also receive comments about the public pension system and supporting Canadian Forces members. At the Archie Browning Sport Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Road. Info: 250-474-6505
Developers Brown Bag Lunch. Tues. March 2. 11:30 am. Council Chambers. Hosted by the District of Sooke.
Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce ~ Executive Lunch Meeting. Tues. Mar.2. 12 noon. At Village Food Markets Upstairs meeting room. RSVP by noon Mon.Mar.1. info@sookeharbourchamber.com
Protective Services Committee. Tues. March 2. 1 pm. District of Sooke. At municipal hall.
Sooke Community Arts Council ~ Regular Monthly Meeting. Tues. Mar.2. 7:30 pm. In the Potlatch Room, Sooke Harbour House. Send agenda items to sookeart@shaw.ca .
Community Meeting to Save the Western Forest Products lands from private sale ~ Wed. Mar.3. 7:00 to 10:00 pm. In Victoria at the SJ Willis Auditorium, 923 Topaz Avenue (between Blanshard and Quadra). Speakers include Chief Gordon Planes, David Anderson, Arnie CAmpbell, Vicky Husband, Calvin Sandborn, and Guy Dauncey.
Sooke Consciousness Cafe ~ Regular Monthly Meeting. Thurs. Mar.4. 7:00 pm. At the Reading Room Cafe in the Evergreen Mall, 6660 Sooke Road. Doors open 7 pm for networking and purchasing refreshments, meeting 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Info.
Women's Wellness Show. Sat. March 6. At the Sooke Family Resource Centre. 5 to 8 pm. Celebrate International Women's Day with an evening of relaxation and wellness. Samples, presentations and displays. Sooke Family Resource Society, 2145 Townsend Rd., Sooke. $12. info: 250-642-5152.
Japanese Mini Truck & Car Show. Sun. March 7. Parking lot at Sooke Centre Mall. 8 am to 10 am. Anyone with a mini Japanese car or truck can participate! In the parking lot at Sooke Centre Mall, 6661 Sooke Road. Sponsored by Serious Coffee. Info. Photos to come.
Learn about the upcoming 12% HST. Tues. March 9 at 12 noon. Open to all businesses. A presentation by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), hosted by the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce. At the Village Food Markets upstairs lunchroom. RSVP for the $12 lunch by noon Mon. Mar.8. info@sookeharbourchamber.com | BC Government website: business info about HST | Federal HST business transition info
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
Event backgounders | Lost & Found
Health, Environment, & Art
March 2010
Awareness & being involved.
Food recall - March 9, 2009. Some food products containing salmonella-contaminated hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) have been recalled in Canada and the USA. Full list on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
Western Forest Products land for sale starting March 8, 2010. > The Juan de Fuca Community Trails Association seeks public input to show support for preserving the Western Forest Products land for public access (for recreation, parks, trails and wilderness). "It's not a matter of dollars, but political will," says Sid Jorna, president, Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society. > To contribute your support for 61 parcels of land to be utilized as public wilderness, write to sid2767@shaw.ca . > NOTE: A joint meeting of Dr Keith Martin, MP with John Horgan, MLA, CRD regional Director Mike Hicks and Chief Planes from T'Sou-ke First Nation and Chief Chipps from Beecher Bay was held in February regarding the Western Forest Products lands. They reviewed a UBC plan to use the lands as an experimental forest. More info.
Awareness Film Night - Wed. Mar.17 at 7 pm. This is the annual Awareness Film Night Gardening and Farming Gala - ~ and it's child friendly. Browse booths from local farms and gardening groups. Tea and other treats. At EMCS, 6218 Sooke Rd., Sooke. Admission by donation.
The Photography of Jack Most ~ March 1 to 31. Scenery of the west coast. On display at Little Vienna Bakery, 6726 West Coast Road, Sooke.
"Canada at 150: Rising to the Challenge" - a symposium to discuss "What Canada should be in 2017?". Being held in Montreal, Mar.26-28, 2010. Liberal Party of Canada holding this discussion, preceded by public consultations across the country.
ARCHIVE (March 2010)
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