Story and photos by Mary P. Brooke      |         Last update: Dec.5, 2009 

Click to see photos from the PARADE and SAILPAST.  Click for parade report and photos.

Sooke winters are about to get a little brighter. In the first week of December the streets of Sooke will be enlivened with the buzz of visitors, residents out shopping, and more lights. 

Set for Saturday, December 5, the Sooke Spirit Festival events and festivities -- including a parade with floats, streets lined with booths and displays, one more communal lit-up tree, plenty of decorative seasonal lights and a sailpast in the harbour -- were primarily focussed in the Sooke town centre area.

This is the Sooke Harbour Chamber of Commerce's renewed effort to draw tourism business to Sooke in the cold of winter, during the holiday season. Organizing has already begun, spearheaded by Sooke Harbour Chamber of Commerce president, Gwen Fisher. Business seems to be behind this venture all the way.

"This truly is our opportunity to take Sooke to the next level and really give the community and local businesses some great exposure," says Todd Olynyk, branch manager for the RBC Bank in Sooke back in September. "I know this is the start of some amazing things to come," he said. " I cannot wait to see what the Sooke Spirit Festival does for Sooke!"

"I agree with Todd -- this is a great step forward. I can see eventually entering Sooke in the Winter Lights Up program," said Bonnie Sprinkling, Corporate Officer, District of Sooke. The Winter Lights Up program is the winter version of Communities in Bloom, a Canada-wide organization that promotes the beautification and liveability of small and mid-size communities.

Much of the hands-on organizing was done by Gwen Fisher, president of the Sooke Harbour Chamber of Commerce and owner of Pure Elements Spa.  

See photos of parade, carollers, and sailpast.     MM