Canada Post in Sooke: a brief history
Exclusive to MapleLine Magazine: Feb.3, 2010
Office supplies at the MapleLine Business Centre >>
by Elida Peers and Debbie Clarkston
The first post office in Sooke was established by Michael Muir in 1872 at Woodside (in the 7100 block of West Coast Road). Mail for area residents arrived at the Sooke post office by horseback twice a week.
In 1909 the post office moved to the Throup
Store located at Otter Point Road and West Coast Road.
In 1927 the post office service relocated to the Polyanna Store near
Anna Marie Road, on the other side of town; it was run by Betty Brownsey. In 1958 it moved across
the street to 6631 Sooke Road (the building now occupied by Royal LePage) and in 1982 it was relocated to the
current location at 6736 West Coast Road.
Milnes Landing (just east of the Sooke River bridge) had a post office
in three different locations from 1895 to the early 1970's.
As of 2009, the Sooke Post Office delivers to over 6,700 households and
businesses from East Sooke to Jordan River. There are 13 staff including
seven Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers.
On January 8, 2010, Canada Post released the Year of the Tiger stamp, the second in the 12-year “Lunar New Year” series celebrating Chinese astrology. There are collectible stamps, souvenir sheets, first day covers, and postcards. Canada Post issues a Details stamp magazine which presents all of Canada Post's new products and collectables.
The Canada Post office maintains an attractive 'portable' garden outside its front door during spring through fall. In 2009 some attractive new drought-resistant and deer-tolerant landscaping was done at the roadside entrance, adding to the visual ambience on West Coast Road. The parking lot recently underwent some repaving in 2010.
| Years | Sooke Postmasters |
| 1958-1963 | Fred Brownsey |
| 1963-1976 | Don Morrison |
| 1976-1989 | Gerry Wray |
| 1991-1995 | John Wood |
| 1996-1998 | Kris Tailby |
| 1998-present | Debbie Clarkston |
Elida Peers is the Sooke historian at the Sooke Region Museum and Debbie Clarkston is the postmaster at Canada Post in Sooke.
MM
MapleLine Business Centre - Fax, scan and copy while you wait. Meeting space for small groups and business seminars. 6707 West Coast Road (across from Peoples Drug Mart), Sooke, BC. Phone: 250-642-7729 or toll-free 1-877-595-6925. info@maplelinebusinesscentre.com
This article is Copyright 2010 Brookeline Publishing House Inc. and MapleLine Magazine
"It's in the mail... " was published on page 33 in the print edition of MapleLine Magazine (Winter-Spring 2010 issue / Feb-Apr.2010).