The District of Sooke celebrated its 25th anniversary of incorporation on Saturday, June 7, with a vibrant community celebration held at the historic Woodside Farm.
Residents, including families with young children and long-time Sooke residents, gathered at the picturesque farm, the oldest in Western Canada, to mark the milestone.
Valerie Braunschweig, a Sooke resident since 2008, attended the celebration with a deep connection to the farm's history dating back to 1851.
"It’s hard to believe 25 years have come and gone," she exclaimed, highlighting the significance of the anniversary.
Braunschweig's great-grandfather, Adam Ross, married Marion Muir, the daughter of Michael Muir, one of the three sons of John and Ann Muir, the founders of the farm.
She expressed her gratitude to the current owners of Woodside Farm for their dedication to preserving and restoring the 34-acre property, including one of the original houses.
"Now it's part of the community," she said, emphasizing the importance of sharing Sooke's heritage with both residents and visitors.
Mayor Maja Tait echoed Braunschweig's sentiments, praising the "unsung heroes" in the town who consistently "pay it forward to the community," citing the current owners of Woodside Farm as a prime example.
She emphasized the spirit of generosity and dedication that defines the town, regardless of how long residents have called Sooke home.
"Whether they're new arrivals or they've been here for generations, they are people who rise to the occasion," Tait said. "The community of Sooke is friendly, kind and compassionate."
What's new, what's changed
Reflecting on her time as mayor since 2014, Tait discussed the changes and continuities that have shaped Sooke over the past two and a half decades.
"What's new is a focus on livability – advocating for healthcare, for schools, for recreational amenities," she explained.
The development of the Stickleback Urban Trail, an accessible trail system that connects residents, was also cited by Tait as a major success, particularly with its popularity among elementary school students participating in walking school bus programs.
"There's been some improvements, but it's still largely the same highway, although there's a few more traffic lights," she said, referencing the persistent traffic concerns.
She also noted the ambulance service has remained unchanged, and that the district has been impacted by provincial cost downloads, such as payments for E-comm and 911 service charges, and rising RCMP costs.
Celebrating with the community
The community day at Woodside Farm offered a variety of activities for all ages.
Families enjoyed sunny garden strolls through strawberry patches, hayrides through the fields and hands-on encounters with farm animals. Children's delighted shrieks filled the air as they explored the pirate ship play zone.
Various booths lined up a section of the farm near the entrance, offering information and resources to homeowners. Tented areas hosted presentations from experts on topics ranging from ecology and carbon-wise living to retrofitting and strata upgrades.
Interactive displays encouraged residents to share their thoughts on what makes Sooke feel like home.
What makes Sooke feel like home
Colin Rutherford, born and raised in Sooke, emphasized the district's unique natural beauty and the proximity of the ocean to the forests and their home.
"We're within 15 minutes of the beach and the forests; this is a great place to raise our kids," he said.
His wife, May Cheung, praised the many local charity and organization groups that contribute to the community's vibrant atmosphere.
"They always host an event on the weekends – it’s a small community, but almost everyone knows each other and you always run into someone doing good things for the community, so we love it here," she said.
Together, Rutherford and Cheung affirmed, "This is our home," while enjoying complimentary cupcakes distributed during the celebration.
Beneath the shade of a large tree canopy, residents relaxed and enjoyed the festive atmosphere.
A timeline of Sooke's 25th anniversary as a district was displayed throughout the farm, showcasing the district's accomplishments over the past quarter-century.
Dana Lajeunesse, MLA for Juan de Fuca - Malahat and parliamentary secretary for accessibility, highlighted the benefits of Sooke's incorporation as a municipality.
"As an incorporated municipality, you have more control over your infrastructure. For example, the first one of the first decisions that council made 25 years ago was that we needed to put in a sewer system because all of the existing houses at the time were on septic," Lajeunesse shared.
"That has negative effects on the harbour and basin in terms of shellfish harvesting, so now we have a sewer system."
Looking ahead to the next 25 years, Lajeunesse emphasized the importance of continued growth while preserving the district's natural environment.
"What I would like to see is that we preserve the natural environment as much as possible because, as you can see, it's a beautiful place and the community spirit that's here is one that was formed years ago, in 1936, since the first All Sooke Day," he said.
