Greater Victoria - Sooke3970759

The District of Accommodations Sooke will be the westernmost of Greater Victoria's western communities. Only recently incorporated (1999), Sooke is really a largely rural municipality with a developing residential core. The people of 11,000 is growing slowly but steadily.

The historical home in the T'sou-ke people, this sheltered harbour containing a salmon bearing river, rich clam beds, and abundant berries and game in the forests was an excellent site as well as the people living here thrived. Europeans arrived at the mid 1800's, then one in the first to arrive at Sooke was Captain Walter Colqohoun Grant from the Royal Scots Greys, who apparently brought seeds from Scotland of his cherished Scottish Broom, which can be now a much maligned invasive species overtaking native habitat from Alaska to California.

Fishing and logging would be the industries that built Sooke, and continue, though on a reduced scale, to give rise to a nearby economy. Tourism is one of the greatest employers, both adventure related and cultural. There exists a vibrant arts community here, and Sooke hosts the premiere juried art display on Vancouver Island - the Sooke Fine Arts Show each summer.

Many residents of Accommodations Sooke commute to Victoria but have selected to reside Sooke to leave the hustle and bustle with the city, plus due to the lower property values, you recruit a lots of deal here! There is a wide variety of housing available in Sooke, from condominiums, townhomes and suburban single family residences in and close to the village, to country residential, hobby farms, and estate properties on vacation. Along the Sooke basin there are a few amazing waterfront and waterview properties. Neighborhoods of Sooke include:

· North Sooke;

· Saseenos;

· Milne's Landing;

· Sunriver Estates;

· Sooke Town Centre or "UpSooke";

· Broom Hill;

· Whiffin Spit;

· Otter Point, and

· Kemp Lake

Policing in Sooke is given through the RCMP and there is a volunteer based fire department. Municipal water can be obtained to residences near the town core as well as the sewer product is under expansion. Rural properties might still depend upon wells and septic tanks and fields. Sooke possesses his own recreational facility, SEAPARC Leisure Complex, having a pool and ice rink.