Greater Victoria - Sooke2057563

The District of Accommodations Sooke may 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 population of 11,000 is increasing slowly but steadily.

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

Fishing and logging include the industries that built Sooke, and continue, though over a reduced scale, to contribute to the area 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 visible on Vancouver Island - the Sooke Fine Arts Show each summer.

Many residents of Accommodations Sooke commute to Victoria but have chosen to reside Sooke to flee the busyness of the city, plus as a result of lower property values, you get a lots of value for your money here! There's a wide variety of housing obtainable in Sooke, from condominiums, townhomes and suburban single family residences in and close to the village, to country residential, hobby farms, and estate properties out of town. Over the Sooke basin there are some 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 supplied 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 strategy is under expansion. Rural properties may still depend on wells and septic tanks and fields. Sooke has its own recreational facility, SEAPARC Leisure Complex, which has a pool area and skating rink.