Greater Victoria - Sooke639319

The District of Accommodations Sooke could be the westernmost of Greater Victoria's western communities. Only recently incorporated (1999), Sooke can be a largely rural municipality using a developing residential core. The people of 11,000 is growing 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 inside the forests was an excellent site and the people living here thrived. Europeans arrived in the mid 1800's, and one of the first to achieve Sooke was Captain Walter Colqohoun Grant of the Royal Scots Greys, who apparently brought seeds from Scotland of his cherished Scottish Broom, that is now an extremely maligned invasive species overtaking native habitat from Alaska to California.

Fishing and logging are the industries that built Sooke, and continue, though over a reduced scale, to contribute to the neighborhood economy. Tourism is now one of the biggest employers, both adventure related and cultural. There is a vibrant arts community here, and Sooke hosts the premiere juried art show on Vancouver Island - the Sooke Fine Arts Show each summer.

Many residents of Accommodations Sooke commute to Victoria but chose to reside Sooke to escape the eventfulness with the city, plus because of the lower property values, you get a lots of value for your money here! There is a wide array of housing accessible in Sooke, from condominiums, townhomes and suburban single family residences in and near 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 provided by the RCMP and there is a volunteer based fire department. Municipal water can be acquired to residences near the town core as well as the sewer method is under expansion. Rural properties can always depend on wells and septic tanks and fields. Sooke possesses its own recreational facility, SEAPARC Leisure Complex, which has a pool and ice rink.