2026 Sooke Gathering Place Plebiscite: Results and Next Steps.

The official results, declared on October 21, 2026, were:

A majority of those who voted on the question supported the District considering potential borrowing of up to $5 million for the proposed Sooke Gathering Place.

The result is non-binding. It does not authorize borrowing, approve construction, establish a project budget or commit District-owned land to the project.

View the official 2026 election results.

Following the majority YES result, staff have been directed to report back to Council with additional information before any borrowing or project commitments are considered.

As directed by Council on July 13, 2026, the report will address:

• Feasibility and business planning: What would be required to develop and sustain the proposed facility.
• Capital and operating impacts: Potential construction, maintenance, operational and long-term financial considerations.
• Partnerships and governance: Potential partners, agencies, governance arrangements and project delivery models.
• Site and tenure considerations: Land use, potential ownership or lease arrangements and compatibility with other uses of the proposed property.
• Statutory approvals: Any additional legislative requirements or public approval processes that may be needed before borrowing or project commitments could proceed.

Council also directed staff to work with the Sooke Region Communities Health Network and related community health partners as part of this process.

The 2026–2030 Council will consider the information presented and determine whether, and how, the proposal may advance.

A date for this matter to return to Council has not yet been confirmed. Once scheduled, the staff report and any proposed next steps will be included in a public Council meeting agenda, available through the District's website.

No borrowing or construction has been approved through the plebiscite. Any future proposal would require separate Council consideration and applicable approvals.

View the July 13, 2026 Council meeting minutes (PDF).

The following non-binding opinion question appeared on the October 17, 2026 election ballot:

In your opinion, should the District of Sooke consider borrowing up to a maximum of $5 million to support the construction and initial operational start-up of the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre to be located on District-owned property at 6671 Wadams Way?

Voters could select YES or NO.

A YES response indicated support for the District considering the proposed borrowing. A NO response indicated opposition to the District considering that borrowing.

Neither response would, on its own, authorize or prevent a future project from proceeding. Further decisions remain the responsibility of Council.

The Sooke Gathering Place is a proposed community facility that would provide dedicated space for seniors while also supporting intergenerational programs and activities involving youth, families and other community members.

Potential uses could include social, cultural and recreational activities; community meetings; learning and mentorship; wellness and community-support programs; and shared indoor and outdoor gathering spaces.

An intergenerational approach recognizes that residents at different stages of life may have different needs while also benefiting from opportunities to connect, share experiences and participate in community life.

The concept has been explored through community-led planning and previous Council discussions. A final facility design, program, operating model and total project budget have not been approved.

The Sooke Gathering Place is a concept for a community facility that would provide dedicated space for seniors while also supporting intergenerational programs and activities involving youth, families and other community members.

Potential uses could include social, cultural and recreational activities; community meetings; learning and mentorship; wellness and community-support programs; and shared indoor and outdoor gathering spaces.

A final facility design, program, operating model and project budget have not been determined.

“Intergenerational” means creating spaces and opportunities that can be used by people at different stages of life.

The concept recognizes that seniors, youth, children, families and other residents may have different needs while also benefiting from shared spaces, programs and community connections.

An intergenerational approach could include activities specifically intended for one group as well as programming that brings different generations together. The intent is to support community connection while making efficient use of shared spaces.

Developing the proposed Sooke Gathering Place could require a significant municipal financial contribution, along with ongoing costs and potential long-term operating commitments.

Before advancing more detailed project, financial and partnership planning, Council sought to understand whether voters supported the District considering borrowing funds toward the proposed facility.

Rather than asking only whether residents supported the concept of a community gathering place, the non-binding question identified a maximum potential borrowing amount of $5 million. This provided a more tangible basis for public feedback by identifying the potential scale of municipal investment being considered.

The results provide Council with an indication of community opinion to consider alongside project feasibility, financial implications, potential partnerships and other municipal priorities.

The plebiscite did not authorize borrowing or commit the District to proceeding with the project.

No. The October 17, 2026 plebiscite was a non-binding opinion question intended to help inform Council's future consideration of the proposed Sooke Gathering Place.

While a majority of participating voters selected YES, the result does not legally authorize borrowing, approve construction, commit District-owned land to the project or require Council to proceed.

Any future borrowing or project commitments would require further information, separate Council consideration and applicable statutory approvals.

No.

The plebiscite asked whether the District should consider borrowing up to a maximum of $5 million.

The result does not authorize borrowing or commit Council to proceeding with the project.

Any future borrowing proposal would require further Council consideration, updated financial information and applicable statutory approvals.

“Support the construction” means that the potential borrowing would represent a District contribution toward the project. It does not mean that $5 million has been established as the total project cost, that this amount would be sufficient to construct the facility, or that the District would fund the entire project.

The total project cost, funding sources and financial responsibilities of any potential partners have not been determined.

The question is intended to determine whether voters support the District considering borrowing up to a maximum of $5 million as part of a broader funding approach. Any borrowing would require further information, separate Council decisions and the applicable statutory approval process.

No.

The $5 million amount represented a potential maximum District borrowing contribution for the purposes of the opinion question. It was not an approved expenditure or an estimate of the total project cost.

A future project could involve other funding sources, including grants, fundraising or contributions from community partners.

The total project budget, funding sources and financial responsibilities of any potential partners have not been determined.

Borrowing would create annual debt-servicing costs that would need to be incorporated into the District's financial plan.

Before the October 2026 election, the District provided illustrative estimates to help voters understand the potential financial implications of borrowing between $2 million and $5 million over 20 years, using an assumed interest rate of 4%.

The following table preserves those pre-election estimates for reference.

Under the maximum borrowing illustration of $5 million, the estimated annual debt-servicing cost was approximately $367,909. This was equivalent to an estimated 2.55% increase in municipal property taxes, or approximately $4.25 per month ($51.03 annually) for an average residential property.

These are historical estimates prepared for the 2026 plebiscite, not an approved tax increase or current borrowing plan.

The estimates reflect debt servicing only. They do not include potential facility operations, maintenance, renewal or other lifecycle costs, which have not been determined.

Actual financial implications would depend on several factors, including the amount and timing of any future borrowing, interest rates, repayment terms, grants or partner contributions, changes to the municipal tax base and other Council financial decisions.

The estimated percentage increases refer to the municipal portion of property taxes, not the total property-tax bill, which also includes amounts collected for other taxing authorities. Impacts on individual properties would vary based on assessed value and property classification.

If a borrowing proposal advances, updated financial information would be prepared and presented publicly before Council considers borrowing or seeks any required statutory approval.

This refers broadly to early costs that may be required to prepare a facility to open and begin operating.

The specific costs, activities, time period and funding responsibilities included in operational start-up have not been determined. The question does not approve an ongoing municipal operating contribution.

These matters would form part of future feasibility and business planning before any project or operating commitment is considered.

This has not been determined.

The proposed facility's ownership, governance, maintenance, programming and operating responsibilities would need to be examined through further feasibility and business planning.

Potential arrangements could involve the District, community organizations or other partners, depending on the project model considered.

The plebiscite did not approve an ongoing municipal operating contribution.

The plebiscite identified District-owned property at 6671 Wadams Way, also known as Lot A, as the proposed location for the Sooke Gathering Place, next to the Sooke Library.

The vote itself did not authorize construction, approve a final site plan or establish a building footprint, ownership arrangement or lease.

Separately, on July 13, 2026, Council directed that the remaining land on Lot A be held in reserve for a public plaza and the Sooke Gathering Place, with associated parking, for a period of no longer than five years.

This Council direction is distinct from the plebiscite result. While it provides direction regarding the potential use of the land, it does not authorize construction, borrowing or a final development arrangement.

Further planning and Council consideration would be required to determine how a future facility could be accommodated on the property, including its location, access, relationship to other potential uses and any necessary agreements or approvals.

Yes.

The Sooke Gathering Place has been explored through community-led planning involving the Sooke Region Communities Health Network.

Council has directed staff to work with the Network and related community health partners when preparing further information.

Council also previously directed staff to negotiate with Catalyst Community Developments Society with the aim of potentially including the Sooke Gathering Place within a proposed development at 6651 Wadams Way.

Any potential partnership or delivery arrangement would require further consideration of project costs, available space, funding, ownership or lease arrangements, operating responsibilities and applicable approvals.

The plebiscite did not approve a particular partnership or project delivery model.

Yes.

During the November 15, 2014 General Local Election, Sooke voters were asked a separate, non-binding question about developing local multi-use community centre facilities serving seniors and youth.

Approximately 82.9% of those who voted on the question expressed support for the concept.

The 2014 vote did not approve the current Sooke Gathering Place proposal, the Wadams Way location or any municipal borrowing.

The 2026 plebiscite asked a more specific question about whether the District should consider borrowing up to a maximum of $5 million toward construction and initial operational start-up of the proposed intergenerational centre.