News and Public Notices

District of Sooke hosts May 2 Wildfire Preparedness Day at John Phillips Memorial Park, in collaboration with Friends of Sooke Parks Society and Emergency Support Services. The event combines invasive plant removal with free May yard waste disposal, promoting action, safety, and FireSmart awareness.

BC Transit to offer free transit on April 22 (Earth Day) across several systems province-wide, including the Victoria Regional Transit System serving Sooke, supporting sustainable travel and broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the day. 

Single lane alternating traffic on Otter Point Road near 2193 on April 22, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for pole replacement work. Expect delays.

Sooke launches free May yard waste disposal days to reduce wildfire risk, alongside Community Wildfire Resilience Day, encouraging residents to remove debris, manage invasive species, and adopt FireSmart practices.

Sooke’s Earth Day returns April 22 with goats, interactive environmental stations, and 300 students expected, showcasing community collaboration, hands-on learning, and local stewardship through volunteers, partners, and civic engagement initiatives.

Council adopted Sooke’s 2026–2030 Financial Plan, prioritizing investments in safety and infrastructure, with a $17.54 monthly residential increase (based on the average assessed property), alongside a strong focus on system efficiencies, process improvements, strategic staffing, and diversified funding to reduce reliance on property taxes.

Thank you to residents who participated in Budget 2026 through both early consultation and the April 8th Open House. The proposed plan includes a $17.54 monthly increase (approximate) for the average single-family property, adds police and fire personnel, maintains asset funding, and will be considered for adoption April 13, 2026.

The 2026 Sooke Secret Garden & Artisans Tour returns June 6–7, opening ten private gardens across Sooke and East Sooke. Visitors can enjoy beautiful landscapes, local artisans, and live music while supporting the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.

Updated: On April 5, 2026, Sooke Fire Rescue crews responded to a structure fire in the Rhodonite Drive area at approximately 5:00 a.m. Crews conducted a coordinated response to suppress and extinguish the fire. During suppression and search efforts, two occupants were located. One individual succumbed to their injuries at the scene, and another was transported to hospital. The cause remains under investigation.

The District of Sooke invites residents to a drop-in Budget Open House on April 8, 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Municipal Hall (Council Chamber) to learn about the proposed 2026 budget, service impacts, and how community feedback has helped shape priorities and financial decisions.