Sooke celebrating its 25th birthday this weekend, though its history goes back a lot further

The District of Sooke is marking its 25th anniversary this weekend, but its history goes back much further than that.

In 1864, gold was discovered in the waters where the Sooke River meets the Leech River. Almost overnight, an estimated 3,000 fortune-seekers poured into the area, which was soon given the name Leech Town. At the time, it had a greater population than Victoria.

Within two years, that gold had dried-up and Leech Town was largely abandoned. Some would stick around the area, however, turning to industries such as farming, logging and fishing. That was the early beginnings of what would one day be called the District of Sooke.

“The town went through various incorporation votes and eventually incorporated in 1999,” said Maja Tait, the district’s mayor.

In December, Sooke turned 25 years old. It now has a population of roughly 16,000.

“I would say that we are growing substantially and continuing to grow; we have more than doubled in the time that we’ve been incorporated,” said Tait.

There have been some growing pains along the way. Transportation is a challenge, with only one way in and out of the community along Highway 14. Three of the municipality’s elementary schools are located on the highway, creating concerns for the safety of students.

Many residents commute into the core of the capital region daily for work and appointments. Traffic delays are common, with backups during peak travel times stretching for kilometres. The mayor says the solution to those traffic woes needs to come from the province.

In March 2023, the district approved the use of a parcel of land behind its library for the creation of a new urgent and primary health-care centre. Once built, it will provide a level of health care to the community that currently doesn’t exist, while also taking pressure off of Highway 14 by keeping residents in the community for medical appointments.

“However, that proposal remains under review by the province,” said Tait.

Sooke’s motto is “Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea.” The district’s beauty is undeniable, making it an extremely attractive place to call home. The municipality has attracted a lot of first-time homebuyers as the cost of housing remains more affordable than surrounding municipalities on the South Island.

“Here in Sooke, we have a lot of volunteer organizations that do amazing events,” said the mayor. “It’s a wonderful place just to be.”

Sooke’s sense of community can’t be overlooked, with many different community-organized events happening throughout the year.

Looking forward, Sooke is planning for future growth and attempting to cash in on its strong summer tourism industry.

“We’ve made an application for a hotel tax to be implemented,” said the mayor.

The municipality is also looking to increase its commercial retail space, which would not only allow for more residents to shop locally, but also increase the municipal tax base.

On Saturday, Sooke will be holding a belated birthday party for itself at Woodside Farm. It’s only 25 years old, officially, but it has come along way since gold was first discovered in the Leech River more than 160 years ago.