Sooke

The District of Sooke’s police budget is $2,443,607 but only covers the regular operations of the RCMP. Major crimes, such as murders, terrorism and cocaine trafficking, are handled differently, say officials. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Why catching a killer could mean a big tax hike for one Vancouver Island community

Hefty bill for homicide investigation could lead to tax hike, warns Sooke Mayor Maja Tait

The District of Sooke’s police budget is $2,443,607 but only covers the regular operations of the RCMP. Major crimes, such as murders, terrorism and cocaine trafficking, are handled differently, say officials. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
A treehouse-style home in East Sooke has been selected as the top new host in Canada by Airbnb.

Vancouver Island treetop retreat tops Airbnb list of Canada’s best new hosts

East Sooke treehouse vacation property earns accolades for a desirable destination

A treehouse-style home in East Sooke has been selected as the top new host in Canada by Airbnb.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating a homicide that occurred over the weekend in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Police have ‘person of interest’ in Sooke murder probe

Parties involved known to each other, police say

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating a homicide that occurred over the weekend in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Sooke RCMP ask anyone with information about a youth stabbed April 14 to call them. (Black Press Media file photo)

Witnesses give first aid to youth significantly hurt in Vancouver Island trail stabbing

Sooke RCMP take second youth into custody, say no further risk to the public

Sooke RCMP ask anyone with information about a youth stabbed April 14 to call them. (Black Press Media file photo)
Troy Dignam’s locally-sourced meal prior to cooking. (Contributed - Troy Dignam)

Vancouver Island farmer makes meal almost entirely from local sources

All but a few minor ingredients were produced in Sooke

Troy Dignam’s locally-sourced meal prior to cooking. (Contributed - Troy Dignam)
A cougar pounced on a dog on a Mount Manuel Quimper trail on April 4. (Black Press Media file photo)

Another dog attacked by a cougar, this time near Sooke on Monday

Incident continues a string of daytime attacks by large cats on large dogs

A cougar pounced on a dog on a Mount Manuel Quimper trail on April 4. (Black Press Media file photo)
Crews responded to a fire in East Sooke Wednesday morning, around 7:30 a.m. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

One person dead after workshop fire on south Vancouver Island

Crews responded to the fire in East Sooke early Wednesday morning

Crews responded to a fire in East Sooke Wednesday morning, around 7:30 a.m. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Sooke resident Dave Dyer sold his pickup truck and bought an e-bike at the beginning of 2022. He doesn’t expect to switch back. (Bailey Moreton - News Staff)

Record-high gas prices drive Vancouver Island commuters toward e-bikes

Resident who rides to CFB Esquimalt daily expects to pay his off in 2 years

Sooke resident Dave Dyer sold his pickup truck and bought an e-bike at the beginning of 2022. He doesn’t expect to switch back. (Bailey Moreton - News Staff)
Lindenthaler and Brown wanted to start a business together for a while, when Brown noticed a potential gap in the market for topographical maps. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Vancouver Island couple carving wooden maps of anywhere in the world

The process combines computer science and woodworking to make custom maps

Lindenthaler and Brown wanted to start a business together for a while, when Brown noticed a potential gap in the market for topographical maps. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
The Sooke Fine Art Show in 2020. The last in-person show in 2019 attracted more than 9,000 people, while online shows in the last two years saw more than 10,000 tune-in. (Courtesy Sooke Fine Art Show)

Island artists urged to apply for a place in the return of Sooke Fine Arts Show

Applications will be judged for a place in July art show

The Sooke Fine Art Show in 2020. The last in-person show in 2019 attracted more than 9,000 people, while online shows in the last two years saw more than 10,000 tune-in. (Courtesy Sooke Fine Art Show)
Librarian Sharon Walker greets passing motorists Thursday while on picket duty outside the Sidney-North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library, which is closed for a third straight day. Negotiations held Wednesday failed to produce an agreement between BCGEU representing librarians and VIRL. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island Regional Library strike to ramp up after talks fail to produce deal

Sidney/North Saanich branch closed again; Sooke, four other branches shut Thursday

Librarian Sharon Walker greets passing motorists Thursday while on picket duty outside the Sidney-North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library, which is closed for a third straight day. Negotiations held Wednesday failed to produce an agreement between BCGEU representing librarians and VIRL. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The new Sooke branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library was set to have a grand opening celebration this Saturday (March 26), but strike actions by librarians around the system have postponed the event. (Facebook/VI Regional Library Sooke)

Grand opening of new Sooke library postponed as rotating strikes impact VIRL system

Unionized librarians demanding higher wages, better working conditions

The new Sooke branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library was set to have a grand opening celebration this Saturday (March 26), but strike actions by librarians around the system have postponed the event. (Facebook/VI Regional Library Sooke)
The last remaining payphone in Sooke is in its last days. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Changing times hanging up Sooke’s last payphone

Communities last payphone being unplugged next month as dying service fades on Vancouver Island

The last remaining payphone in Sooke is in its last days. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
The incident in East Sooke was the third was the third wolf attack in the Sooke area since Jan. 8. (Black Press Media file photo)

Wolf attack claims third dog in as many months in Sooke area

Latest incident occurred in East Sooke, not far from a cougar confrontation with pet

The incident in East Sooke was the third was the third wolf attack in the Sooke area since Jan. 8. (Black Press Media file photo)
Firefighters respond to a house fire on Church Road on Wednesday afternoon. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

6 people flee Vancouver Island house fire

Residents heard a loud bang, saw smoke, firefighters say propane bottle exploded

Firefighters respond to a house fire on Church Road on Wednesday afternoon. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Conservation officer says the Feb. 1 attack on an off-leash dog is likely the Sooke area’s second involving a wolf in recent weeks. (Black Press Media file photo)

Dog dies in 2nd south Island wolf attack on a pet in less than a month

Conservation officer says wolves pose no direct risk to humans after Sooke incident

Conservation officer says the Feb. 1 attack on an off-leash dog is likely the Sooke area’s second involving a wolf in recent weeks. (Black Press Media file photo)
The dromedary jumping-slug has a multi-coloured hump concealing a partial shell. The slug is red-listed provincially and listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)

Scientist leaping to the defence of Vancouver Island’s dwindling jumping slug

Mapping project tracks this important indicator of the health of B.C. rainforest

The dromedary jumping-slug has a multi-coloured hump concealing a partial shell. The slug is red-listed provincially and listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)
Travis Dezall, owner of Reel Life Charters in Sooke, shows off a pair of recent catches. Dezall said it is not surprising Vancouver Island was recently named a top fishing destination by fishingbooker.com. (Photo Courtesy of Travis Dezall)

Vancouver Island named to top fishing destinations list

Fishbooker.com named the region one of Canada’s best, with special a call-out to the Sooke region

Travis Dezall, owner of Reel Life Charters in Sooke, shows off a pair of recent catches. Dezall said it is not surprising Vancouver Island was recently named a top fishing destination by fishingbooker.com. (Photo Courtesy of Travis Dezall)
Conservation officer Peter Pauwels said coastal wolf attacks on dogs are rare near Greater Victoria. (File photo courtesy of Ian McAllister/Pacific Wild)

Hiker rescues dog from jaws of a wolf in attack on southern Vancouver Island

The hiker was walking with their dog on a trail on Broom Hill

Conservation officer Peter Pauwels said coastal wolf attacks on dogs are rare near Greater Victoria. (File photo courtesy of Ian McAllister/Pacific Wild)
View Royal Mayor David Screech finds himself annually explaining to residents that property taxes don’t increase or decrease to the same degree as property assessments. With assessments jumping 25 to 30 per cent in his municipality alone, he felt the need to post an explanation on social media. (Black Press Media file photo)

Assessments vs. taxation: why soaring Island assessments may not mean soaring taxes

Average increase, municipal budget shape tax increases more than individual assessment hike

View Royal Mayor David Screech finds himself annually explaining to residents that property taxes don’t increase or decrease to the same degree as property assessments. With assessments jumping 25 to 30 per cent in his municipality alone, he felt the need to post an explanation on social media. (Black Press Media file photo)