Sooke

Sooke is among the municipalities located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Roughly a 40-45 minute drive from Victoria or 28 miles or 45 km, Sooke is considered to be the westernmost community of the Greater Victoria region's "Western Communities." The city of Sooke is located to the west and the north of the Sooke Basin. It is accessed by a scenic drive along West Coast Highway 14.

There is a thriving and vibrant arts community in the city of Sooke. Hundreds of visitors flock to the annual Sooke Fine Arts Festival, which celebrated its 23rd year in 2009. Famous for its plethora of sculptors, writers, fabric artists, painters, crafters, jewelery artisans and a lot more, the Sooke Harbour House art gallery is a terrific display opportunity utilized by many of the local artists. The Community Arts Council within Sooke plays a great role in fostering art within the area.

Over the past centuries, the area of Sooke was home to a thriving Coast Salish native establishment. They were referred to as the T'sou-ke people, and lived among a sheltered harbour alongside a salmon river. This location was abundant with seafood, roots, game and berries and it was easy to enjoy the abundances that can be harvested from the ocean or the forests.

The name T'sou-ke is said to come from that of a stickle-back fish that is found at the mouth of the Sooke River. The T'sou-ke First Nation created a valuable and lasting legacy that continues to enrich the community today.

The city of Sooke has amongst the mildest climates amongst western Canadian communities. The winter months are mild and wet, while the summer months are warm and dry, making it a great place to visit. The city of Sooke has numerous unspoiled beaches, meandering rainforest trails and wonderful vistas of the Olympic Mountains located in Washington. The rugged West Coast draws people from all-over the globe each year.

The big Vancouver Island has a varied shoreline which differs depending upon the particular place. The south side for example, has a convoluted coastline, while the southwestern side to the west of Sooke has a razor-edged shore. There are a very few number of protuberances within this location. This particular area even contains a phantom point called Point No Point due to the fact that it could only be seen from some angles but not others. The shoreline slowly drifts east from Point No Point until it reaches Juan de Fuca Point. This is a bold point that makes a much more definite impression.

The region surrounding the city of Sooke has long been a tourist destination, offering locations like for instance the Sooke Potholes Regional Park and its neighbour the Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. Whiffin Spit Park is another famous destination that attracts visitors from around the globe along with local residents. The Sooke Region Museum and Visitor centre is a fantastic place to get history on the region and information on the local attractions. Sooke provides a great base for people who would like to visit the following wilderness parks on the southwest of Vancouver Island. The Juan de Fuca Provincial park, the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail and the West Coast Trail are all excellent and memorable places to explore.