Sooke is a small town on the far west side of Vancouver Island (off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada).

Brookeline Publishing House Inc. relocated to Sooke (from Victoria, BC) in 2007. The peaceful quiet of forests by the sea provides an ideal setting for writing and creativity.  

The current population of Sooke is about 12,000 but growing rapidly. Many new housing developments -- large and small -- are being built (including SunRiver Estates and Maple Lane). The municipality has been surveying local residents and businesses to learn what sort of expansion might work best. We've yet to see a movie theatre, any clothing retail stores, or a Tim Horton's arrive at our shores, and most of the major banks have yet to make a footprint. While housing affordability is a big draw to the Sooke area, the price gap is closing; the current * average single-family house price in Sooke is $460,252 (compared to $597,176 for Greater Victoria).   * = prices for Mar.2008

Sooke is part of the Capital Regional District (CRD) and Greater Victoria.  It's a 45-minute drive to downtown Victoria from Sooke, primarily along a winding road through the Sooke Hills, then through the bustling commercial area of Langford before getting to Hwy 1 which leads southeast into Victoria.  (An alternate route takes you through Colwood.)

The Sooke school district is SD62. The Sooke municipal hall is on Otter Point Road.  Victoria General Hospital is the closest hospital, located off Hwy 1 at Helmcken Road (a 35-minute drive from Sooke).

The BC Transit bus #61 comes from downtown Victoria out to Sooke town center (with several stops along the way), with a Park and Ride service just outside Sooke town center. There is talk of bringing light rail transit at least as far as Langford (maybe to Sooke someday)?

Fishing, boating and hiking are among the local tourist attractions and recreational activities. The SEAPARC Leisure Complex (recreational and sports centre) is at 2168 Philips Road (near the Sooke Region Museum).

Brookeline Publishing House Inc. is a member of the Sooke Harbour Chamber of Commerce.  Mary Brooke (of Brookeline) and Donald Mills (author of Giant Cedars, White Sands) are members of Tourism Victoria through their Sooke-based venture Maple Marine Charters.

Welcome Wagon in Sooke

Call Judy at the Welcome Wagon office in Sooke, BC at 250-642-2268. She is serving the East Sooke and Sooke to Port Renfrew region.

If you've recently moved to Sooke or you're a recent new mom, you will receive complimentary gifts from local merchants and a wide range of information about local services. 

Judy has won the "2007 Western Canada Representative of the Year 8,000-15,000 Population" award.

Brookeline Publishing House Inc. is a sponsor with Welcome Wagon in Sooke.
 
 

Photos of Sooke

STOCK PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

If you require ready photos of the Sooke area, please email to design@brookeline.com to find out what we have in stock.

Or request a particular sort of image (we'll dash out and snap some shots for you, and send them by email).  Rate:  $45/hour.

Sample shots on file:  ($15 each, copyright free with credit to photographer & Brookeline, approx. 1MB jpeg format)

new Ed Macgregor boardwalk at the Sooke Harbour
Whiffen Spit natural walkway on the Sooke Harbour
forests and seashore
Sooke Hills
town center
logger on a pole (sculpture/attraction)
boats
salmon fishing
wildlife
rural back roads  
schools

Articles about Sooke

Journalism services available.

If you require coverage of a local Sooke news story please contact Mary Brooke at words@brookeline.com for availability and rates.