Sooke 2030 Climate Action Plan: Implementation

Are you a yarn enthusiast, always on the lookout for vibrant new colours to ignite your knitting passion? Do you find yourself hesitating due to the budget constraints of your beloved yarn projects? Perhaps you have that one textured yarn waiting for the perfect crochet idea to come along.

Look no further! Join Zero Waste Sooke for a delightful YARN SWAP event at the Sooke Library, where creativity and community collide.

Date: Sunday, January 28, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Sooke Library

In collaboration with Zero Waste Sooke and the District of Sooke, the Yarn Swap is not just a chance to share your yarn treasures but also an opportunity to explore and discover a whole new world of knitting possibilities.

What to Expect:

• Bring in your donations of good condition yarn, knitting and crochet patterns, or tools.
• Help your beloved yarn, patterns, and tools find a new home where they’ll be cherished.
• Take home a variety of new-to-you supplies for free. You don’t need to donate to indulge in this yarny paradise.

Whether you’re looking to clear out your stash, find new inspiration, or simply connect with fellow yarn enthusiasts, the YARN SWAP is the place to be!

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to knit, crochet, and macramé your way to a more sustainable and creative community. Join the fun!

A Magical Journey at the Pop-Up Storywalk in John Phillips Memorial Park awaits!

• Date: January 26, 2024
• Time: 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
• Location: John Phillips Memorial Park

Embark on a literary adventure with our enchanting Pop-Up Storywalk, a delightful collaboration with Vancouver Island Regional Library - Sooke! This special event is taking place on January 26, aligning perfectly with Family Literacy Week 2024 – a province-wide celebration promoting the joy of reading and learning together.

Family Literacy Week Theme: "Let’s Have a Family Party!"What to Expect:

• Immerse yourself in the pages of Valerie Bolling's captivating book as you stroll through the scenic John Phillips Park.
• Enjoy the beautiful outdoors while engaging in a heartwarming tale about a neighbourhood jam.
• Embrace the theme of "Let’s Have a Family Party!" by making food, singing songs, and playing games with your loved ones.
• Connect with fellow literature enthusiasts and celebrate the joy of reading in a picturesque setting.

This event is not just about reading; it's a celebration of family, literacy, and the joy that comes from sharing stories. Let the pages come to life as you traverse the park, creating lasting memories with your loved ones.

The District is thrilled to share this news from the Government of Canada on the District's successful Infrastructure Canada Grant Application and the resulting $1.3 million in funding towards the Little River Crossing multi-use pedestrian trails project.

Quotes

“Canada is known for its natural beauty and rich cultural history. We’re proud to support projects that honour that while better connecting our communities. Improving the trail network surrounding DeMamiel Creek will help Sooke residents and visitors alike get around safely and enjoy all that the area has to offer. We will continue to invest in active transportation infrastructure improvements across the country that make life better for Canadians.”

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“This project will facilitate instrumental connectivity in our community. It will offer safe and efficient travel over Little River (Demamiel Creek) drastically improving residents’ ability to reach desired destinations including schools, local businesses and recreation amenities. I extend my appreciation to the federal government for this significant investment that is certain to have a profound impact on how citizens get around town – alleviating the need for vehicle travel in a core area of Sooke.”

Her Worship, Maja Tait, Mayor of the District of Sooke

Quick facts

• The federal government is investing $1,307,610 in this project through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF), and the District of Sooke is contributing $871,740.
• Active transportation refers to the movement of people or goods powered by human activity, and includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and more.
• The federal government is investing billions of dollars to provide predictable federal public transit funding which will be available to support reliable, fast, affordable, and clean public transit solutions beginning in 2026-27. This investment includes $400 million through the Active Transportation Fund over five years, starting in 2021, to make travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable.
• The National Active Transportation Strategy is the country's first coast-to-coast-to-coast strategic approach for promoting active transportation and its benefits. The strategy’s aim is to make data-driven and evidence-based investments to build new and expanded active transportation networks and to create safe environments for more equitable, healthy, active, and sustainable travel options to thrive.
• The Active Transportation Fund complements Canada’s strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. Through the plan, the federal government has committed to providing permanent federal to encourage cleaner modes of transportation, such as low and zero-emission vehicles, transit and active transportation in every community.
• Active transportation infrastructure provides many tangible benefits, such as creating good middle-class jobs, strengthening the economy, promoting healthier lifestyles, providing affordable transportation options, cutting air and noise pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in safer active transportation infrastructure is key to ensuring people of all ages and abilities can access jobs and services and connect with their communities.

Associated links

• Active Transportation Fund
• National Active Transportation Strategy
• Strengthened Climate Plan
• Federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia

At the November 27, 2023 Council meeting, Council supported staff's recommendation to submit two grant applications for critical active transportation corridors including Little River Multi-Use Trails (Demamiel Creek Bridge) Crossing and Charters Corridor South.

The applications are considered for "shovel-ready" projects with an award anticipated in Spring 2024. If successful, the District could receive up to $1 million towards both of these initiatives which will improve pedestrian connectivity in Sooke.

Thanks to the District of Sooke Community Climate Action Seed Funding Program and helping hands in the community with the Friends of Sooke Parks Society, Pineridge Parks is now home to two new trees and a few less invasive plants!

On Friday, December 1st, residents came together to plant two Cornus Eddie’s White Wonder dogwood trees in Pineridge Park.

Besides beautification – white flowers in the spring and fantastic fall colours – dogwoods have an interesting shape and are one of the few trees that will survive in a forest understory. These trees are a great option to reduce fuel hazard – low hazard itself, rapidly decaying leaf-litter, and shade the ground and lower bows of trees with higher fuel hazard ratings. Dogwoods are also moderately slow-growing and well-behaved “good neighbour” trees that can live over 100 years.

Additionally, volunteers cleared several invasive plants and potential wildfire hazards from the forest understory during the December 1st stewardship day. Again, a huge thank you to the volunteers for their efforts in caring for our community!

The combined efforts of residents and extending the financial resources through the provincial local government climate action to the District’s “made in Sooke” climate action plan is making a favourable impact in several Sooke neighbourhoods.

What’s next?

• Join the Friends of Sooke Parks Society for the Solstice Lantern Walk on December 21st at John Phillips Memorial Park.

The District of Sooke's Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) has been recently completed which will be Sooke's roadmap for risk reduction activities over the next five years. The CWRP presents 41 recommendations to enhance the community’s wildfire resiliency.

Key recommendations include maintaining funding for a full-time FireSmart coordinator position and launching a public education campaign. This plan was developed following the 2022 Community Resiliency Investment program template and standards. Each year, through the District's budget process priority areas for plan implementation will be confirmed.

Follow the approval of the District's budget at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget and see the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan in action at letstalk.sooke.ca/firesmart.

The holidays are a time for giving and sharing, and what better way to show your holiday spirit than by swapping decorations with friends and neighbours! Zero Waste Sooke is hosting a community event on Sunday, November 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sooke branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library to bring residents together to exchange items and provide a social opportunity to meet like-minded members of Sooke!

The holiday decorations swap is a great way to give and receive unique decorations that add a special touch to your holiday décor and keep waste out of the landfill.

Join the fun and bring an extra sparkle to your holidays!

The event is funded in part through the District of Sooke’s Community Climate Action Seed funding program.

John Phillips Memorial Park will soon be home to nine new trees thanks to the Friends of Sooke Parks Society and a District of Sooke Community Climate Action Seed Funding Grant.

The trees will be planted along the Stickleback Urban Trail on the Nott Brook Pond side of the park during a tree planting event at 9am on Wednesday, November 22nd.

Trees help improve air quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and reduce the effects of climate change. They also provide a beautiful and calming atmosphere for visitors to the park.

Anyone interested in joining the Friends of Sooke Parks Society with their efforts can reach out to the group through their website:

• Friends of Sooke Parks Society Website

The District of Sooke is pleased to announce that it has recently been awarded a successful UBCM FireSmart Community Funding and Supports Grant through the Community Resiliency Investment program for $198,000. This grant will fund FireSmart activities in the District, including the implementation of FireSmart mitigation strategies to help reduce our local wildfire risk and support community resiliency.

The FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program provides funding to local governments and First Nations in BC to increase community resiliency by undertaking community-based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfire.

“On behalf of Council and the community, I extend my appreciation to UBCM and the provincial funding partners to support Sooke’s FireSmart efforts,” says Mayor Maja Tait.

With the funding, the District will continue FireSmart education and community-based programs including the free FireSmart home assessment program, and initiate two new programs — a FireSmart Rebate program and new opportunities for yard waste/disposal events for residents. Details on each of these new programs are being finalized with more information anticipated early in the new year.

“Such program expansions provide an exciting opportunity for a new level of engagement and support. I look forward to a successful FireSmart program in collaboration with residents that will reduce the risk of wildfire and improve the safety of our community,” Tait says.

On Friday, November 10th, the rain brought a chill to the air, but it was warmed by the spirit of community as 150 children gathered for a Community Story Walk supported by the Vancouver Island Regional Library, the Military Family Resource Centre, and the Friends of Sooke Parks Society.

The event was well received by children of all ages and included a card-making station where notes made by the children would be shared with Canadian Forces Members currently serving. Children were delighted to walk along the path and stop at each reading station to hear a page from the story and explore the illustration.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Vancouver Island Regional Library, the Military Family Resource Centre, and the Friends of Sooke Parks Society for their support and hard work in organizing this event. Their passion for children’s literacy and love of the outdoors made the Community Story Walk a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Thank you to all involved for making the Community Story Walk a success and for bringing joy to the children of Sooke.

The event was funded in part through the District of Sooke’s Community Climate Action Seed funding program.

To discover more of Sooke’s parks, use the Sooke Park Finder map:

• Sooke Parks Finder (arcgis.com)

To learn more about the Friend of Sooke Parks Society, visit their website:

• Friends of Sooke Parks Society | Sooke Parks for a more vibrant, connected community. | Friends of Sooke Parks Society