Sooke 2030 Climate Action Plan: Implementation

Today, the community came together in celebration of a new WorkBC Centre at 2096 Church Road. The event recognized the opening of the state-of-the-art facility and the people who continue to do so much in serving residents and businesses in Sooke!

The Centre and Work BC Team provides a variety of services including skills assessments and workshops, job search training, and one-on-one job search and resume assistance. Additionally, the facility offers meeting spaces for community groups, local wayfinding services, and so much more.

The new WorkBC Centre is a welcome addition to Sooke and will offer much-needed assistance to those looking for employment, employers and the community as a whole.

Among the speakers at today’s event included Deputy Mayor Al Beddows. “I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the opening of this new WorkBC facility on the traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke Nation. This opening marks an important milestone for our community and the efforts of WorkBC to ensure that everyone has access to the skills, training and job opportunities they need to succeed,” Beddows shared.

“While being equipped with technology and a caring team, the space is designed to be a source of support, connection and collaboration for our community. The much-needed bookable meeting spaces and open workstations offer critical tools to support our community as we grow. I extend my appreciation, on behalf of Council and the community, to WorkBC for their efforts not only in celebrating the opening of this facility but for the many decades supporting Sooke.”

The WorkBC Centre is now open and ready to serve the community. For more information, please visit www.workbc.ca or call 250-642-3685.

The popular provincial CleanBC Go Electric EV Rebate Program has returned, offering incentives for residential and workplace charging. Townhouses are now eligible for funding under the program. Visit the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program for details.

Many thanks to the Friends of Sooke Parks Society who hosted a “Spooky Pumpkin Walk” at Pineridge Park on November 1st and provided an avenue for residents to compost pumpkins following Hallowe’en as we continue our efforts in co-existing with wildlife.

Earlier this year, the Society organized a community clean up and FireSmart stewardship gathering at the park. The team will also be planting two trees at the park entrance off of Rhodenite.

Pineridge Park is an approximately 1-acre park, accessed off of the path on Pineridge Place, as well as from the 6600 block of Rhodonite Drive, and is home to a combination of a diverse forest canopy and gently sloped greenspace.

The efforts of the Friends of Sooke Parks Society are 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

In collaboration with local community partners, Farm to School BC (F2SBC) works to empower and support schools in building comprehensive farm-to-school programs that support vibrant, sustainable, regional food systems, develop student food literacy, and enhance school and community connectedness. In Sooke, this opportunity was expanding thanks to funding from the District of Sooke Community Climate Action Seed Funding Program.

Patrick Gale received $4,040 for his project “Growing Community in the Edward Milne Community School Garden” which helped him reach 200 students and more than 60 community members through several initiatives taking place in recent weeks.

Such events included:

• Hosting a public apple pressing and tasting session with locally gleaned apples from heritage trees and discussing local food systems change;
• Hosting Nature Kindergarten and EMCS garden workshops with assistance from community volunteers;
• Planting winter cover crop and saffron bulbs with community volunteer support (with garlic planting taking place later this week);
• Starting to winterize gardens with some community volunteer support;
• Collaborating with EMCS Society Cultural Community Kitchen to host two community cooking sessions with garden-grown produce;
• Collaborating with Flourish! School Food Society to support community learning and engagement; and
• Harvesting over $1000 worth of school-grown produce, which in turn supports student and community food security!

Now, Patrick is looking to the next season of workshops and working days for early 2024 which he sees will include a seed exchange, garden planting, introduction to permaculture, water and soil management, and much more!

Stay informed about local climate action initiatives that are building connections and community through sustainable practices at letstalk.sooke.ca/sooke2030.

To help support climate education and climate action in Sooke, Fireweed Learning Commons is inviting participation in a survey on climate change in Sooke. If you are interested in contributing, please click here for the survey. This project is funded by the District of Sooke's Community Climate Action Seeding Funding program.

Please allow 10-12 minutes to complete the survey. You are encouraged to share the survey with fellow Sooke residents.

The District of Sooke is sharing this information from the Province of BC:

On October 3, 2023, the Province introduced Bill 31 the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, which will replace the Emergency Program Act. Why it matters: The updated legislation reflects the realities of climate change, global pandemics and security threats – and formally recognizes First Nations’ inherent right of self government in relation to emergency management. It also incorporates the four pillars of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

Provide feedback: Implementation of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act will be phased in over time, Provide your feedback on the development of the emergency management regulations, including feedback on post-emergency financial assistance for people and communities recovering from a disaster.

VISIT THE PROJECT WEB PAGE

ElectroRecycle BC is coming to Sooke this Sunday, October 22nd, 10am-2pm, at Evergreen Centre. Drop off your appliances for recycling and help divert such waste from the landfill!

ElectroRecycle BC accepts more than 400 types of small appliances and power tools at no cost, and their mobile unit coming to the Sooke’s Town Centre makes it that much easier to for you to recycle your small appliances and power tools.

ElectroRecycle’s mission is to divert as many electrical small appliances and power tools from landfill as possible. To find out more visit electrorecycle.ca

The Capital Regional District has released their latest community emissions data which shows Sooke community emissions have increased by 22.6% since 2007 while per capita emissions are declining from 5.1 tonnes to 3.9 tonnes.

Given a 70% population growth since 2007, the results are not surprising. While the District aspires to reduce emissions both corporately and community-wide by 50% by 2030, it is anticipated this topic will be discussed during Council’s strategic planning next month.

Looking at District operations, staff are working with Royal Roads University to inform a green fleet policy (or like approach) that will outline a projection of emission reduction within the District’s corporate fleet, through the current fleet’s lifecycle. This approach has the potential to help the District realize its corporate emissions goal while also unveiling cost-saving opportunities.

Given an estimated 79% of corporate emissions are a result of transportation, a carefully planned fleet strategy might just mean the aspirational corporate emissions goal is not quite so far off after all.

The results of the fleet study in partnership with Royal Roads University are expected next fall.

“While we are not on track to meet our community-wide emissions reductions, seeing a per capita decline, is moving in the right direction,” says District of Sooke CAO, Raechel Gray. “We’re in year one of the implementation of our Climate Action Plan and the support from the community, in particular through the Community Climate Action Seed funding program and the Active Routes to School Campaign, is building a foundation that is enhancing quality of life for citizens, so there is a lot of positive momentum growing in this area.”

Learn more – excerpts from “2007 & 2022 Energy & GHG Emissions Inventories:

Source: Capital Region District - Municipalities and Electoral Areas Report - 2007 Base Year and 2022 Reporting Year Energy & GHG Emissions Inventory

Summary of GHG Emissions By CRD Local Government

District of Sooke Data Breakdown

Active School Route signs are being installed on safe routes to schools as a community-based initiative to encourage students to walk or wheel to school.

As sidewalks and trails are extended in Sooke, the program looks to shift travel to and from local schools to provide a healthy way for families to start their day – and help manage vehicle congestion that occurs around school sites.

The campaign is beginning with École Poirier Elementary as the largest elementary school in Sooke after District of Sooke staff approached Poirier Principal, Tess Vally, and Parent Advisory Council President, Jen Temple, with the idea. For students who live within walking or cycling distance from school, or for parents or guardians who might be commuting to Victoria for work, making use of an Active School Meeting Spot offers a transportation alternative with many benefits:

• Active school travel helps school-aged children meet the recommendation to accumulate at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which is associated with improved physical and mental health.
• Increasing physical activity specifically associated with the school journey increases alertness and attention during the school day. Physical activity supports healthy brain development, which can lead to improved learning and academic outcomes.
• Reducing the number of children being driven to school reduces greenhouse gas emissions and particulate air pollution around the school, improving air quality.
• Reducing traffic volumes creates safer school zones.
• Less congestion around schools can help save everyone time, especially during busy mornings.

Additionally, given the Church/Thoup Roundabout and Charters Corridor Projects, the active school routes may offer a creative solution to managing the anticipated construction-related vehicle traffic while work is completed.

A map showing walking and biking routes, along with meeting spot locations for families with students attending École Poirier Elementary is available here.

The District of Sooke will be working with École Poirier Elementary to receive feedback on the initiative with hopes of adapting and expanding the program to other schools in Sooke.

Quotes:

Mayor Maja Tait, District of Sooke –

“People are often creatures of habit and given. Sidewalks and trails were limited in Sooke, so driving became the norm and now that safe routes are available, many might not know they exist.

As the infrastructure improves, we’re looking to connect with residents and encourage alternative transportation where most feasible. This is a cost-effective, creative solution that has the potential to make a real impact for families in Sooke.”

Amanda Dowhy, Sooke School District Interim Board Chair –

“Walking or wheeling to school can help set students up for a lifetime of success. Increasing daily physical activity supports everything from improving cardiorespiratory fitness to lowering the risk of developing health conditions to improved concentration in the classroom. The research also supports that when students use active modes of transportation, it contributes to a strengthened sense of community and I think that’s something we can all benefit from.”

Jen Temple, Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) President –

“It’s the role of the Parent Advisory Committee to inform and support École Poirier parents/guardians to optimize the school experience for families, and the Active Routes to School Campaign is a chance for us to do just that. On behalf of the PAC, I’m grateful for the support from the District – providing us with supplies such as reflectors and umbrellas as a part of this program in an effort to help remove barriers to participating. Our Poirier Black Bears are an active bunch and their families have proven over these past few years to be so supportive, as such, I’m very much looking forward to being a part of this campaign and working together to support the health and well-being of local families.”

Active Routes to Schools is a priority identified in Capital Regional District Active School Travel Plans and the Sooke 2030 Climate Action Plan.

Learn more:

• sooke.ca/activeschoolroutes
• Active School Route Parent Handout

The District of Sooke is receiving $30,000 in funding from ICBC through their community road safety program to create two new crosswalks and install five flashing systems in the community --- helping make pedestrian travel safer.

This phase of crosswalk improvements includes:

• A new crosswalk with flashing lights on Phillips Road by SEAPARC front entrance;
• A new crosswalk with flashing lights on Grant Road by French Road;
• Flashing lights added to the Phillips Road crosswalk at the SEAPARC back entrance;
• Flashing lights added to the Church Road crosswalk on the Stickleback Urban Trail and Poirier Active School Travel Route; and
• Flashing lights added to the Otter Point at Rhodenite crosswalk.

Safely getting around town is important in any community. In Sooke, through recent budget engagement, residents are expressing this as one of the top priorities for our community.

Further, vehicle emissions are the greatest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Sooke. Notably, travel within Sooke produces nearly the same amount of emissions as travel to and from Sooke. “If we are going to make an impact toward our goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030, we need to ensure people feel safe walking around town,” says Mayor Tait. “While there is much more work to do, this is welcome progress. I extend my appreciation to our funding partners for helping with efforts for a safer, healthier Sooke. ”

The total project budget is approximately $50,000 with $20,000 being funded by District of Sooke Climate Action funding, made possible thanks to support from the Local Government Climate Action Program.

The work will be completed this fall.