Sign In Subscribe Now Visit the District of Sooke and you’re immediately struck by the natural beauty of this vibrant little town “Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea,” speaks to its incredible surroundings there is one way to experience the area that transcends almost every other and shouldn’t be overlooked – on the saddle of a mountain bike.  “I can’t think of a better way to experience the area than by riding the trails in and around the community,” said Allen Krutz the owner of West Coast Outdoor Adventure.  And for those people who might think that mountain biking is only for the athletically inclined “The trails in and around Sooke are rated much in the same way that ski runs have ratings,” Krutz said “There are easy Green trails that are designed for a pleasant and then you have Blue trails that are a little more challenging with some twists and turns.”  there are far more challenging trails for the accomplished and experienced riders with Black Diamond and even Double Black Diamond trails available.   “The trails are marked so that you can judge for yourself how challenging a trail you want to ride,” said Krutz “There are a lot of people who will come to Sooke get on the Galloping Goose trail and just go for a leisurely ride you ride by swimming holes and massive trees and covers some 4,000 hectares and provides every level of riding experience The well-maintained Harbourview Mountain trails fall within the park and range from quite easy to far more challenging rides with exposed rock sections A post shared by West Coast Outdoor (@west_coast_outdoor) a 10.5-km loop that offers spectacular views.   moderately challenging trail near Sooke that offers natural beauty combined with peaceful solitude.  it’s no surprise that the design of mountain bikes has kept pace with the ever-growing popularity of the experience steering handles and even the wheels have all changed radically over the years and high-end bikes can easily run into the $10,000 range Then there are the e-bikes with motorized assistance that can increase that cost exponentially.  But the good news for people wanting to experience the beauty and (if they choose) the thrill of mountain biking is that they don’t need to have their own bike.  “We have a full range of bikes for rent and can accommodate anyone who wants to experience the fun of mountain biking without making the investment of buying their own bike they may want their own bike once they discover how great the activity is,” said Krutz.  “The great thing about mountain biking is that it allows you to push your limits Regardless of whether you’re coming off an easy ride on the Goose (Galloping Goose Trail) or a gnarly trail with jumps and twists and turns there’s a sense that you just finished your own Olympic event.”  and the chance to swim at the Sooke Potholes and mountain biking seems to be an ideal option for exploring this amazing part of Vancouver Island.  For more information, visit westcoastoutdoor.com/.  Information on trails in and around Sooke can be found at www.sookebikeclub.com/trails.  Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. 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To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Wildlife passing near the Sooke River would have spotted something a little unusual Saturday (May 3).  In a short stretch of the waterway that runs alongside the Sooke River Campground 2,900 bright-yellow rubber ducks floated leisurely toward a swarm of families standing nearby.  This was the main event at Sooke Duck Day: an annual get-together organized by the Sooke Harbourside Lions to raise money for local charities and initiatives the Sooke Loan Cupboard and Sooke Meals on Wheels the public were invited to buy the 2,900 bath toys – $5 for one or $20 for five – each of which came with a corresponding number. The first five ducks to finish raked in between $100 and $1,000 for their owner attendees cheered for the ducks as they bobbed slowly down the river where “duck wranglers” from the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society and the Sooke Sailing Association – in four motorboats and two kayaks – waited to scoop the toys out of the water with big fishing nets.  According to Sooke Harbourside Lion Janet Evans last year’s first-place duck helped its owner out of a tight spot.  “He was actually here when he won the $1,000 and he was hard on his luck,” she said Before the flock of ducks floated down the river each purchased and painted by a Sooke business The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce’s duck snagged the top spot.  Those not caught up in the races had plenty to keep them occupied gave young attendees a chance to lob rubber ducks into laundry hampers 15 feet away and duck sprints let kids bet on which of four mallards glued to wooden wheels would reach the bottom of a slide first Potato sack and egg races were just a few of the other activities on offer.  Folks distracted by their hunger could queue up in a long line weaving toward a concession stand where a hard-working group of Lions grilled hot dog after juicy hot dog to keep peckish attendees at bay The proceeds of all grilled goods will go to the same set of local charities and initiatives Sooke Harbourside Lions’ marketing and communications chair “It’s actually a fundraiser that is done worldwide,” she said. “[The Lions] heard about it liked the idea and decided to capitalize on it since we’re right on the beautiful Sooke River.”  and the club has been hosting the event ever since Sooke Harbourside Lions member and Duck Day co-chair the happy families in attendance make the hard work it takes to set up the event well worth it “If you look at all the families that are here taking part watching them enjoy a free afternoon – that is the joy that we get,” she said.  Wright expressed a similar sentiment.  “The wild cheering at the end as the ducks come close the finish line and people are so interested and excited about it – I love that," she said "But I also like that there are other non-profit groups that help support us here including the two other Lions clubs in Sooke because everyone’s here for a good cause to raise fund for local charities.”  The marketing and communications chair added that the event highlights Sooke’s tight-knit community.  “It’s kind of neat because it’s not just the community of today – it’s generational community," she said great grandparents that have been bringing their kids here since it started 17 years ago and now it’s their grandchildren and great grandchildren Vancouver IslandNewsB.C. couple’s ‘Sparkle House’ covered in thousands of moving mirrorsBy Adam SawatskyPublished: May 02, 2025 at 1:28PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved As search crews and volunteers continue to scour the waters and shoreline of Finlayson Arm for missing Sooke man Ryan Mazar is the missing 43-year-old’s first grandchild The newborn’s middle name was chosen in honour of the "thoughtful kindhearted and generous" grandfather who remains missing after he was thrown overboard from his boat on April 22 “Ryan would have been elated about it all,” said Doug Volek the great-grandfather to newborn Shiloh Ryan “He couldn't believe that he was going to be a grandfather.” Volek is also grandfather of Mazar's eldest son Drew For the newly great-grandfather and his wife the birth of the newest member of their extended blended family has brought some comfort while they wait for news of Mazar But the days since his disappearance have been an emotional rollercoaster for the couple who last saw Mazar a week before the accident when he popped round to give him a bag of freshly caught prawns. “You're okay until you start thinking too much … something will trigger it off and you'll feel sad all over again Also onboard the boat the day Mazar went missing was his partner Mykaila and their three-month-old daughter Ariel who were all out on the water to go prawning The family were thrown into the water when the boat suddenly turned “They were going at a good speed just to head out to set the prawn traps,” said Joyce “And there was a sudden turn and and they were tossed – that’s all we know.” While their unmanned boat continued to travel in circles, Joyce says it was imperative the family work together to get to safety Mazar told Mykaila to kick off her gumboots “That was the last time she spoke to Ryan,” he said.  so she went on her back and swam for a couple hours which eventually came an hour later.  “What strength to have get to shore with your baby,” said Doug in awe of Mykaila’s heroics “That's something to be said there – never give up.” the mother and daughter were taken to hospital and were expected to be discharged Friday (May 2) are on standby to support the pair any way they can I think Mykaila and Ariel are healthy now and and they've made wonderful progress; it's just been a complete miracle,” said Joyce it really varies … any minute it can change She's struggling with that and is also getting help to to get through each day.” search and rescue teams and West Shore RCMP have all been involved in the search for Mazar A spokesperson for West Shore RCMP said their helicopter was out April 30 and May 1 with the search expected to continue Friday (May 2) Mazar as he is still missing,” said the RCMP spokesperson in a statement including a woman who searched the shoreline with her dog for three hours and a drone pilot “It's just incredible the amount of response by all the emergency groups and organizations … and all the family strangers and communities that have helped The outpouring of community support has also been demonstrated via a GoFundMe page which has raised over $8,000 to help Mazar’s partner Mykaila and their daughter Ariel People have also been donating to the family via participating Greater Victoria branches of the Bottle Depot when recycling their refundable beverage containers Doug describes the financial boost for the mom and baby as amazing but says the community can show its support in many other ways a share of the GoFundMe page online or do something nice for somebody else,” he says While the family draws strength from each other and those around them “We just want to have Ryan found and brought home,” says Joyce To make a donation to the fundraiser for Mazar's partner and baby, visit the website: www.gofundme.com/f/please-support-ryan-mazars-family-after-devastating-tragedy The Independent Investigations Office of B.C (IIO) has opened an investigation into the Comox Valley RCMP after a motor vehicle incident sent one man to hospital According to a case report published by the IIO an officer was driving an unmarked police SUV the officer was involved in a collision with an unrelated vehicle The car crash occurred at the intersection of Piercy Avenue and 26 Street The IIO states that the officer continued driving to the initial service call but later returned to the collision scene and spoke to the man who had been driving the other vehicle The RCMP reported this separately to the IIO The man who was driving the other vehicle was taken by ambulance to the hospital for assessment and is now investigating," the report says There are two factors that the IIO takes into account at the beginning of each investigation: 1. If there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm If there is a connection between the serious harm/death and police action or inaction "serious harm" is defined as  "injury that may result in death may cause serious disfigurement or may cause substantial loss or impairment of mobility of the body as a whole or of the function of any limb or organ." "When a notification from police is received the on-call Director or the Chief Civilian Director will determine whether a case is within the jurisdiction of the IIO If it is not immediately apparent if the injuries meet the threshold to be considered serious harm initial investigative steps will seek to determine this," the IIO website says If there is a connection to police action or inaction and the person’s serious harm or death the chief civilian director will determine if there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed and identified as belonging to missing Maple Ridge woman Rebecca Harbowy The Ridge Meadows RCMP reported Friday morning The 36-year-old left Ridge Meadows Hospital on Nov early into detoxing from drug use. Her family has been critical of the hospital letting her leave the facility on her own She was last seen walking east on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street in Maple Ridge at approximately 2:05 a.m Police released few details about the discovery of the remains The family told The News it was in a forested area Distraught mother Debbie Harbowy is hopeful that an intense search of the area will lead to Rebecca Police have searched the area since the remains were discovered in early April The family is unsure where a search would be but plan to appeal to police for more information "I always felt in my heart she had passed away because she hadn't contacted me," said Debbie Rebecca's sister Rachel Bertoia posted videos on social media informing those who have tried to assist in finding Rebecca and those who have been following the missing woman's case She said there is a memorial at the 7-Eleven at the corner of Lougheed Highway and Haney Bypass where there is a missing person sign the family posted I think it would be really lovely for my mom to have people drop off flowers to her sign there," said Bertoia.  "I would love for my mom to be able to see the love and support that I know that we have felt." "I can't imagine being a mom losing a kid." Rebecca was about eight hours into what doctors advised would be a three-day stay but early the next morning she walked away Her family believes she was confused and disoriented She lived with her parents in the Yennadon area Debbie had been sitting with her daughter until midnight she got a call from the hospital that her daughter had left driving the streets of Maple Ridge for hours the family canvassed people in the hospital neighbourhood and searched the area They obtained video showing Rebecca walking down River Road eastbound near the Port Haney West Coast Express station at 1:46 a.m A tipster saw a woman matching Rebecca’s description walking on the Haney Bypass at approximately 2 a.m Another video showed her on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street at 2:05 a.m. A man said he almost hit a woman walking on Lougheed Highway near 240 Street but the description of the woman having her hair up in a bun matched they have learned nothing more about Rebecca's movements Police and searchers combed roadsides and the edge of the Fraser River Police say this continues to be an active investigation and anyone with information which could help the Ridge Meadows RCMP you are encouraged to call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251 and refer to File # 2023-23402 The RCMP extended condolences to the family and friends of Rebecca Harbowy community partners and volunteers for their assistance with this investigation thus far Two new housings sites are set to start this month in Victoria adding nearly 300 new homes that offer affordable rental and supportive housing – set to finish in 2027 and 2029 "We know that different people have different housing needs and we're working on every front to help everyone find a place to call home," Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said in a news release these homes will lower rental costs for working people and families while bringing people sheltering outside indoors so they can have stability dignity and support they need to move forward." The province kicked in nearly $100 million for the 295 new homes across two separate developments on Pandora Avenue and Discovery Street A new 21-storey building at 926/930 Pandora Ave is replacing the existing vacant structures with 158 affordable rental homes 47 supportive homes and a community space expected to include child care services The Capital Region Housing Corporation will manage the affordable rental homes and an experienced non-profit operator will oversee the supportive housing the CRHC has introduced more than 800 new affordable homes to the region Projects like Pandora show the powerful possibilities of partnership and the CRHC is excited to get another 158 affordable homes underway in the City of Victoria,” said Zac de Vries chair of the Capital Region Housing Corporation A second site also gets shovels in the ground this month to build 90 new supportive homes at 726 Discovery St for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness steel-frame building will feature 90 studio units and is expected to be complete by mid-2027 Our Place Society will operate the supportive housing at Discovery Street laundry facilities and a range of 24/7 on-site support services as well as access to physical and mental-health care The building will also feature safety measures such as fenced grounds "We're happy to see construction begin on the Discovery Street supportive-housing project which Our Place Society will be operating,” said CEO Julian Daly “This much-needed resource will provide 90 supportive homes for people in Victoria offering stability and services to help them thrive It's a vital step forward for those we serve and for access to housing in Victoria Sign up for a free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters About the Author: Greater Victoria News Staff While allergy sufferers struggle through a pollen-laden spring honeybees are rejoicing and springing forth early across Greater Victoria the first swarm of the season came a couple weeks early president of the Capital Region Beekeepers “Swarming is a natural way for the bees to reproduce If they swarm it’s usually two hives out of where there was once one It’s still something beekeepers try to avoid through a variety of avenues including splitting a hive – or faking a swarm A swarm happens once a hive starts to get overpopulated The bees task the queen with laying two or three eggs to hatch new queens and once those get to a pupa stage about half the hive takes off in a cloud that sounds like a lawnmower – with the old queen And they’ll land anywhere – conveniently in a low tree branch or less conveniently someone’s front door “In controlled beekeeping you don’t want to see the bees disappearing over the fence,” Cavers said noting some neighbours are less than receptive This winter was a nice healthy one for the south Island Cavers said their members found the mild winter of 2024 offered a stunning turnaround from the year before This winter saw about a 30 per cent death rate in the hives The winter before there was a 70 per cent death rate caused by a sudden and severe (for here) cold snap and I think it does a world of good for the environment But it does require attention and a bit of work – like anything that’s worthwhile,” Cavers said “You can’t just put a hive down and leave it alone for the rest of the season; it takes regular consistent attention.” This time of year in particular is good fun with loads of pollen and nectar for the foragers to load up on “The foragers come out and they are lean and they’re fast like a jet,” he said they’re like fully loaded water bombers and it’s funny to watch them do face plants on the side of the hives.” Anyone who spots a swarm can call the hotline at 250-900-5787 The club will organize a collector to come out and assess a swarm They’ll tackle honeybees and bumbles but don’t bother calling for wasps or hornets “Collecting swarms is actually kind of fun – when it’s not your bees,” Cavers said Visit CapitalRegionBeekeepers.ca for more information "A mother's love is the first and greatest lesson in nature's care," is commonly attributed to Helen Steiner Rice Motherhood is often associated with nature that the theme of nature will be front and centre of Mother's Day events in Sooke whether at the Nature's Voices concert from The Sooke Community Choir or the annual plant sale from Sooke Garden Club Sooke Community Choir will perform at Holy Trinity Church on Friday Their concert will draw on the beautiful sounds of nature "The melodies of nature will reflect in the song titles or the happiness that comes with sunshine," Sooke Community Choir said in a press release This year, the newly formed Edward Milne Community School (EMCS) choir will perform three songs and join the Sooke Community Choir for the finale the Sooke Garden Club Annual Public Plant Sale runs on Saturday or bring her with you so she can pick out her favourite plant It’s only appropriate that the town of Sooke located in some of the most naturally beautiful landscapes in the world would have eating establishments that value the natural goodness of what’s grown and raised on the land.  But let’s look at the alternatives. To start the nutrient level of food diminishes following harvest and the longer it takes for food to be consumed the fewer nutrients – and flavour – it will have.  The produce available in most grocery stores and some restaurant food has probably been picked early (before it ripens and the taste has fully developed) and subjected to chemical treatments and storage strategies to make it more palatable.  But bite into a locally grown heirloom tomato and the difference is immediately recognizable.  The good news is that some shortfalls can be addressed by sourcing food locally at farmers’ markets or selected food vendors.  for folks who want a great restaurant meal it’s possible to find Sooke-area establishments that almost exclusively use locally produced food to create their menu items.  serving truly fresh food can’t be compared to some of the other products out there,” said Val Lessard She operates the West Coast Grill at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort and is a proponent of the farm-to-table concept.  “The food we source locally can’t be compared to other suppliers It has a completely different taste profile It’s also a way of supporting our local community echoes that sentiment and takes it a step further Located just up the street from the Government Wharf on Maple Avenue South the restaurant occupies what was once the home of a local fishing family.   The ingredients used are almost all locally sourced from farmers The restaurant’s menu changes with the harvest and the season so whatever arrives at your table is fresh “We first adopted this philosophy while in Italy and joined with a movement called Slow Food International It was a grassroots movement formed to promote good clean food for everyone while defending biological and cultural diversity,” said Fader "It’s important that we support our fishers and farmers the knowledge and the stewardship of the land.”  He came to the community specifically to supply Wild Mountain.  It’s all hand-tilled and better for the environment,” Shrum said our harvest is taken to the restaurant and may be served within hours of being picked You can’t get any better than that.”  And while some restaurants out there may claim to be “farm fresh,” it’s usually possible to discover the truth by simply asking them to name the farm the farm-to-table restaurants will pass that test every time.  For more information on Wild Mountain restaurant, visit www.wildmountaindinners.com/.  fluent with a screwdriver or great at greeting then you could be a part of the Sooke Fine Arts Show (SFAS) The ever-popular annual arts show is now looking for volunteers and extra hands to help them bring the celebrated showcase to life We appreciate all the energy and enthusiasm that they bring to make this the spectacular event that it is,” says SFAS executive director Jennifer Hayward This year the show will run from July 26 to Aug 4 showcasing a variety of artworks from coastal artists with painting There are volunteer roles for everyone from students to retirees security support and information desk help there are even roles preparing baked goods from home as snacks for the volunteer teams “The Sooke Fine Arts Show makes me feel like I'm part of something very important,” says SFAS volunteer coordinator Gunny Tennese “It’s a wonderful phenomenon for our whole community and the bonus is being a member of a unique family of volunteers dedicated to putting on an amazing arts event There are perks for volunteers as well who will enjoy one free admission to the show and an invitation to the volunteer appreciation party at the end of the shows run For more information on volunteering including scheduling and how to sign up for volunteer shifts visit: sookefinearts.com/volunteering Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club in Victoria is presenting a new challenge to Vancouver Island runners this summer beginning Victoria Day (May 19) and ending on the final day of summer is a 126-day event that will have runners and walkers exploring the beauty of parks – with a twist It includes two main challenges: who can run (or travel by foot) in the most parks and who can visit the largest variety of parks. The location of the parks can be anywhere in the world we want to encourage people to get out and explore,” said club member Christopher Kelsall Prize packages will be awarded at the end of the summer to winners of each challenge the contest will raise money for the Land Conservancy of British Columbia walkers and hikers of all abilities are welcome. Weekly prizes will be awarded to contestants who complete mini-challenges our club members beta-tested it all summer we thought we should share it with the world,” Kelsall said “People will be surprised at the number of parks that are available – there are hundreds in every city.” any designated park will count towards the challenge along with regional district parks and UNESCO and National Historic Sites Qualifying ventures must be at least 3km in distance or 30 minutes of moving time Participating in the challenge is easy with Harriers Running Club’s new website and app which allows Strava users to upload their run data Those interested can register for the Summer Parks Challenge at RaceRoster.com Entry is $40 for non-Harriers members and $10 for current members with all proceeds donated And for those who want to run close to home there will be plenty to explore: Vancouver Island has 128 provincial parks alone Although Great Britain and other nations across the globe are experiencing the same problem It creates the potential for violence quite often and leaves citizens quite vulnerable.  Can we bring our divided country back together building the resilience of our nation.  I think it involves refusing to engage in the uncivil discourse we have been involved in over the last few years Effective and productive communication does not involve threats It involves actively listening to the other side It also involves remembering that the positions that people are promoting and often clinging to are based on emotion Fear and anger distract people and distort their thinking And ask them how they feel the present problems can be resolved A lot of people have good reason to be angry and scared We all should be experiencing some fear and anxiety right now given the present state of affairs in this country.  There are leaders on the right and on the left who use fear and anger to motivate their followers Don't support leaders who make use of these tactics to manipulate.  Don't isolate or withdraw into your silo or bubble Don't assume you and your family will not be affected by the division in our land and if we come together and address our differences the impact of our differences does not have to be pervasive We can together create a more positive outcome.  No single person is responsible for the division in our country Regarding the letter suggesting Victoria Hudson’s Bay stores should be used for housing, I’m curious to know whether the writer has been to downtown Victoria in the past decade The original Bay store is a market and has had multiple dwellings built to house everyone mentioned in the writer's list As for the properties the Bay stores presently occupy They are both located in shopping malls and not really residential buildings The Bay has done well to be among the last of the department store holdouts They probably should have been sold a decade ago as the decline in department stores has seen the demise of Woodwards K-Mart and Target, and there doesn’t appear to be anyone remaining to buy up these large premises in shopping malls Short of repurposing them into coffee shops I don’t know of many other businesses that could survive It’s important to take time to stop and smell the flowers such as the ones that have been blossoming at Nanaimo's Bowen Park every spring for 50 years The Nanaimo Rhododendron Society is holding a special event this weekend to invite community members to the park's Hailey Rhododendron Grove More than 350 rhododendron plants have burst into blossom each spring since 1975 when Ellen Hailey donated her collection of 350 rhododendron plants to the City of Nanaimo soon after the death of her husband Alfred The Haileys were founding members of the Vancouver chapter of the American Rhododendron Society in the 1950s The Nanaimo chapter of the society formed in 1992 became involved with the Hailey collection and in 1994 adopted the grove as a part of the city’s Partners in Parks program It helped that the parks director at the time was a member of the club The group set out to map the garden and to identify the plants as most were not tagged by the Haileys The club became less involved with the grove until 2019 when the link was revived and today a small dedicated group of volunteers work to remove the many invasive plants that compromise the collection The grove is in flower from late February until early July but the height of the bloom is from mid April to mid May Many of the rhodos in the grove are hybrids and some are thought to be one of a kind and some are between 60 to 70 years old.  Rhodo varieties have a broad size range “There are more than 1,000 varieties of rhodos that range in size some being able to hold in your hand to more than 50 feet tall,” said Deborah Francis who oversees work at the grove for the club Francis and Cadwaladr said blooming in the grove is a little behind where it would usually be at this time of year.  just given the cold snap of weather that we had,” Francis said “Some of the bud got frozen because we were developing bud at that point.” Members of the Nanaimo Rhododendron Society invite community members to explore the grove with them Saturday starting at the Bowen Park tennis court Rhodo society members are active in the community with events including work parties at the rhododendron grove and monthly meetings with guest presenters support charity, and maintain an active association with Vancouver Island University’s Milner Gardens and Woodland Yearly events include garden tours and social activities and the annual Truss Show and Plant Sale which will happen on May 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m This year’s sale will have rhododendrons and more with enough exciting new and returning vendors to fill up the hall “This year there’s going to be lots of rhododendrons for sale some of whom are really quite expert at rhododendrons,” Cadwaladr said You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 233 of 234 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 233 of 234 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to win in Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke is in second place with 20,309 votes (28.55%) and Maja Tait Garrison was first elected to the House of Commons in 2011 29,819 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page While the odds of a tsunami hitting Sooke are low the District of Sooke invited the community to participate in the High Ground Hike during Tsunami Preparedness Week Simulating how to act in a real disaster about 40 residents gathered at the Sooke Flats — the Sooke River Campground — to hike to the SEAPARC Rec Centre Emergency Support Services (ESS) and Sooke Fire Rescue volunteers shared important information Volunteers spoke with participants about how to prepare and respond in the event of a disaster Complimentary coffee and snacks were offered but one of the event’s real benefits was the opportunity for residents to get to know each other you can have all the technology and all the tools but what it really comes down to is relationships and how well you know your community,” said Ryland Bennet “If we’re talking a large catastrophic event those services are really going to be in short supply.” this year’s High Ground Hike saw its best turnout yet — especially compared to its first year “I’m very happy that we’ve had a really good turnout I think the support of our volunteers and the fire guys being here is what we need to draw a little attention,” said Lock “I hope everybody starts working on preparing their emergency kits and spreading the word about being prepared — because it really comes down to individual preparedness in the event of a big natural disaster.” While most of Sooke is not at risk of a tsunami Lock said up to 900 homes in the community’s low-lying areas could be impacted These include some properties near Whiffin Spit and those neighbouring the Sooke River “Why would we be worried about a tsunami?” Jeri Grant He answered that an earthquake in the area could trigger one “In this area — Juan de Fuca and Sooke — it’s a ‘felt earthquake,’ so it’s that really big shaking It’s going to shake so hard you won’t be able to stand up.” Grant explained that such an earthquake could last three to five minutes residents won’t need to wait for an alert on their phone — they’ll know to move to higher ground ESS will continue to keep residents informed with plans to attend markets at the Sooke Region Museum the Sooke Farmers' Market and other community events as they look toward next year’s High Ground Hike Bennet hopes to make the event even bigger What we’re looking to do is make this a more fulsome event with a bunch of food and barbecues,” he said “We want to bring the community together to make friends but also talk about the important stuff we need to know.” To learn more about emergency preparedness in Sooke Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news The Wadams Farm is still bearing fruit for Sooke the Wadams' property on Church Road was home to some trees Today it’s home to one of Sooke’s latest housing developments But thanks to the work of Glen Thelin and the Sunriver Heritage and Demonstration Orchard (SHDO) a small piece of the property's history will get to live on “I got a call from the District of Sooke three years ago They informed me that the house and all the vegetation were being taken out of that property for development,” said Thelin who recently planted a new tree salvaged from the Wadams' property at the orchard “If there was anything that I thought was of horticultural value there I was welcome to go onto the property and take whatever (I could) before the bulldozer came.”   So Thelin dropped by and collected cuttings from an apple tree near the farmhouse He then grafted five cuttings onto some rootstock and despite the less-than-ideal conditions at that time of year “I think it's important to save some of the historic trees that have been planted by the early residents of Sooke,” said Thelin and it might be a really old variety that we want to keep in circulation.”   they’re frequently able to save some of these older varieties of trees that once propagated in Sooke While Thelin and SHDO can’t always seek out older trees that need to be salvaged they encourage developers and city officials to reach out when they encounter something that may be worth saving If people think a tree has some importance and is going to be removed Though Thelin doesn’t yet know what variety the apple tree will be he said they’ll be able to identify and name it once it produces fruit.  The tree was in the community orchard on Earth Day “It’s really great to walk through our orchard and to see some of these trees that came from farms from residents where the parent tree no longer exists residents can wander the orchard and learn more about the heritage trees and the region's ecological history This year’s apple festival will be held Sept Some popular apple tree varieties grafted by orchard volunteers will also be on sale.  An Instagram influencer known for producing outdoor-related content was sentenced on May 1 at the Yukon Territorial Court for illegally hunting three bears and obtaining Yukon hunting licences using misleading information between October 2022 and May 2023 relate to offences committed under the Yukon Wildlife Act Justice Katherine McLeod ordered Hamm to pay a $10,500 fine and an equal amount in contributions to the Yukon conservation fund for illegally hunting three bears within a five-day period in May 2023 McLeod fined Hamm $2,750 and $1,750 for obtaining hunting licences using misleading information on two separate occasions between 2022 and 2023 She also ordered him to contribute a total of $3,500 to the conservation fund for both counts of obtaining Yukon hunting licenses as a non-resident McLeod prohibited Hamm from hunting in Yukon for two years McLeod ruled that Hamm must complete an online hunter education and ethics development course before he can obtain a Yukon hunting licence again She also ordered him to forfeit pelts from the bears he hunted Defence lawyer Kevin Drolet told the court that Hamm could make the payment immediately and that the necessary funds were held in a trust account Hamm attended the proceedings virtually from outside the territory Crown prosecutor Kelly McGill presented submissions on sentencing noting that the Yukon Wildlife Act authorizes the courts to impose a fine of up to $50,000 or up to one year in custody for the offences on the indictment McGill and Drolet agreed upon sentencing recommendations for the offences on the indictment that Hamm pleaded guilty to including an equal amount in contributions to the conservation fund as well as a two-year hunting ban and a three-year prohibition on joining groups out on hunts McGill and Drolet noted in their submissions that Yukon hunting licenses are reserved for Yukon residents and that Hamm had obtained one despite being a non-resident McGill argued that Yukon wildlife is a public resource and that non-residents can only hunt through a third party adding that Hamm’s non-compliance with Yukon’s licensing laws was an aggravating factor in sentencing McGill said Hamm hunted a grizzly bear near Kluane Lake in May 2023 and that he also hunted two black bears approximately a three-hour drive north of Haines Junction and another at Bove Island on Tagish Lake’s Windy Arm McGill also noted that conservation officers recovered two black bear hides a grizzly bear hide and a bear skull from a taxidermist in the Yukon Drolet argued in mitigation that sustainable harvest numbers for grizzly bears in 2022 were less than one-quarter of the annual sustainable harvest He also argued that Hamm submitted all the required harvest and biological reports to Yukon Conservation Officer Services after hunting the bears Drolet added that Hamm has family connections to Yukon despite the defence’s characterization of his residence as unusual due to the nature of his employment said in sentencing that the nature of Hamm’s employment should help serve as a deterrent against future offences untamed landscapes make enforcing wildlife and conservation laws difficult leaving the territory vulnerable to violations She emphasized that denunciation and deterrence should play a role in sentencing for the offences to which Hamm pleaded guilty Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Sooke Thank you for supporting local journalism Voters in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding can cast their ballots in the federal election as early as Friday Sunday and Monday (April 19-21) from 9 a.m Electors must vote only at their assigned polling place This is different from the process in some provincial elections where electors can vote at any polling location Voters can find the address for their assigned polling station on the back of their voter information card by visiting elections.ca or by calling 1-800-463-6868 electors must prove their identity and address The list of accepted ID can be found online Another early-voting option is to vote at any Elections Canada office by April 22 at 6 p.m The locations in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke can be found online The offices are open seven days a week: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m Residents can also vote by mail using the special ballot process The deadline to apply to vote by special ballot is Tuesday and the marked ballot must be returned by election day – Monday Visit the Elections Canada website to apply to vote by mail Candidates running in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke are: Param Bhatti No One Covers Sooke Like The Sooke News Mirror Don’t miss out on reading the latest local provincial and national news. Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news Sooke RCMP have arrested a 44-year-old woman while conducting a property search warrant after obtaining information of possible drug trafficking from the West Coast Road property On March 20, the Island District RCMP Emergency Response Team assisted Sooke RCMP in executing the search warrant Police say they seized several grams of suspected fentanyl heroin and over 1,000 prescribed medication pills and anyone with information is asked to contact Sooke RCMP at 250-642-5241 Drivers faced detours for two hours during the afternoon commute on Sooke Road Thursday (April 24) after a multi-vehicle crash West Shore RCMP was called for a “serious collision” in the 4000-block of Highway 14 with at least one vehicle left on its roof shortly after 4:30 p.m The road was shut down in both directions for about two hours as emergency crews dealt with the crash Police did not release details on number of vehicles or injuries in the crash and receive top headlines in your inbox Monday to Saturday Easter: it's a time when wide-eyed kids excitedly search high and low for bright surprises – often of a sweet variety the fun can be had at festive events around the community.  The ever-popular Pemberton Homes Easter Egg Hunt will return on Saturday “This much-loved community event highlights the positive impact local businesses have when they invest in the places they call home,” writes district communications manager Christina Moog Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters The Sooke Transition House Society (STHS) is used to putting smiles on faces – now they're putting them on cookies As Tim Hortons undertakes its annual Smile Cookie campaign the two Sooke locations have partnered with STHS to raise funds for the local non-profit The primary goal of STHS is to support women and children affected by gender-based violence STHS has seen a "dramatic increase" in the need for its services following the COVID-19 pandemic and it does not expect that to slow anytime soon STHS has assisted thousands of women and children With provincial funding insufficient to keep all its programs operational STHS frequently turns to funding alternatives such as.. Think about the “magic of Disney” and what's sure to come to mind is the music and there’s been no shortage of memorable characters brought to life in the more than 130 Disney movies we’ve grown to love but whether your particular most beloved character is Snow White’s Dopey or Stich from Lilo and Stich the throughline for all the greatest films has been the music It’s been a late night and early morning for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke’s newly elected MP Stephanie McLean.  After winning almost half of her riding’s votes – 20 points ahead of the Conservatives’ Grant Cool – McLean celebrated her landslide win with her party family and loved ones after a weeks-long campaign “Last night was absolutely amazing,” she told Saanich News on April 29 So many people put in hours and hours of hard work To see our work pan out is very satisfying.” But McLean doesn't have much time to bask in the thrill of an election victory she knows she has her work cut out ahead of her “This election wasn’t a sunny-day-type of election This is a situation where we're facing very serious threats A labour lawyer by trade and former Alberta MLA she said her focus is now locked in on her constituency abilities and experience to the prime minister and my colleagues,” said McLean “I’ll do whatever I can to be available and to represent Canadians and our Canadian identity.” While she acknowledged the challenges ahead McLean said she will prioritize working with fellow MPs to protect the economy at the federal provincial and local levels from the impacts of Trump’s trade war “Affordability has been a serious challenge for Canadians and Donald Trump is intent on making it worse,” said McLean “[We will be] finding ways to make life more affordable in the wake of Donald Trump's plans and looking to the expertise of Prime Minister Carney to be able to deliver that for the constituents of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke.” McLean had 36,123 votes (49.4 per cent) ahead of the Conservatives’ Grant Cool with 21,014 (28.7 per cent) Maja Tait of the NDP with 13,631 (18.6 per cent) David Schaafsma of the Christian Heritage Party with 159 Independent Param Bhatti at 150 and Communist Robert Crooks with 136 A Port Alberni artist will have her work exhibited at an upcoming show in the United States Painter Rose Kamma Morrison is an artist with vision loss. Four of her recent paintings have been selected for the Passionate Focus art exhibit in Chicago An art auction will take place on the same day In the leadup to the April 28 federal election Black Press Media asked the candidates in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke a series of three questions What would your party do to safeguard South Island workers and businesses from the fallout of tariffs As your Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke member of Parliament I’ll fight to make sure money from counter-tariffs goes straight to the workers and local businesses that need it These are our neighbours and the heart of the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke economy and tax relief for those hit hardest.  I’ll also push to remove trade barriers between provinces so our businesses can grow across Canada It’s not just about dealing with today’s problems – it’s about creating a stronger more self-reliant future for our communities This can be achieved only by working together to ensure a realistic and sustainable future for our communities in the riding.  and stand up to Trump from a position of strength protect seniors’ savings and build a Canada where a lifetime of hard work means a secure retirement Canada urgently needs to increase its level of economic sovereignty and a crucial step in that process is guaranteeing federal support for the businesses and workers nationwide who would bear the financial brunt the goal at the federal level for economic security should be reforming our current systems to be more self-reliant and mutually cooperative while designing policies that will help us weather not only the present storm This includes financial support for vulnerable industries and businesses in the short term changes to our national industries to increase domestic sale of materials and maintaining stable trade with reliable partners Prime Minister Carney has pledged that by July 1 a Liberal government will eliminate all internal federal trade barriers which will create billions of dollars in economic growth across our country and help create thousands of good-paying jobs We will create Canadawide work credentials so that training received in B.C can be used in any other province and vice versa while making whatever investments it takes to protect Canadian jobs a Liberal government will continue to focus on diversifying our trade and defence alliances to continue to reduce our historic reliance on the United States in various sectors During this campaign and once I am elected I will connect regularly with our local business leaders to ensure I am receiving their feedback so that we can continue to add their ideas and feedback into the actions we take is standing up for South Island workers and businesses against the damaging effects of international tariffs Buy Canadian" plan ensures that Canadian jobs are protected by prioritizing local procurement policies and supporting unionized jobs We will use every dollar collected from retaliatory tariffs to directly support impacted industries we will expand Employment Insurance (EI) benefits making them more accessible and generous so workers have a safety net during economic uncertainty By investing in value-added processing and incentivizing local production we aim to reduce reliance on foreign markets while creating sustainable jobs here at home What do you see as the best way to address the cost-of-living crisis The current cost-of-living crisis is the product of several systemic failures simultaneously intersecting so any effective solution cannot be one that only addresses one or two facets of the larger problem The Green Party’s proposed approach aims to tackle housing prices and wealth inequality with a series of policies that all Canadians will benefit from Our aim is to enshrine housing as a fundamental human right and to that end prevent large corporations from buying up houses and make sure affordable housing remains affordable indefinitely We’ll support this initiative through income tax relief for those experiencing financial insecurity while creating additional tax brackets for the wealthiest Canadians to ensure their social contributions are proportional to their income and ensuring that there are no unreasonable barriers to work A Liberal government will build 500,000 new homes across Canada every year eliminate provincial credential barriers and trade barriers and eliminate the GST on first-time home purchases for homes sold for under $1 million as someone who has worked to protect workers and end predatory lending I will also have a special focus in my work in Parliament to end unfair practices by employers and lenders that take money out of your pocket More and more families in the South Island are struggling with skyrocketing costs for essentials like housing they’re doing everything right and still struggling to get ahead We need to ensure that we are lowering costs for hard-working families and that’s exactly what the NDP is focused on we propose cutting the GST on essential items such as groceries and children's clothing while implementing price caps on basic food items to prevent corporate profiteering Our plan also includes building affordable housing banning corporate landlords from buying up homes and strengthening rent controls to ensure housing is a human right we will introduce an excess profits tax on corporations making record profits during this crisis These steps will ease financial pressures on families while addressing systemic inequalities in our economy Families in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke are facing tough choices – like choosing between groceries and mortgage payments I’ll cut personal income tax from 15% to 12.75% saving workers $900 annually and two-income families $1,800 I’ll remove GST on homes under $1.3 million to make homeownership more accessible.  I’ll push for housing development on federal lands we can create an affordable future where everyone thrives.  what would you do to ensure Canada’s seniors continue to have access to the services they need I worked closely with seniors across the province to ensure that service delivery was meeting them where they were at A big part of that will be removing the barriers that cross-provincial and internationally trained care workers face in finding work in British Columbia protecting existing service centres from conservative cuts and working closely with local leaders and seniors groups to listen to emerging and evolving needs develop proposals that we can take into the budget process Pierre Poilievre voted against increasing OAS and dental care – I will work hard to protect these important supports Seniors in the South Island deserve dignity and access to quality services The NDP will expand public health care by introducing universal pharmacare and dental care programs ensuring seniors can afford essential medications and treatments without financial strain We will also invest in long-term care by transitioning facilities away from for-profit operators and ensuring they are publicly funded and operated with proper staffing ratios we’ll increase funding for home care services so seniors can age comfortably in their communities By boosting Old Age Security (OAS) benefits and ensuring affordable housing options tailored for seniors we will create a safety net that values their contributions and guarantees their well-being I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with many seniors in the riding I’m reminded that our seniors built the community and many served our country Our seniors deserve efficient health care and financial security that honours their hard work It is troubling to witness our health-care system continues to deteriorate with services Three-year waits for family doctors and seniors travelling off-island for basic care are unacceptable I’ll fight to eliminate the 13 different licensing bureaucracies that keep qualified health-care professionals from serving you.  and my plan will put seniors back in control of their retirement with meaningful tax relief allowing working seniors to earn up to $34,000 tax-free They will be able to keep RRSPs growing until age 73 instead of 71 It’s simply wrong that low-income seniors face effective 50% tax rates through GIS clawbacks Your prudence and work ethic should be rewarded My party is also offering a $5,000 TFSA top-up for funds invested in Canadian businesses It will help us become more self-reliant and sovereign as we stand on our own two feet and stand up to the Americans.  Supporting an aging population necessitates strong social services The Green Party has plans to tackle all of these issues An ideal starting point is strengthening the existing national health system while supporting the implementation of universal long-term care and targeted guaranteed livable Income for people living with disabilities as part of addressing the cost-of-living crisis Not everyone can wake up looking a million dollars after a power nap and the same can be said for B.C.’s black bears emerging from their winter hibernation One bear in particular was caught looking all the worse for wear in Port Renfrew by Jennifer Heinrichs who was stopped in her tracks on April 12 when she spotted the animal devoid of fur around the eyes and snout Saanich resident Marylin Wolovick uses handyDART daily whether it's for social outings with friends for classes at the local pool or for important medical appointments Although the woman in her 70s still lives an active lifestyle she described this accessible door-to-door transit service for people with disabilities as an essential service.  “I get tired even just walking to the public transit bus stop so I rely on handyDART for everything,” she said Cowichan Bay’s Evan and Patty Begbie feel deceived by the federal government over its new Canadian Dental Care Plan Evan retired from Telus as a technician in 2013 and considered opting in to the company’s employee pension plan dental coverage but the company plan was very expensive and the couple concluded that it would cost them more than they would be paying without the employee plan so they didn’t sign up for it I am a senior living in Saanich who relies on handyDART to maintain my independence and well-being I live with chronic health conditions, and accessible transit is not just a convenience for me – it is a lifeline I am deeply grateful for the handyDART service and the dedicated staff who have always treated riders with kindness and respect I was shocked and disappointed to learn that handyDART has recently reduced the number of rides available and changed its scheduling all without any notice or consultation with riders When I tried to book my usual trips within the two-week advance window I was told my requests no longer fit the new schedule but she never imagined returning to politics after leaving her home province of Alberta A graduate of the University of Calgary’s law school McLean served as minister of status of women and minister of Service Alberta from 2015 to 2019 under Rachel Notley’s NDP government.  and three dogs have lived for the past six years McLean felt the itch to get involved with her community.  “I was tired of sitting there doomscrolling feeling like there was nothing I could do,” she said.  she joined the board of the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke Federal Liberal Association as a volunteer and proud “Colwoodian.” Little did she know that shortly after the election campaign launched in late March Mark Carney’s team would approach her to fill the Liberal vacancy in the riding “It wasn't my intention to get back into politics,” said McLean “But when you're called upon to serve at this kind of time McLean says that her electoral campaign has been better than she would have thought.  “The momentum has been huge and swift,” said McLean “The reception at the doors is absolutely incredible It's a lot of fun when you have this kind of momentum and I just know that it's going to keep growing.” After years of experience as an MLA in Alberta and decades of work in labour and employment law McLean believes she is the best candidate to represent her riding at the national level “I'm really proud of a lot of the work that I did [in Alberta] and I helped to oversee the province during really tough economic times for the province,” she said “That experience really serves at this point in the country's history where we are facing incredible threats from Donald Trump and the Americans on our sovereignty and our economic prosperity.” Putting Canada's economic future and sovereignty at the forefront of her campaign McLean highlighted the need to support Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt the third-largest in Canada and home to the Pacific fleet “Carney's commitment to increasing defence spending and protecting our borders – particularly the Arctic – is a key element of this election,” she said.  McLean is committed to dedicating her time to building and strengthening the community Whether it’s partaking in a weekly book club with friends hiking the South Island trails with her husband or taking cold dips in the Esquimalt Lagoon McLean ultimately feels lucky to represent this riding.  “I wanted to call this place home since I was a small child and I'm so grateful that I get to do so,” said McLean.  The return of Sookarama this month marks the gathering of local businesses makers and entrepreneurs at SEPARC Recreation Centre family-friendly setting for community groups and stories," the District of Sooke wrote in a news release The Sooke Lions Club will partner with the district to host Sooke's only trade show which showcases over 80 booths of local businesses and organizations Message Invalid character found in the request target [/campaign-politics/episode/vote-2025---esquimaltsaanichsookesaanichgulf-islands?id\u003d8c81db96-0f44-455d-9a21-272a2e9fa312 ] The valid characters are defined in RFC 7230 and RFC 3986 Description The server cannot or will not process the request due to something that is perceived to be a client error (e.g. Note The full stack trace of the root cause is available in the server logs Canada will play for gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship following a 4-0 win over Slovakia on Friday in the semifinal The Canadians struck three times on the power play in the third period to turn a 1-0 score into a 4-0 final Defenceman Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) scored in the first Jack Nesbitt (Windsor Spitfires) and Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs) each found the back of the net in the third period About the Author: Langley Advance Times Staff The place where the rainforest meets the sea will soon be on the air when a new community radio station begins broadcasting Sooke.Live is the name of the station set to start broadcasting in the district To kick things off they're inviting the community out to join them and celebrate their launch at Cafe Vosino The station comes from the Sooke Radio Society and will be operated by volunteers with some funding coming from a $5,000 District of Sooke community grant The programming will focus on amplifying local stories and voices by allowing residents to connect “The district’s Community Grant Program is all about planting seeds – supporting homegrown ideas that bring people together and reflect the heart of Sooke,” said Deputy Mayor Jeff Bateman “Sooke.Live is a fantastic example of this spirit in action: a locally led volunteer-powered initiative that gives our residents a new way to connect The launch party will give attendees an opportunity to: meet the station team audition to be a weather or traffic reporter win merchandise and become a member or volunteer The station will begin broadcasting live during the event throughout the day this station is here for you,” says the Sooke.Live team “We provide all the training and equipment – no experience necessary!” Sooke is one step closer to bowling strikes and picking up spares following a March 24 council vote, which initiated a future public hearing on the proposed project Council reviewed an application to rezone 6727 West Coast Rd. which is currently classified as a large residential lot The vision for the property is to construct a restaurant and bowling alley razzle-dazzle and all that jazz: The Black Wing Theatre Company is presenting its rendition of the ever-popular Chicago at Royal Bay Secondary School's Teechamitsa Theatre this May Chicago debuted on Broadway 50 years ago this June But it’s a story that dates back even further – to a 1926 play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins who based the work on her coverage of the real-life murder trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for the Chicago Tribune A seven-year-old missing Chilliwack girl has been found alive after she went missing from Winona Road in the Chilliwack River Valley the previous day around 4 p.m she's in good health as far as we can tell."  Chilliwack RCMP had just wrapped up a press conference when media were called back to the detachment for the good news Bowerman said that Lily had wandered "quite a distance" from her home but was in good enough shape to walk out on foot with the search-and-rescue team in place.  "I really want to the opportunity to thank the citizens of Chilliwack that assisted in this search," he said Bowerman had explained the lengths that rescuers had already gone to in order to find the young girl She had chased some neighbour's dogs into the woods beside her home on Thursday (May 1) at about 4 p.m A massive search was launched immediately by neighbours in the closely knit rural area People in Chilliwack gathered Thursday evening to help in the search for a missing seven-year-old girl and she still hadn't been found by Friday at noon.  Chilliwack RCMP put a call out at 10 p.m Thursday night, asking for the public's help to find Lily Coursol Chilliwack Search and Rescue is on scene with a command unit and crews from around the Fraser Valley were out until about 5 a.m. They are conducting a full search on the ground According to a Chilliwack RCMP news release crews are using “all technological resources available” to find Coursol.  They are urging those who want to help to stay away from the area and let the search and rescue teams do their work Initially there were about 20 neighbours searching for the girl into the night and a call was put out for more searchers to arrive Friday morning.  officials decided to stick with trained search crews and those who arrived were turned away. A police checkpoint is in place along Sleese Road.  "We understand the public’s concern and wanting to help; however the search consists of difficult terrain and is a heavily wooded area Untrained personnel in the area will make search efforts more difficult and put others at unnecessary risk," Chilliwack RCMP said.  Police say the child apparently followed her neighbour's dogs into a wooded area but did not return with them An air and ground search are currently underway She was last seen wearing all pink clothing.  Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lily Coursol is urged to contact their local police, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) RCMP say a wildfire near Dawson Creek has impacted communication services in the area A cluster of wildfires are burning around Dawson Creek including G70192 along Highway 52 toward Tumbler Ridge It's listed as out of control at 35 hectares RCMP's North Division says the fire destroyed the Tumbler Ridge fibre optic radio and internet connections unavailable will have to go to the local detachment to report any issues.  RCMP added it's not known when repairs will be made.  The cluster of wildfires have also partially shut down Highway 52 between Brassey Road and Bearhole Lake Road It is currently single-lane alternating traffic.  There's a new grocery game in town as Sooke is soon to welcome Associated Grocers after its purchase of Western Foods.  “Western Foods would like to inform you that we have sold our business to Associated Grocers,” said Edward Low "Thank you for doing business with us over the years." Associated Grocers would officially become the new owners and contacts for any business Associated Grocers is a division of Pattison Food Group which owns other grocery chains such as Save-On-Foods The new group will take over the family-run business “Customers in Sooke can expect the same familiar Western Foods grocery shopping experience that they have come to enjoy with an enhanced offering,” said Brody Powell “We are excited about the acquisition of Western Foods in Sooke and delighted to welcome the entire team from Western Foods to the Associated Grocers family.” He said all current Western Foods staff had been offered employment under the new ownership group which would continue to be managed by Jeff Stewart “Associated Grocers will support Jeff and the team as they continue to offer the community the great service and products customers have come to know and love,” said Powell.  candidates are working to reach every voter they can Voters in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding will have an opportunity to connect with their local candidates at an upcoming all-candidates meeting in Sooke.  The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and the Otter Point Jordan River Residents and Ratepayers Association will host the event at Sooke Community Hall on Sunday Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines.