SOOKE IS SELLING!
2015 Sooke Home Sales: 361 2014 Sooke Home Sales: 300 NEWS
INDEX
The CRD is expected to raise taxes both in Sooke and the regional areas next year Page A3
COMMUNITY
Opinion Arts Sports
A9 A22 B1
The annual Santa Claus Parade returns this Sunday as Sooke welcomes the Christmas season Page A24
TA M M I D I M O C K
Black Press
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
tammidimock .com
Mail Agreement #40110541
M E D I A
Personal Real Estate Corp.
250.642.6361
SOOke urged tO SuppOrt regiOn ecOnOmic plAn More needs to be done to keep workers at home, says mayor
“It was a bit of an eye-opener for me. I thought it was a very good event,” Kasper told district council. “It clearly pointed out to me that we should seriously be considering a regional approach.” More than 60 per cent Kevin Laird of Sooke’s workforce is Sooke News Mirror not employed within the community and commute to Sooke is being asked to other parts of the region to help fund a new economic work. development agency, which Mayor Maja Tait said would “sell the region.” economic development is A recent summit, hosted fragmented throughout the by the Greater Victoria region. Development Agency, pitched “The reason I support the the idea of creating a new concept is because it keeps our economic body which would residents employed,” she said. include and receive funding “The reality is a lot of our from all 13 Greater Victoria workforce has to commute municipalities. to another municipality for The existing Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency work. I’d rather them continue to do that as we build our is associated with the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce own commercial tax base as opposed to them having to go and receives funding from to the [Alberta] oilsands and Victoria, Saanich and other be out of province to find groups, with an annual work.” operating budget of about Under the GVEDA proposal, $180,000. each community would pay By contrast, the new to operate the economic organization is projecting an agency based on a five-year annual operating budget of fixed funding formula of a about $700,000. 50/50 blend of per capita (2011 Coun. Rick Kasper washome the on 2 acres $409,900 census) and a percentage of only political representative · Great water supply from Sooke who · attended Stroll tothe lake total tax collected in dollars. · enthusiastic Carriage House allowed summit, and was about the proposal. See AGENCY, Page B12
Shelly@ShellyDavis.ca www.ShellyDavis.ca
Brian Rundle photo
Fish snack
#1 Real Estate Company in Canada Sales last 4 Consecutive Years Sooke wildlifefor photographer Brian Rundle captured this black bear chomping down on a salmon at the Sooke Potholes.
EllenBergerud@Shaw.ca LorendaSimms@gmail.com RealEstateSooke.com LorendaSimms.com
Sooke Office: #1B-6631 Sooke Rd. Seaview Business Centre !
HELP
n Ocea
View
erty
Prop
,000 $309
Wanted: Fixer Upper www.ShellyDavis.ca
Shelly Davis 778-352-3535
Ellen Bergerud 250-818-6441
Lorenda Simms 250-217-5787
I have qualified buyers looking for a property requiring TLC or updating. Please contact me for details.
ELLEN’S NEW LISTING New in Heron View…Extraordinary 2700sf home. So many extras… Call Ellen for all the details.
Call Lorenda • Maple Kitchen, Big Lot • One Level, Easy Care • Rancher on Huge Crawl