SOOKE IS SELLING!
2015 Sooke Home Sales: 371 2014 Sooke Home Sales: 300 COMMUNITY
INDEX
Sooke Loan Cupboard has been offering medical equipment – wheelchairs, crutches and walkers – to those in need for more than 45 years. Page A3
News Opinion Sports
Arts A2 A8 A23
Upcoming Sooke Community Choir concerts will focus on the spirit, joy and celebration of the holiday season to the masses Page B1
Black Press
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
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Ewan Eric Vedel Tait
Rookies in training
Contributed
Sooke mayor gives birth to baby boy
Sooke Soccer Club players in the Sandlot program battle for the ball during play on Saturday at Fred Milne Park. Sandlot is fun, small-sided, teamoriented soccer for younger players and teaches fundamental elements of the game. For more on the program, please turn to Page A23.
Mayor Maja Tait gave birth to her first child Friday. Ewan Eric Vedel Tait came into the world at 3:09 p.m. at Victoria General Hospital. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce and is 49 centimetres long. Tait and her husband Alec are overjoyed with their new arrival. “Our family is so grateful for all of the kind support and encouragement from friends and the community,” Tait said. “It’s so wonderful that Ewan will be raised in Sooke.” Tait is currently on a leave of absence from her job as Sooke mayor.
Jack Most photo
ArtS grOupS iN tAilSpiN Over grANt cutS Council committee recommends reducing funding to arts council and fine arts society
Kevin Laird Sooke News Mirror
A series of recommendations that could slash funding to several Sooke arts groups will have a trickle-down effect that could cut programs or see the end of some organizations, warn community art leaders. The community grant review committee is recommending to District of Sooke council to slash funding to both the Sooke Community Arts Council and the Sooke Fine Arts Society, among others. Sooke Community Arts Council was seeking
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$4,000 from the municipality. The committee is recommending that the council receive no funds. The fine arts society saw its $7,000 request cut in half. Two years ago council gave out more than $250,000 in annual grants, bi-annual grants and servicing agreements. Last year council began a new process of reviewing grants, starting with its bi-annual grants. This year that review covered the annual grants. Coun. Kerrie Reay said the process was open and letters were sent to organizations. Some of those groups showed up at the meeting to discuss their grants, others did not.
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“There was no hidden agenda. This was very public in the budgeting process [last year],” she said. “I think the grant committee did a good job going through all the grants. It’s very hard when you’re trying to use taxpayers dollars and when you want to use them for the majority of the community.” Reay said the committee decision was only the first step. The recommendation still must go to council for ratification, and she suggested all or none of the recommendations could be voted down. See ARTS, Page A6
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