Just wondering, as it might be good to meet up and maybe discuss the area a bit. We're heading over soon (12th Nov) for a final three weeks visit before we move next year.. if CIC London deem it so

I'm not there now but lived on the island for over 15 years. Still have lots of friends that live there and am considering moving back myself this summer. If you have any specific questions, I may be able to help out or at least get you some answers from people that live there (don't think any of them actually live in Sooke though).

I also noticed that you are in Construction Management - correct? I'm in project/construction management and still keep tabs with a few friends in the civil engineering and construction side of things but then it depends on what type of construction you manage.

I'd also be interested on what you think of the place after your trip.

Hawk13

Thanks for your reply.

I'm a construction manager yes.. but underwater construction using Diving and Remote operated vehicles. My experience in early years was Road and Airport construction but in latter years I've been working as an Offshore Construction Manager for subsea projects in the oil & gas industry. I appreciate you mentioning that you still keep tabs with a few friends in construction though.

Actually, we have found a house that we like and are pretty much set on it. We viewed it a couple of times last time we visited. The owners were in no hurry to move and are gradually moving into retirement. They indicated that they would be looking to sell to us when we are ready to buy which suited us. The price is right too

Oddly, we've only ever visited in the winter.. this'll be our third winter trip and we still want to move there Mind you it's not what most Canadians would call winter

For sure I'll drop you a line after this visit, but I suspect we'll still be sold on the area.

regards
James

If you like it in the winter, you'll love it in the summer.

Sooke should be experiencing a little bit of a boom in the housing market that usually happens after they installed the sanitary sewer treatment plant out there. Beautiful scenery. Little envious.

What took you away? Work, or did you fancy a change?

It'd be nice to meet should you come back over. Just drop me a line when you are over that way and we can maybe meet over a coffee or a beer.

Yeah.. kind of looking forward to our first summer as we are planning to move over in March. Should be a nice experience after three winter visits

Stay in touch.

All the best
James

Long story and would be best told over a bevvie. Short version was to try and save a marriage and she ended up leaving anyway.

If I'm ever down that way, I'll drop you a line and take you on that beer.

Cheers
Ken

Cheers Ken

Bevvie it will be then.

All the best
James
(Ex RE)

I thought I'd pass on some local info we have gathered as a result of us intending to settle in the Sooke region.

We've been in the Sooke area for the last couple of weeks on our last 'Recce' trip to the Island. Hoping to move over from Portugal (We'll turn the lights out when we leave) in March 2013. Assuming CIC give us the green light by then!

We've found a great house in East Sooke. Love the region (been driving all over the place including Port Renfrew, Cowichan, Duncan, Mill Bay, Colwood, Metchosin and occasionally Victoria. We've also experienced some great weather in the last couple of weeks. Not long back I was sat out on our B&B balcony in shorts and a T shirt reading a magazine. Remember.. this is Canada in November!
I keep trying to convince our friends it the Algarve (where we've been based for the last 9 years) that we are not moving to a winter hell! Some are a little more convinced when they saw a picture on FB in my shorts. sunglasses on!

For Sooke weather/climate think of the West Country, UK.. West Country year round (winter too) and you'll be about right. It tends to rain a lot in the winter months but summer months can be almost rain free. For example this last summer they had almost 90 days without a drop of rain! In the last few weeks it's rained a good few days but on others it's been mostly sunny with cloud. No different than say Plymouth in the UK at this time of year. Why people would move to (say) Calgary for example beats me! We have a couple of Canadian friends here that were born and bred in Calgary. They were successful business people in Alberta but in the end the winters got them down and they relocated here with their young daughter... new business and a new life. They have vowed they will never go back. From what I can gather people in Calgary come to the west coast for holidays to get away from the winter... I would suggest people on the West coast don't go to Calgary for anything. so why choose to emigrate there?

I've attended a Sooke region business/economic development meeting at the Sooke Harbour House Hotel, met the mayor and head of the Sooke chamber of commerce, among others. That all day event gave me a better feel for business sentiment in the area.
We're going to watch the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra this Saturday. Yep! You read that right! Not really my cup of tea but probably worth a look all the same.

Been to a bunch of local 'eateries' (to coin a local phrase) and written a bunch of Restaurant reviews in TripAdvisor for Sooke. There are loads of places to eat, including a nice wee bakery called The Little Vienna Bakery. Mom's Cafe is not to be missed either for a North American Diner experience. 17 Mile pub is OK fro a few pints and bar food. Opposite the 17 mile pub is also a well stocked liquor store (Off licence in UK speak). There's also another Liquor sore in the heart of Sooke.

Yesterday we dropped into the Sooke Museum. We were there about an hour. Pretty interesting reading and artefacts. Depending on your mindeset it could take you 10 minutes or 2hrs to visit the place Free entry with an option to donate. Free wi-fi too. Loads of leaflets and maps of the area available for free also.

On the point of free wi-fi. Many bars and eating establishments in Sooke offer free wi-fi to customers. Ask for the password (if required) and that'll be you online. We often drop into The Little Vienna Bakery and get our email/internet/coffee fix.

We don't have kids so have not needed to investigate schools, but there are a few around and they look in not bad shape. No idea about performance.
If you do have kids look at Sooke rather than East Sooke (more remote) for accommodation. It's about 20km from the centre of East Sooke to Sooke. For that reason many kids still 'homeschoool' in East Sooke.

Current population of Sooke is around 11,500 but set to double in the next 10-15 years. The place is set to explode from what i can tell. It's the next... and likely last, area to go through mass development as a 'perceived' (by Victorian residents) West Shore suburb of Victoria. There is not much beyond Sooke with Port Renfrew being the next major town on the map and that is about 50-60mins up the road. Mind you, living here and commuting to Victoria will subject you to the Colwood crawl (Aptly named). I've heard that the drive from Sooke to Victoria can be anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hrs depending on the time of day you drive in or out. We've driven that route a few times over the last three years and, other than an accident (not us!), it's never taken us much more than 45-50 minutes.

Talking of which... there is only one main road into Sooke from Victoria/Westshore. If it's closed for any reason you'll not be going anywhere unless you drive out through Port Renfrew-Cowichan-Duncan route... hours away! We had to sit it out one night in the 17 mile pub (oh what a shame ) whilst they cleared away two cars that had a head on at around 19:00hrs. The road reopened at about 23:00hrs. So it does happen.

If you lived in Sooke would you need to go to Victoria that often? ... was one question we wanted to answer for ourselves. No! Is the short answer. Shopping in Sooke for your everyday needs is quite adequate. There are a couple of shopping malls. Not huge, but pretty well stocked. There is a London Drug store too (a bit like Boots on steroids) and a bracnh of the Source (Electronic gadgets etc) plus loads of other smaller local shops. Big Box stores & bigger shopping malls are located in the West Shore area (part way between Sooke and Vic). About 20 minutes drive away from Sooke.

Property prices around here are pretty flat right now with property having lost around 5-7% over the last 12 months. I suspect we are starting to reach the lower end of the property value slide. It seems like a great time to buy in the Sooke region now because, world economic woes aside, the area is expanding and one day prices will start rising again on the property front. For those that would need a mortgage, like us, I would suspect negative equity would not be a concern.
There are plenty of properties up for sale in the area. Everything from waterfront views, new builds, to older places embedded deep in the local forest.

Hopefully the above will give a small overview of the area.

and if you mountain bike there's lots of trails.

Good crab fishing off the dock pontoons too!

Yep.... Galloping Goose, plus numerous trails through the area. Our mountain bikes will be heading over with us of course

Must remember that one.. plus looking a doing a bit of sea fishing once we are settled.


Recreationally there is just soooo much to do around here. If you like outdoorsy stuff this area will really turn your crank!

We just took a drive up to Sooke Potholes too... nice! Plan to mountain bike ride up that way next year when we arrive.

We are heading back to Portugal tomorrow and I can honestly say this has been a great three week recce here.


Sooke Region.
(TripAdvisor)

Nice people in this area.
Great Scenery!
Mild winter weather (It's sunny and about 9 degrees right now). Not seen a drop of snow since we arrived (as expected).

We've driven all over the area and been to a number of 'eateries' (to coin a Canadian expression) in the process.


Markus's wharf-side restaurant
(TripAdvisor)


The Little Vienna Bakery
(TripAdvisor)


The Edge Restaurant
(TripAdvisor)


The Stonepipe Grill
(TripAdvisor)

Also check out My Chosen Cafe at Metchosen (TripAdvisor)

....to highlight but a few.

Last Saturday I attended a Sooke Business development meeting, met the mayor and head of chamber of commerce for Sooke.

The other day we checked out the Sooke Potholes


Sooke Potholes
(TripAdvisor)

It may be winter (supposedly) here (currently about 9 degrees) but not a drop of snow in sight!, and yes it's been raining a bit, but even so you couldn't help but be impressed with some of the scenery this area has to offer.

Last night we attended, by invitation, a Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra event. (Sooke Philharmonic Chamber Players with the Sooke Philharmonic Chorus)
Yep! You read that right.... Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra!

I was gobsmacked when I realised the size of the orchestra and level of professional and amateur musicians playing! This is Sooke remember! From what I could gather, in the orchestra stylee music world, there were some serious hitters there by all accounts. One couldn't help but be impressed.... this was no village band!!

However, that having been said, it was not exactly our cup of tea so at the intermission we tactfully headed off to the 17 Mile Pub (Near the East Sooke junction) with a friend for some drinks.

Sooke 17 Mile pub
(TripAdvisor)

We'll be leaving Sooke tomorrow (heading back home to the Algarve) and are planning to return in March 2013 (CIC London willing!) to settle here.

Are we looking forward to coming back in March and settling in the Sooke area? You bet your last CAD dollar we are!
Moving permanently from the Algarve in Portugal to the Sooke region on Van Island... Is it the right thing to do... ? Yep!

PS. We promise to turn the lights out when we leave Portugal!