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1,205 new BC COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths, April 15, 2021 (includes modelling)
Since yesterday, there have been 1,205 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) You may have heard about an independent COVID modeling group (via UBC) raising the alarm about increased cases … Continue reading →
The Sooke Country Market returns to John Phillips Memorial Park, April 24
One year into the pandemic Sooke’s farmers and artisans are ready to continue playing an important role in the resilience of our community April 24th will see the Sooke Country Market kick off its 26th season in our community. This … Continue reading →
1,168 new BC COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths, April 14, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 1,168 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: The total of 114,870 cases in British Columbia to date. Of the new cases, the breakdown … Continue reading →
Flags at half mast in BC as toxic drug supply claims more than 7,000 British Columbians since 2016
Flags are flying at half-mast around the province in recognition of the five-year anniversary of B.C.’s public health emergency for substance-related harms. During that time, the BC Coroners Service reports illicit drugs have claimed the lives of at least 7,072 … Continue reading →
Timothy Durkin’s admissibility hearing again adjourned until September 13, 2021
Timothy Durkin’s lawyer, Ms. Erica Olmstead, made a brief (15 minutes) appearance with immigration officials from the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on the morning of April 14, 2021, regarding the continuing saga of Durkin’s legitimacy in … Continue reading →
Vehicle incident closes West Coast Road (BCHwy14) between Grant and Kemp Lake Road
Update 7:19pm: Road is now open. Original post: According to Drive BC at 3:47 P.M. on April 13, there is a vehicle incident between Kemp Lake Rd and Grant Rd W for 3.6 km (Sooke), closing the road entirely. A … Continue reading →
873 new BC COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths, April 13, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 873 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: The total of 113,702 cases in British Columbia to date. Of the new cases, the breakdown … Continue reading →
Shots fired on a Malahat campground result in arrest
West Shore RCMP Frontline officers have arrested a man after he allegedly fired his rifle at a campground located in Malahat, BC. On April 11th, police received numerous reports of a male who had a firearm outside a trailer located … Continue reading →
Time to vote for your Favourite. Whose got the winning shot… The Lighthouse Society PHOTO continues thru April 17
The Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society today announced over 3 dozen photo entires will complete in the on-line Contest open to everyone. Voting will continue through the end of day April 17 to see which photos make the 2022 Heritage … Continue reading →
3,289 new BC COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths, April 12, 2021 (3 days)
Since Friday, there have been 3,289 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) We are clearly in the third wave. Deaths, hospitalizations, and intensive care numbers are all noticeably increased. 24 … Continue reading →
Highway 14 upgrades near completion
Work on Highway 14 and Otter Point Road in Sooke is wrapping up, making travel safer and easier for people driving, cycling, walking and using transit in the area. A 1.7-kilometre section of Otter Point Road has been widened and … Continue reading →
1,262 new BC COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths, April 9, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 1,262 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: The total of 109,540 cases in British Columbia to date. Of the new cases, the breakdown … Continue reading →
BC’s minimum wage raised to just over $15/hr starting June
On June 1, 2021, B.C. liquor servers will get a pay boost as the lower liquor server minimum wage is replaced with the general minimum wage of $15.20 an hour. This move delivers on a commitment made in 2018 to … Continue reading →
Sooke photographer marks the passing of Prince Philip
London, April 9th 2021 Text and photos by Gregory Varano Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh passed away peacefully today. He recently spent over a month in the hospital and was released on March 16th, 2021. Prince Philip was born … Continue reading →
Missing Indian food in Sooke? Check out Kurry King!
Are you missing Indian food in Sooke? There’s a new curry option in town, called Kurry King. They serve authentic homemade Indian food. Kurry King is open Wednesday to Saturday from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm, operating out of Jenny’s … Continue reading →
Province rolls out grant to businesses affected by “cicuit breaker” closure announcement
The B.C. government will provide more than $50 million to help the 14,000 restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, gyms and fitness centres affected by the March 30, 2021, provincial health orders. The new Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant will provide affected … Continue reading →
1,293 new BC COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths, April 8, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 1,293 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: The total of 108,278 cases in British Columbia to date. Of the new cases, the breakdown … Continue reading →
997 new BC COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths, April 7, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 997 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: The total of 106,985 cases in British Columbia to date. Of the new cases, the breakdown … Continue reading →
Province grants Rogers contract to expand cell service from Sooke to Port Renfrew
Cellular service is being expanded to include a 70-kilometre stretch of Highway 14 between Sooke and Port Renfrew. This will increase safety for residents and travellers, while enabling people to connect with each other in a way they have never … Continue reading →
Front-line working youth aged 16-18 fall between the cracks when it comes to vaccine protection in BC
–Britt Santowski, SPN B.C.’s youth between the ages of 16 and 18 working at front-line jobs, a recently identified provincial priority for immunization in B.C., cannot get immunized alongside their working cohorts, despite the fact that the National Advisory Committee … Continue reading →
Slow down town growth to meet climate change challenge, recommends Transition Sooke
Transition Sooke cautions the District of Sooke to slow down its growth if it wants to meet its climate emergency goals. The group has developed a growth scenario that is markedly different from those developed for the District by Dialog … Continue reading →
1,068 new BC COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths, April 6, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 1,068 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: The total of 105,988 cases in British Columbia to date. Of the new cases, the breakdown … Continue reading →
1,889 new BC COVID-19 cases in the last two days, 23 death in the last four, as of April 5, 2021
Since April 3, there have been a two-day total of 1,889 new cases. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) April 3 to 4, we had 999 cases April 4 to 5, we … Continue reading →
Province adds online booking for vaccine appointments, starting Tuesday 8am
All eligible adults in B.C. will soon be able to follow an easy, three-step process to register and book their vaccine appointments online, as the Province moves to Phase 3 of B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan ahead of schedule. There are … Continue reading →
Wild Wise asks Sooke to prepare for bears
–with information from Wild Wise Wild Wise would like to remind everyone in and around Sooke to prepare for bears, as a year-round observation. Spring has sprung, and now’s the time to think about the fact that we are living … Continue reading →
Two record days mean 2,090 new BC COVID-19 cases in BC, April 3, 2021
Since Thursday, there have been 2,090 more diagnosed COVID-19 cases in B.C. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) April 1 to 2, we had 1,018 cases, in the last 24-hours, we had … Continue reading →
832 new BC COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths in BC, April 1, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 832 more diagnosed COVID-19 cases in B.C. and 11,608 cases are being actively monitored. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: Total cases in B.C. since … Continue reading →
Need time off to get the COVID-19 shot? Province introduces job-protection leave
As part of B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, workers can take the time they need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without fear of losing their jobs. The Province has made regulatory improvements under the Employment Standards Act to quickly bring in … Continue reading →
With 1,013 new BC COVID-19 cases and 3 deaths in BC, March 31, 2021, BC surpasses 100,000 cases
Since yesterday, there have been 1,013 more diagnosed COVID-19 cases in B.C. and 11,468 cases are being actively monitored. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today, where BC reported 43 new test-positive cases, … Continue reading →
840 new BC COVID-19 cases and no deaths in BC, March 30, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 840 more diagnosed COVID-19 cases in B.C. and 11,164 cases are being actively monitored. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: Total cases in B.C. since the … Continue reading →
Temporarily closed restaurants have another hill to climb
–Photo and content by Gregory Varano This photo is taken inside the Yates St and Government St Starbucks who have yet to allow indoor seating to clients. Yesterday’s Provincial government announcement will increase indoor restrictions. Cafes like this and others … Continue reading →
Sooke Hills Wilderness park rescue prompts police call for hiker preparedness
–West Shore RCMP media release West Shore RCMP frontline officers undertook a 12 km hike over rough mountainous terrain to rescue two lost hikers at a popular hiking mountain. Police were notified at approximately 8:40 p.m on March 27, 2021, … Continue reading →
Letter: This approach can lift us out of today’s dire environmental disaster
Marshall Rosenberg developed Non-Violent Communications during the 1970’s and his book A Model for Non-Violent Communications was published in 1983. NVC was taught widely and NVC thought and practice flowered during the 1990’s and to this day. NVC focuses on effective … Continue reading →
Local Toastmaster wins second place in competition
– Article and image submitted by Marlene Barry The members of the Sooke Harbour Toastmasters Club are pleased to announce that Brooke Somers place second in the Division A International Speech Competition on Saturday, March 27th, 2021. Her speech, “Being … Continue reading →
CBSA scoops tonne of opium, literally
–CBSA media release Despite the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are committed to safeguarding our country and keeping contraband goods, such as narcotics, from reaching our communities. … Continue reading →
2,518 new BC COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths in BC, March 29, 2021
Since Friday, there have been 2,518 more diagnosed COVID-19 cases in B.C. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Period ending Saturday: 936 Period ending Sunday: 805 Period ending Monday: 774 Case Counts: … Continue reading →
Three-week circuit breaker begins now to bend the curve, protect people
–Provincial press release To address rising COVID-19 case counts, protect people and communities and help break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, the provincial health officer is amending the provincial public health orders effective midnight tonight, March 30, 2021. New and … Continue reading →
908 new BC COVID-19 cases and 3 deaths in BC, March 26, 2021
Since yesterday, there have been 908 more diagnosed COVID-19 cases in B.C., and 9,996 (was 9,964) cases are being actively monitored. (If you’re looking for a benchmark, here’s the news from one year ago today.) Case Counts: Total cases in … Continue reading →
Space debris lights up Pacific skies Thursday night
Did you see it? Here are a few videos from Youtube. By some reports, it seems to be some unburned debris from the SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink launch. Here are some of the videos from Youtube, capturing the startling sight. … Continue reading →
Sooke RCMP respond to fire at Shelter, man arrested
On March 25, 2021, just before 7:00 A.M Sooke RCMP were called to a disturbance at the Sooke Shelter on Otter Point Road. It was reported that a resident was causing issues, and a police presence was requested. While en … Continue reading →
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Sooke PocketNews is your only Sooke daily online community resource. Real news, no paper.
For local readers: SPN provides up-to-the-minute information on local traffic issues, weather, and dining options. We even offer a daily/weekly/monthly horrorscope (err… horoscope). We will be adding new features, and responding continually to community wants and needs. To add your opinion(s), contact us and tell us what you are thinking! To support us, tell local businesses that you get your community news from PocketNews.
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Britt’s doing a fabulous job! Very difficult work, extremely long hours… and she has to put herself out there to “those unforgiving critics”. It’s not easy… but I can always count on SPN to do it right!
So awesome!! Keep up the great work 🙂
Awesome work!!!
You rock!!!!!
Best page yet for local info