The Sooke region faces its own set of critical social issues, among them poverty, homelessness, social isolation, discrimination, hunger, drug abuse, domestic violence and the lack of affordable rental housing. But what are we, as a community, doing already to address these issues and what else can we do to seek solutions in positive, proactive fashion?

Everyone in Sooke is welcome to attend a public brainstorming meeting at the Sooke Baptist Church on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. The afternoon will begin with context-setting presentations from representatives of the Sooke Shelter Society, the Sooke Food Bank, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Sooke detachment of the RCMP.

Everyone in attendance will then join breakout groups to discuss and identify key issues. Once this is complete, the group as a whole will seek consensus on which four or five particular issues should be included in a realistic and achievable Sooke Compassionate Action Plan. The resultant document will be shared with the District of Sooke, senior levels of government and throughout the community.

The afternoon is hosted by the Sooke Region Multi-Belief Initiative, a Transition Sooke working group created following the Sooke Community Health Summit in the spring of 2016. The SRMBI’s Michael Tacon will facilitate the afternoon along with colleagues Mark Ziegler and Don Brown.

The CAP plan is another element among others that will hopefully secure recognition for Sooke by Charter for Compassion International. Building on the exceptional services provided by volunteers and service groups throughout our caring community, Sooke can join Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, Powell River and 400 other cities and towns around the world officially recognized as “Compassionate Communities.”

“Much is already being done by individuals and organizations locally to assist troubled youth, adults, families and seniors in the Sooke region,” explains Ziegler. “Let’s celebrate that work while also figuring out what more we can do. The key objective for me is that we walk away with timelines and resource requirements for real-world action by organizations, government and all in Sooke who want to make a difference.”

Please contact Ziegler (markziegler@shaw.ca) or Don Brown (donhbrown@shaw.ca) to confirm your participation or if you have questions. Learn more about the SRMBI, its “Quest” document and the Charter For Compassion awareness drive can be found online.

For More Information

• Contact Michael Tacon at mokijohn@shaw.ca or Mark Ziegler at markziegler@shaw.ca
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