Sooke’s CAO, Teresa Sullivan, has updated at least one local newspaper on the discharge of raw sewage. Sooke PocketNews reported this sewage spill yesterday on SPN, through a Fisheries and Oceans Canada notice. SPN was not on the District of Sooke’s select release of information.

So, while we did not hear from the District, we did speak with a representative from EPCOR.

Tim LeRiche, EPCOR, said that the leak was reported yesterday morning (Friday, Mar 4), and it was “diverted and under control within an hour.” EPCOR, he noted, has an emergency response protocol, and that protocol was activated as soon as the report was received. Given that the pipeline was six feet underground, LeRiche said that the response team was quick and effective with their response. The flow was diverted to a manhole in under an hour, which then carried the sewage to a lift station.

Repairs are ongoing, as is fecal testing.

While we are pleased to see the District communicating to Sookies through an independently owned media source, we are disappointed that this information has not been posted on the District’s Newsroom website, for dissemination to the public at large.

This leaves us at Sooke PocketNews, scratching our heads, wondering how the District of Sooke plans to communicate. SPN genuinely applauds the efforts of all social media and print media sources, as collectively we all create a comprehensive snapshot of all things Sooke. One is not better than the other, and each has its own set of loyal readers. Some Sookies might even reference multiple [gasp] sources.

SPN also holds the belief that governments should release, not control, information.

Following is a screen capture of the District’s own District News page, which, interestingly, doesn’t even promote their Special Council meeting being held this Monday. In an earlier email to SPN, CAO Teresa Sullivan identified that she was the media contact for the district.

Screen capture, 1:36 pm March 5, 2015. Click to visit their page, live.