Sooke Region Communities Health Network - SRCHN

The Sooke Gathering Place is a proposed multi-purpose community hub designed to bring people together, reduce isolation, and support health, wellness, learning, and connection for seniors and youth. There will be space to meet and socialize but there will also be programs designed to increase or maintian health and wellness.
It will also be providing opportunities for youth and seniors to work together and develop connections. Feeling connected to our communities help us get through the tough times.

Did you know that the Sooke Gathering Place will also be for youth? Here are a few of the things that youth said they would like to see happen there.
Dance Parties
Board Games
After School Drop in/homework assistance
Quiet space
Knitting club for youth and seniors
Sewing
Place to eat
Children’s cooking classes
Community Discussions
Story Telling
Community Games
Connect at risk students with adults/elders
Gen z video’s teaching seniors about youth slang
Chess Club
Crib club
Pool table
Challenge baseball games (youth vs. seniors)
Movie room
Help accessing Mental Health Support
Learning such as First Aid, Food Safe, Life skills, Art lessons, outdoor survival, Naloxone training,
Guest Speakers, workshops
Youth run business?
Do volunteer hours.
Community Mural space
Learning how to pay taxes, rent houses, get loans, get jobs, car maintanance etc.
Learning how to survive and live independently
Outdoor movie space
Helping Seniors with computers
Having an elder mentor
Friendly to LGBTQ+ and people from differing cultures
Learning to cook healthy, easy, cheap meals
Cook meals for seniors and people in the community.
Job skills programs
Badminton
Gaming competitions with seniors

The planning team would like to thank everyone who participated in the Health Summit yesterday. It started off with some informative information from Mayor Maja Tait and out Medical Health officer for Public Health. This set the stage for the round tables where the over 60 people in attendance were able to share their thoughts of what other supports are needed in Sooke. One of the key messages we heard is the importance of connecting with others to maintain our wellbeing. Stay tuned for the report to come.

ABBA is now sold out! Thanks to everyone who bought tickets. Can't wait to see your costumes - we have some GREAT prizes in store for the best.

On Sept 21. BC Minister of Health Ravi Kahlon was in Sooke to announce the new Urgent and Primary Care Centre and housing being built in Sooke, on Wadams Way, behind Western Foods. This is a partnership between the District of Sooke, Island Health, BC Ministry of Health, BC Builds and Catalyst Development. You will begin to see clearing of the remainder of the lot where the library is located in the next few weeks.

The road entering that property has now be named Sitka Court.

SRCHN is proud of the work we have done over the past couple decades to get increased Health Services in Sooke. While the proposal we submitted with West Coast Family Medical that was approved and announced by Premier Horgan 3 ½ years ago has changed…it still resulted in an increase in Health Services for Sooke.

The project is anticipated to take 2 years to completion.

For more information please see https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026HLTH0084-001106.

Today we put up Vote Yes signs.
The question on the ballot is to show community support for the District of Sooke to help move the Sooke Gathering Place project forward. It does not authorize the borrowing. Next steps will include more fundraising, business plan and building plan development. The District of Sooke would then need to come back to the residents with the actual amount they want to borrow.

As you are likely aware, there will be a question on the ballot about the District of Sooke borrowing the money to get the Sooke Gathering Place built. The Sooke Region Communities Health Network ( https://www.sookeregionchn.org )
has been working on this for many years now...and we are now leading the Vote Yes campaign.
If anyone is interested in having a vote YES sign in front of their place? We are looking for spots that have the biggest drive by viewing as we have a limited number of signs. We would like them to be seen by many See less

On Thursday, September 24th come down to the Sooke Community Hall Dining room from 6:00-8:00 for an open house to learn all about the plans for the Gathering Place!