Location

East Sooke is a small rural community located on a peninsula on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is surrounded by the Sooke Basin, Sooke Harbour and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

General Description

The geography is composed of evergreen forest, rocky outcroppings, three mountains and many coves. Within its boundaries, East Sooke has Matheson Lake, a portion of the Galloping Goose Trail and East Sooke Park, which compasses 1422 hectares (3512 acres).

East Sooke’s population of approximately 1600 residents either commute to work in the surrounding area of Victoria, are seasonally employed, retired or self-employed in a home based business.

Economic Activities

Industry ranges from boat building, commercial fishing, crabbing, shrimping, residential construction, excavation and trucking, home construction to cottage crafts. Within the area is one community general store.

Desired Forms/Types of Development

The East Sooke Business Association promotes existing and new businesses. Current business focuses are:

• The natural environment which offers opportunities for tourism, fishing (charters and commercial).
• Artisans who find the rural setting conducive to painting, pottery, ironwork, etc. There are plans to construct a gallery for local artists. The gallery will complement other shows in the community that attract art collectors from the lower island.
• Construction trades are in high demand due to the expansion in the community. East Sooke is accommodating an influx of new residents without losing its local rural heritage.
• Consulting and service sectors find the area conducive to home businesses. From the community, consultants travel the province and the world, providing expertise and contributing to the local economy.