View source for Sooke

{{Short description|District municipality in British Columbia, Canada}}
{{about|the municipality in British Columbia, Canada}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2013}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                     = Sooke
| official_name            = District of Sooke<ref name=BCmunis>{{cite web | url=http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/infra/library/Name%20Incorp%202011.xls | title=British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address | publisher=British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development | type=[[Microsoft Excel|XLS]] | access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref>
| settlement_type          = [[List of district municipalities in British Columbia|District municipality]]
| motto                    = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline            = Aerial photograph of Harrison Point.jpg
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| flag_size                = 
| image_seal               = 
| seal_size                = 
| image_shield             = 
| shield_size              = 
| image_map                = {{Location map |CAN BC Capital
|label = Sooke
|mark = Western Canada Map Assets Town.svg
|marksize = 6
|position = top
|lat_deg = 48.382193
|lon_deg = -123.728946
}}
| map_caption              = Location of Sooke within the Capital Regional District
| pushpin_map              = Vancouver Island#Canada British Columbia
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of Sooke within British Columbia
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = Canada
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[British Columbia]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Regional district]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Capital Regional District|Capital]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Maja Tait
| leader_title1            = Councillors
| leader_name1             = Jeff Bateman, Al Beddows, Megan McMath, Kevin Pearson, Tony St-Pierre.
|leader_title2          = [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|MP]]
|leader_name2           = [[Stephanie McLean (politician)|Stephanie McLean]] [[Liberal Party of Canada|(Liberal)]]
|leader_title3          = [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|MLA]]
|leader_name3           = [[Dana Lajeunesse]] ([[British Columbia New Democratic Party|NDP]])
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = December 7, 1999
| established_title2       = 
| established_date2        = 
| established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3        = 
<!-- Area    --------------------->
| unit_pref                = 
| area_footnotes           = <ref name=SCref21>{{SCref |year=2021 |unit=csd |code={{#property:P3012}} |access-date=2024-10-21}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 
| area_land_km2            = 56.60
| area_water_km2           = 
| area_water_percent       = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of         = [[2021 Canadian census|2021]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="SCref21"/>
| population_note          = 
| population_total         = <!--CENSUS 2021 DATA ONLY, DO NOT USE ESTIMATES -->15,086
| population_density_km2   = 266.6
<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone                 = [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset               = −8
| timezone_DST             = PDT
| utc_offset_DST           = −7
| coordinates              = {{coord|48|22|34|N|123|44|16|W|region:CA-BC|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m              = 50
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type         = [[Canadian postal code#Forward sortation areas|Forward sortation area]]
| postal_code              = [[List of V postal codes of Canada|V9Z]]
| area_code                = 
| blank_name               = [[List of British Columbia provincial highways|Highways]]
| blank_info               = [[British Columbia Highway 14|14]]
| blank1_name              = 
| blank1_info              = 
| website                  = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Sooke''' ({{IPAc-en|'|s|uː|k}}) is a [[district municipality]] on the southern tip of [[Vancouver Island]], Canada, {{convert|38|km}} by road from [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], the capital of [[British Columbia]]. Sooke, the westernmost of [[Greater Victoria]]'s [[Western Communities]], is to the north and west of the [[Sooke Basin]]. It is a regional centre for residents in neighbouring communities, including [[Otter Point, Greater Victoria|Otter Point]], [[Shirley (British Columbia)|Shirley]] and [[Jordan River, British Columbia|Jordan River]].

==Geography==
=== Climate ===
Sooke has a [[Mediterranean climate]], with warm summers and mild winters, defined by the [[Köppen climate classification]] as ''Csb''. Although its precipitation is more like dry summer climates, its temperatures resemble [[oceanic climate]]s as found in [[Ireland]], for example.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=717991&cityname=Sooke,+British+Columbia,+Canada|title=Sooke, British Columbia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref>{{Weather box
| width        = auto
| collapsed    = <!-- y, if you have normal updates -->
| open         = 
| metric first = y <!-- always, except UK or US cities -->
| single line  = y
| location     = Sooke (Park-Isle Marine), elevation: {{convert|32|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}, 1967-1990 normals and extremes

<!--in the order as it appears in the table, not all of the following data may be available, especially records and days of precipitation -->
| Jan mean C   = 4.2
| Feb mean C   = 5.4
| Mar mean C   = 6.6
| Apr mean C   = 8.1
| May mean C   = 10.5
| Jun mean C   = 12.6
| Jul mean C   = 14.0
| Aug mean C   = 14.3
| Sep mean C   = 13.0
| Oct mean C   = 9.7
| Nov mean C   = 6.6
| Dec mean C   = 4.5
| Jan high C   = 6.7
| Feb high C   = 8.4
| Mar high C   = 10.1
| Apr high C   = 11.9
| May high C   = 14.2
| Jun high C   = 16.4
| Jul high C   = 18.2
| Aug high C   = 18.6
| Sep high C   = 17.1
| Oct high C   = 13.1
| Nov high C   = 9.3
| Dec high C   = 6.9

| Jan record high C = 15.1
| Feb record high C = 15.6
| Mar record high C = 16.0
| Apr record high C = 23.6
| May record high C = 28.2
| Jun record high C = 28.3
| Jul record high C = 29.4
| Aug record high C = 29.6
| Sep record high C = 27.2
| Oct record high C = 21.5
| Nov record high C = 21.8
| Dec record high C = 15.9

| Jan low C = 1.6
| Feb low C = 2.4
| Mar low C = 3.0
| Apr low C = 4.3
| May low C = 6.7
| Jun low C = 8.8
| Jul low C = 9.9
| Aug low C = 10.1
| Sep low C = 8.8
| Oct low C = 6.2
| Nov low C = 3.8
| Dec low C = 2.0

| Jan record low C = -10.6
| Feb record low C = -12.5
| Mar record low C = -6.2
| Apr record low C = -2.2
| May record low C = 0.0
| Jun record low C = 3.3
| Jul record low C = 5.0
| Aug record low C = 4.4
| Sep record low C = 1.7
| Oct record low C = -2.8
| Nov record low C = -10.8
| Dec record low C = -13.9

| Jan precipitation mm = 193.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 142.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 108.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 75.6
| May precipitation mm = 44.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 28.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 21.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 26.5
| Sep precipitation mm = 54.8
| Oct precipitation mm = 121.3
| Nov precipitation mm = 213.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 197.2

| Jan snow cm = 11.7
| Feb snow cm = 3.9
| Mar snow cm = 1.6
| Apr snow cm = 0.4
| May snow cm = 0.0
| Jun snow cm = 0.0
| Jul snow cm = 0.0
| Aug snow cm = 0.0
| Sep snow cm = 0.0
| Oct snow cm = 0.0
| Nov snow cm = 3.4
| Dec snow cm = 8.2

| humidity colour = green
| Jan humidity    = 84
| Feb humidity    = 83
| Mar humidity    = 81
| Apr humidity    = -
| May humidity    = -
| Jun humidity    = 82
| Jul humidity    = 83
| Aug humidity    = -
| Sep humidity    = -
| Oct humidity    = 87
| Nov humidity    = 86
| Dec humidity    = 85
| year humidity   = 83

| Jan rain mm = 181.5
| Feb rain mm = 138.4
| Mar rain mm = 107.2
| Apr rain mm = 75.2
| May rain mm = 44.7
| Jun rain mm = 28.6
| Jul rain mm = 21.0
| Aug rain mm = 26.5
| Sep rain mm = 54.8
| Oct rain mm = 121.3
| Nov rain mm = 209.4
| Dec rain mm = 189.0

| unit rain days = 0.2 mm
| Jan rain days  = 18
| Feb rain days  = 16
| Mar rain days  = 17
| Apr rain days  = 15
| May rain days  = 12
| Jun rain days  = 9
| Jul rain days  = 5
| Aug rain days  = 6
| Sep rain days  = 10
| Oct rain days  = 15
| Nov rain days  = 20
| Dec rain days  = 20

| unit snow days = 0.2 cm
| Jan snow days  = 3
| Feb snow days  = 1
| Mar snow days  = trace
| Apr snow days  = trace
| May snow days  = trace
| Jun snow days  = 0
| Jul snow days  = 0
| Aug snow days  = 0
| Sep snow days  = 0
| Oct snow days  = 0
| Nov snow days  = trace
| Dec snow days  = 2

| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
| Jan precipitation days  = 20
| Feb precipitation days  = 17
| Mar precipitation days  = 17
| Apr precipitation days  = 15
| May precipitation days  = 12
| Jun precipitation days  = 9
| Jul precipitation days  = 5
| Aug precipitation days  = 6
| Sep precipitation days  = 10
| Oct precipitation days  = 15
| Nov precipitation days  = 21
| Dec precipitation days  = 21

| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name = noaa>{{cite web
| url = http://geodata.lib.ncsu.edu/fedgov/noaa/clino/TABLES/REG_IV/CN/GROUP1/01018642.TXT
| title = Sooke (01018642) - National Weather Station
| access-date = July 10, 2019
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]}}</ref>
| precipitation colour = green|rain colour = green}}

== Demographics ==
In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Sooke had a population of 15,086 living in 6,129 of its 6,431 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:15086-13001}}|13001|1}} from its 2016 population of 13,001. With a land area of {{cvt|56.6|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|15086|56.6|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name="SCref21"/>

{{Historical populations
|title       = {{Nowrap|Historical census populations – Sooke}}
|align       = none
|cols        = 
|percentages = 
|footnote    = Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes.
|source      = Statistics Canada
| 2001 |8735
| 2006 |9704
| 2011 |11485
| 2016 |13001
| 2021 |15086
}}

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ [[Panethnicity|Panethnic]] groups in the District of Sooke (2001−2021)
! rowspan="2" |[[Panethnicity|Panethnic]]<br/>group
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="SCref21"/>
! colspan="2" |2016<ref name="2016census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2021-10-27 |title= Census Profile, 2016 Census |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5917052&Geo2=CD&Code2=5917&SearchText=Sooke&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="2011census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2015-11-27 |title= NHS Profile |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5917052&Data=Count&SearchText=Sooke&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2006<ref name="2006census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-08-20 |title= 2006 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5917052&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Sooke&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="2001census">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-07-02 |title= 2001 Community Profiles |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5917052&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Sooke&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| [[European Canadians|European]]{{efn|Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.|name=euro}}
| 13,135
| {{Percentage | 13135 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 11,565
| {{Percentage | 11565 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 10,380
| {{Percentage | 10380 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 8,850
| {{Percentage | 8850 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 8,170
| {{Percentage | 8170 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]
| 1,065
| {{Percentage | 1065 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 865
| {{Percentage | 865 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 655
| {{Percentage | 655 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 390
| {{Percentage | 390 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 315
| {{Percentage | 315 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| [[East Asian Canadians|East Asian]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.|name=EastAsian}}
| 215
| {{Percentage | 215 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 190
| {{Percentage | 190 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 75
| {{Percentage | 75 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 120
| {{Percentage | 120 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 85
| {{Percentage | 85 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Southeast Asia]]n{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.|name=SoutheastAsian}}
| 190
| {{Percentage | 190 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 100
| {{Percentage | 100 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 55
| {{Percentage | 55 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 50
| {{Percentage | 50 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 50
| {{Percentage | 50 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Latin American Canadians|Latin American]]
| 90
| {{Percentage | 90 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 20
| {{Percentage | 20 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 40
| {{Percentage | 40 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 20
| {{Percentage | 20 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 40
| {{Percentage | 40 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]]
| 85
| {{Percentage | 85 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 65
| {{Percentage | 65 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 70
| {{Percentage | 70 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 120
| {{Percentage | 120 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 15
| {{Percentage | 15 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| [[African-Canadian|African]]
| 85
| {{Percentage | 85 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 35
| {{Percentage | 35 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 80
| {{Percentage | 80 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 80
| {{Percentage | 80 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 30
| {{Percentage | 30 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| [[Middle Eastern Canadians|Middle Eastern]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.|name=MiddleEastern}}
| 25
| {{Percentage | 25 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 20
| {{Percentage | 20 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
| Other/[[Multiracial people|Multiracial]]{{efn|Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, {{abbr|n.i.e.|not included elsewhere}}" and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.|name=Other}}
| 75
| {{Percentage | 75 | 14975 | 2 }}
| 45
| {{Percentage | 45 | 12895 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 11355 | 2 }}
| 45
| {{Percentage | 45 | 9690 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 8715 | 2 }}
|-
! Total responses
! 14,975
! {{Percentage | 14975 | 15086 | 2 }}
! 12,895
! {{Percentage | 12895 | 13001 | 2 }}
! 11,355
! {{Percentage | 11355 | 11435 | 2 }}
! 9,690
! {{Percentage | 9690 | 9704 | 2 }}
! 8,715
! {{Percentage | 8715 | 8735 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 15,086
! {{Percentage | 15086 | 15086 | 2 }}
! 13,001
! {{Percentage | 13001 | 13001 | 2 }}
! 11,435
! {{Percentage | 11435 | 11435 | 2 }}
! 9,704
! {{Percentage | 9704 | 9704 | 2 }}
! 8,735
! {{Percentage | 8735 | 8735 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="15" | {{small|Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses}}
|}

=== Religion ===
According to the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 census]], religious groups in Sooke included:<ref name="SCref21"/>
* No religion or secular perspectives: 9,825 persons
*[[Christianity in Canada|Christianity]]: 4,755 persons
*[[Judaism in Canada|Judaism]]: 70 persons
*[[Buddhism in Canada|Buddhism]]: 504 persons
*[[Islam in Canada|Islam]]: 10 persons
*[[Muslims|Muslim]]: 50 persons
*[[Mythologies of the indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous Spirituality]]: 20 persons
*[[Hinduism in Canada|Hinduism]]: 10 persons
*[[Sikhism in Canada|Sikhism]]: 10 persons

== Governance ==
The District of Sooke was incorporated as a municipality on December 7, 1999. It is one of 13 municipalities within the [[Capital Regional District]] and is located in the traditional territories of the [[T'Sou-ke Nation|T'Sou-ke]] and [[Scia'new First Nation|Scia'new]] First Nations.

=== Municipal ===
Sooke is governed by a mayor and six councillors, who are elected every four years. The current council was elected on October 15, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Local Government Election: Official Election Results |url=https://sooke.ca/2022-local-government-election-official-election-results/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |language=en-CA}}</ref>
*Mayor: Maja Tait<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mayor Maja Tait|url=https://sooke.ca/city-hall/mayor-council/mayor-maja-tait/|access-date=2021-07-10|language=en-CA}}</ref>
*Councilor:
** Jeff Bateman
** Al Beddows
** Herb Haldane
** Megan McMath
** Kevin Pearson
** Tony St-Pierre

[[Dana Lajeunesse]], who had served on council since replacing the late Brenda Parkinson following a September, 2019 by-election, was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]] in the [[2024 British Columbia general election]]. His successor on Sooke council, Herb Haldane, was elected in a by-election on July 12, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DETERMINATION OF OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS LOCAL BY-ELECTION – 2025 |url=https://sooke.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/DETERMINATION-OF-OFFICIAL-ELECTION-RESULTS.pdf}}</ref>

=== Federal ===
Federally the District is in the riding of [[Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke|Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke]], represented by [[Stephanie McLean (politician)|Stephanie McLean]] [[Liberal Party of Canada|(Liberal)]] since April 28, 2025.

{|class="wikitable" style="width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+'''Sooke federal election results'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/44gedata&document=bypro&lang=e |title=Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Sooke)|publisher=Elections Canada |access-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Canada|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}|
! [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 17%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''1,256''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 26%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''1,919''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | '''42%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''3,124''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 7%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''542''
|-
! [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | 15%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''1,089''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 24%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''1,728''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | '''37%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''2,691''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 21%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''1,530''
|-
|}

=== Provincial ===
Sooke was part of the riding of [[Langford-Juan de Fuca]], represented by the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|BC NDP]]'s [[Ravi Parmar]]. He succeeded [[John Horgan]], the former Premier of British Columbia (2017–2022) who first won the seat in 2009 and retired from politics for health reasons in 2023.

In April 2023, the BC Electoral Boundaries Commission created the new riding of [[Juan de Fuca-Malahat]]. It encompasses 44,980 people in Sooke, Port Renfrew, Jordan River, Otter Point, East Sooke, Metchosin, Malahat, Mill Bay and Shawnigan Lake. Its first elected representative, [[Dana Lajeunesse]], won election in a tight race in October, 2024 following a recount.

{|class="wikitable" style="width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+'''Sooke provincial election results'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935 |title=Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Sooke)|publisher=Elections BC |access-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Liberal
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of British Columbia|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP}}|
! [[2020 British Columbia general election|2020]]
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} | '''70%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''3,282''
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |<span style="color:#FFFFFF"> 13%</span>
| style="text-align:right; background:#A51B12;"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF"> ''623''</span>
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Green|background}} | 17%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''789''
|-
! [[2017 British Columbia general election|2017]]
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} | '''54%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''2,745''
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |<span style="color:#FFFFFF"> 25%</span>
| style="text-align:right; background:#A51B12;"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF"> ''1,263''</span>
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Green|background}} | 18%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''931''
|-
|
|
|
|
|Conservative 
|
|
|
|-
|
|2024
|39%
|9,308
|38%
|9,167
|23%
|5,522
|}

==Tourism and recreation==
[[File:Sooke British Columbia Canada.jpg|thumb|Sooke Harbour]]
Well-known destinations in Sooke include Whiffin Spit Park, the [[Sooke Potholes Regional Park]] and adjacent [[Sooke Potholes Provincial Park]].

Sooke is home to the [[Sooke Region Museum]].

The area is the base for visiting the wilderness parks of [[Vancouver Island]]'s southwest coast — the [[West Coast Trail]] and the [[Juan de Fuca Provincial Park]], which includes the [[Juan de Fuca Marine Trail]]. Beaches near Sooke include Sandcut, French Beach, Fishboat Bay, China Beach, and Mystic Beach.

The [[Galloping Goose Regional Trail]], part of the [[Trans-Canada Trail]], runs through Sooke as far as [[Leechtown, British Columbia|Leechtown]], the former site of a gold-rush town circa 1865. Once a rail line, the Goose is now a popular pedestrian and cycling route connecting Sooke to Victoria.

==Arts and culture ==
The [[Sooke Fall Fair]] was first held in 1913 and continues on Labour Day weekends annually at the Sooke Community Hall.

== Real estate ==
In April 2022, an average single-family home in Sooke costs $887,500 based on the home price index, drawing from data from the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB).<ref>{{cite news  |title=Sooke at low end of high home prices |url=https://www.saanichnews.com/news/sooke-at-low-end-of-high-home-prices/ |access-date=8 July 2022 |publisher=Victoria Real Estate Board |date=April 14, 2022 }}</ref> By June 2022, that number (directly from VREB) increased to $938,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steibel |first1=Rick |title=Victoria's hot housing market levels off, supply still important for long-term attainability |url=https://www.vreb.org/pdf/VREBNewsReleaseFull.pdf |access-date=8 July 2022 |publisher=VREB |date=July 4, 2022}}</ref> The average home value as of July 1, 2022 as determined by [[BC Assessment Authority|BC Assessment]] was [https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/island-property-assessments-rise-up-to-20-colwood-highlands-see-biggest-jump-in-capital-region-6320429 $831,000].

== Education ==
Sooke is a part of the [[School District 62 Sooke]]. There is one high school, [[Edward Milne Community School]], and one junior high school, [[Journey Middle School]]. The four elementary schools in the area are John Muir (in the town's west end), Sooke Elementary (town centre), the French immersion Ecole Poirier (town centre), and Saseenos Elementary (east end). In 2018, SD62 announced it had purchased land to build the future Sunriver Elementary in the Sunriver neighbourhood. Continuing adult education programs are offered by the [https://www.emcsprograms.ca Edward Milne Community School (EMCS) Society], which also operates with day, evening and weekend programs. The closest post-secondary institutions are [[Royal Roads University]] and [[Camosun College#Interurban|Camosun College]]'s Interurban campus. The non-profit [https://www.sookeregionchn.org/sooke-region-lifelong-learning Sooke Region Lifelong Learning] offers a diverse set of educational programs and workshops both virtually and at the Sooke library.

== Notable residents ==
* Canadian poet, novelist and playwright [[Marilyn Bowering]] lives in the Sooke region.
* [http://www.rebeccacollard.com/main/About.html Rebecca Collard], journalist and broadcaster (CBC, BBC, ''New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone''), was raised in Sooke.
* [https://www.adamdobres.com Adam Dobres], guitarist, songwriter and touring member of [[The Wailin' Jennys|The Wailin' Jennies]] and the [[Ruth Moody]] band, was born and raised in Sooke.
* [https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/342-10872 Phoebe Dunbar], 2012 recipient of the Governor General of Canada Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.
* [https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/342-76645 Sara Fowler], 2015 recipient of the Governor General of Canada's Caring Canadian Award.
* [https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/idyllic-new-life-kingsley-jones-20632787 Kingsley Jones], head coach of the Canadian men's national rugby team.
* [[Darrel J. McLeod]], Governor General's Award-winning author, lives in the Sooke region.
* [https://www.vicnews.com/news/sooke-resident-wendy-morton-receives-order-of-b-c-32853 Wendy Morton], poet and 2017 recipient of the Order of British Columbia, lives in the Sooke region.
* [[Bryce Soderberg]], bassist and vocalist for American rock band [[Lifehouse (band)|Lifehouse]].
* [https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/author/nicola-temple/ Nicola Temple], co-author of ''[https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/bookshelf/193031/sorting-the-beef-from-the-bull-the-science-of-food-fraud-forensics Sorting the Beef from the Bull: The Science of Food Fraud Forensics]'', spent her teenage and young adult years in Sooke.
* [[J. Lee Thompson]] (1914–2002), British film producer and director (''[[Cape Fear (1962 film)|Cape Fear]]'', ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'')
* Kevin Wenstob, Canadian logger and subject of the reality TV series ''[[Big Timber (TV series)|Big Timber]]''.

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Sooke<br/>{{Nobold|(surrounds [[T'Sou-ke Indian Reserve|T'Sou-ke IR]])}}
 | N  = [[Juan de Fuca Electoral Area|Juan de Fuca Pt. 1]]
 | E  = [[Metchosin]]
 | S  = ''[[Strait of Juan de Fuca]]'' / [[Juan de Fuca Electoral Area|Juan de Fuca Pt. 1]] ([[East Sooke]])
 | W  = [[Juan de Fuca Electoral Area|Juan de Fuca Pt. 1]] ([[River Jordan, British Columbia|River Jordan]])
 | NW = [[Juan de Fuca Electoral Area|Juan de Fuca Pt. 2]]
}}
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[[Category:Populated places on the British Columbia Coast]]
[[Category:District municipalities in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Capital Regional District]]
[[Category:Greater Victoria]]
[[Category:Juan de Fuca region]]