Sooke, a small town of about 10,000, is located on the south west tip of Vancouver Island. The first Europeans sailed into the Sooke Harbour in 1789, under direction of Sub Lieutenant Manuel Quimper, commander of “Princesa Real” and were greeted by members of the T’Sou-ke Nation, the first inhabitants of this area. In 1849 the first immigrants arrived, bringing with them seeds of industry. Fishing and logging became the mainstays of the region for many years. Bouyed by our moderate climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, the area now is rife with people having a diverse range of talents and those wanting to spend time closer to nature and away from the big busy bustle of the cities. Artists, artisans, crafts people, and entrepreneurs of various sorts and talents have made it a destination shopping area for those wanting to get back to the artistry of handcrafted goods, and holistic ways.

For more history on Sooke, browse at Sooke Region Museum