Why Brian McHattie chose Sooke

I first visited Sooke some 15 years ago to enjoy dinner at the well-known Sooke Harbour House. Little did I know I would eventually move here and spend many beautiful days walking Whiffin Spit, which was lost in the October fog during my first visit.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit various places across Vancouver Island. But there was something about Sooke that spurred my imagination. I learned about the ancestral lands and waters of the T’Sou-ke First Nation, the salmon runs in the Sooke River and Demamiel Creek, the rich rainforests of East Sooke, and the information-filled Sooke Region Museum.

Perhaps of greatest interest was the opportunity to experience life in co-housing at West Wind Harbour, where people are dedicated to building a strong sense of community and governing by the ever-challenging consensus decision-making. I love it!

I have a long history of being involved in natural areas protection and land use planning, so here in Sooke I have naturally connected with Sooke community-building and politics. There is (almost!) nothing I enjoy more than going door-to-door in our neighbourhoods, learning from the many stories and experiences of Sooke citizens. There is no more important level of government when it comes to affecting our day-to-day lives. The decisions we make now about development, infrastructure, our natural environment, and the kind of community we want to be will shape Sooke for many years to come.

I am proud to be running with Sooke Together alongside Helen Ritts, Steve Sorensen, and Susan Belford. We share a commitment to thoughtful planning, protecting what makes Sooke special, and making decisions in the public interest.

Municipal elections routinely experience low voter turnout. On October 17, let’s change that and set a new record for voter participation!