When the East Sooke Fire Hall opened in 1985 no one thought it would become the central meeting place for residents, it was for fire trucks and firefighters.

Fast forward 32 years and the community boasts a and a B次元官网网址渘ewB次元官网网址� community hall. The old fire hall had always been used as a place to hold meetings and now it is designated as a public hall under the auspices of the East Sooke Fire Commission.

Three people make up the East Sooke Community Hall Task Group and their mandate is to manage rentals of the hall for whatever group wants to use it.

Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue is renting the upper portion of the hall and the lower level is rented out and contains a commercial kitchen and a hall which holds 75 people.

B次元官网网址淭he rent allows us to do some improvements,B次元官网网址� said task group member Dale Morrison.

And improvements it has seen, with upgrades to the kitchen and the washrooms.

As the only place in East Sooke with space for meetings and community events, the calendar has many ongoing classes and events but it can still be used more.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the only place out here really, and the community is growing,B次元官网网址� Morrison said. B次元官网网址淲e want the hall to be used.B次元官网网址�

The calendar on the web page and on Facebook () shows karate, yoga and pilates classes plus meetings of search and rescue, and the Seagirt Ponds Park Preservation Society. There have been musical coffeehouse nights, monthly seniorsB次元官网网址� lunches, various speakers on issues of interest to the community, Books for Breakfast, craft markets, and the hall was used for the last election. They havenB次元官网网址檛 booked a wedding yet but the hall could accommodate a small intimate wedding.

One important series beginning on June 28 at 7 p.m. at the hall will be on emergency preparedness which will focus on individual households and what residents can do to be prepared. The series will be a partnering with the East Sooke Neighbourhood Association.

Coming on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. will be the Rough Voice Singers based on a similar group in Metchosin. The idea behind this is to get community members out for a camp fire sing out.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 have to be a really good singer,B次元官网网址漵aid Morrison. B次元官网网址淛ust come out and sing songs.B次元官网网址�

The ongoing classes include karate every Tuesday at 6 p.m., pilates every Wednesday at 9:15 a.m.; and yoga every second Thursday at 7 p.m.

For more information, please call 778-352-4774 or email: eastsookecommunityhall@gmail.com