From businesses in distress to wildlife encounters, these are the stories that resonated with online readers in Sooke and beyond this year as compiled from stats at .

1 -  (Aug. 15, 2024)

Daily congestion on Highway 14 continued to cause a decline in customers, according to Sooke businesses who warned they faced drastic cost-cutting measures, or in some cases, closure, if a solution was not found B次元官网网址渟ooner rather than laterB次元官网网址�.

Business owners were concerned that tourists were being deterred by the traffic and cited a rise in overtime payments due to staff leaving work early or arriving late because of the delays.

Highway 14 traffic has been an ongoing issue in Sooke for many years, but the problem was exacerbated by work to upgrade Charters Road, which finished this fall.

A petition was launched in June, calling on the province to address the traffic gridlock. An online fundraiser launched to raise $15,000 B次元官网网址� in addition to $10,000 already pledged by a group of local businesses B次元官网网址� to help hire an B次元官网网址渆xpert engineerB次元官网网址� to work with municipal staff to explore and implement critical traffic improvements.

Smaller local shops B次元官网网址� particularly impacted by commuting residents who choose to shop in towns such as Langford before braving the traffic home B次元官网网址� urged the community to B次元官网网址渟hop local," warning that it is a B次元官网网址渦se it or lose itB次元官网网址� situation.

2 -  (Sept. 28, 2024)

Sooke readers were smitten with the endangered sharp-tailed snakes found at Ladysmith B次元官网网址� with unconfirmed reports the population extends into Nanaimo.

The sharp-tailed snake is a small species, measuring up to 30 centimetres. Within Canada, it's only found in coastal Douglas fir and Garry oak ecosystems on some of the Gulf Islands and on south and central Vancouver Island, where it feasts on slugs as a primary prey source. The adult snakes are a darker reddish brown, while the juvenile snakes have a brighter reddish colouring. The species is non-harmful to humans and rarely bites.

3 -  (Aug. 20, 2024) and  (Sept. 28, 2024)

Folks also canB次元官网网址檛 get enough of wildlife photographer Brian RundleB次元官网网址檚 work. 

After two years of patiently waiting for his moment, the Sooke wildlife photographer achieved his dream, capturing a rare moment when a barred owl went beak to claw with a crayfish in the early hours of Monday, Aug. 20. He was out photographing tree frogs when he stumbled across the owl perched on a log, staring into the stream below.

B次元官网网址淚t jumped off the log and went into the water and started splashing in the stream,B次元官网网址� Rundle told the Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror. B次元官网网址淏y the time I had my camera, it was sitting on a rock with a crayfish.B次元官网网址�

Not a month later, a sealB次元官网网址檚 salmon snack made headlines as Rundle captured the slick fish sliding down the throat of the satisfied seal before it disappeared underwater to digest its meal.

4 -  (July 23, 2024)

While the first story of the fires raging in the wilderness north of Sooke claimed fourth position, the months-long wildfire sparked several well-read news stories in 2024.

The fire, dubbed Old Man Lake by BC Wildfire Service, was discovered on July 22, prompting an evacuation of both the park and a nearby campground. Helicopter and ground crews battled the out-of-control blaze east of Sooke Potholes Regional Park, which grew from five to 30 hectares overnight, then another 20 hectares by the second afternoon.

The provincial wildfire team initially responded with three crews and three helicopters bucketing alongside local firefighters, officers and Capital Regional District staff. 

BC Wildfire Service officially declared the fire out on Oct. 31. While many park areas reopened, Kapoor Regional Park and the final three northern kilometres of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail remained closed.

"It is expected that rain events through winter will continue to bring down debris loosened by the wildfire in closed areas. Through winter, staff will continue to monitor, assess, and mitigate risks to public safety in these areas," reads a bulletin from the CRD.

The closures are in place through winter but could be lifted in spring once weather conditions improve and slope stability and danger trees are reassessed.

5 -  (Sept. 8, 2024)

Beloved Sooke veterinarian Amanda Book could ironically fill a book with the stories gathered over decades of working in the community as owner and founder of Saseenos Veterinary Services since 1989.

She treated a boa constrictor with a bacterial infection in a place one would want to avoid on a snake B次元官网网址� the mouth. She's also guided clients through heartbreaking situations or helped their fur babies survive things like lodged bullets, viruses, broken bones and more. 

Another client was Erik the Thespian Pony, a star of Wild West shows for six years who also raised nearly $30,000 for charities.

6 -  (Aug. 8, 2024)

After delays in renovations resulting from circumstances no one could have predicted, Sooke Harbour House was ready to welcome guests to the hotel with a long-established international reputation for fine dining and million-dollar views.

Sooke Harbour House Bistro opened its doors to the public in August.

Two months later, following a change at the helm, new leadership at Sooke Harbour House took a measured approach to another official relaunch and grand opening.

General manager the oceanfront boutique resort now offers 28 thoughtfully renovated rooms, unparalleled outdoor spaces and the signature Copper Room Restaurant, serving locally inspired, made-from-scratch cuisine.

Local and regional ingredients are underlined and the restaurant offers an expanding, signature cocktail menu utilizing international and locally sourced spirits with a focus on creativity.

7 -  (Jan. 8, 2024)

The year sadly started with Sooke Food Bank down a significant donation after a longtime fundraiser pulled the plug in the wake of online bullying. The seventh most-read story outlined Benjamin KendrickB次元官网网址檚 halt to fundraising drives after six years of gathering Meanwhile in Sooke Facebook page members. The total of $18,350 raised in 2023 exceeded his goal and marked a total of $100,000 over the half-dozen years.

B次元官网网址淎s annoying as my postings are, that doesnB次元官网网址檛 give people the right to bully, harass and threaten violence upon me,B次元官网网址� Kendrick said in a post that also thanked the community.

Different perspectives honed in on the roller coaster that can be social media, with Kendrick bowing out over bullying, and Sooke Food Bank president Kim Metzger praising the positive side of the exact same crowd while being effusive in her gratitude to Kendrick and his family.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e so blessed to have such amazing support from such wonderful people,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗ow wonderful Meanwhile in Sooke is for the mental health of our community. Their Facebook page is a place of kindness that highlights how great this community is.B次元官网网址�