Further to the role of the natural environment in the Sooke area, the parks and trails sustain young peoplesB次元官网网址� employment hopes and older CanadiansB次元官网网址� retirement dreams. They bring people to the island, and keep them here. The six million annual visits to CRD parks and trails attest to their value.

While it states that B次元官网网址渇rom East Sooke to Port Renfrew each person averages two and a half acres of park land,B次元官网网址� a look at the CRD Regional Parks Strategic Plan for 2012 to 2021 shows that the great majority of those parks lay between Sooke, Langford and Metchosin.

Residents of Sooke have to drive to reach them. Residents of Langford can hop on the trolley or step out the door to reach a park.

For the drawing power of wilderness, parks and trails to apply equally to Sooke residents, more parks and trails need to develop in Sooke and points west.

Rosemary Jorna

Otter Point