Transition Sooke 606 Water Group
All Wells Here Need Rainfall
Engage BC re Water Security till March 18
District Delays OCP
Ongoing Events
Upcoming Events
National Day of Action for a Just Transition March 12
Transition Sooke Needs You
YOUR MARCH NEWS With everything going on in the world, it's easy to focus on the darkness. But there is light and hope to be found in nature— human and otherwise.
Transition Sooke 606 Water Group
We tend to take water for granted and think it is endless. Not so. Imagine for a few minutes that you do not have fresh water. You get up in the morning, no flushing a toilet, no shower or face wash, no brushing your teeth, no morning tea or coffee and any breakfast dishes sit congealing in the sink. No water for your newly started seedlings that you hope to plant out in a few weeks.
This is the reality of millions of people in the world and would be the reality of a considerable number of people in our area for months on end if they did not pay to have water hauled regularly to their tanks or cisterns. Another long dry summer is predicted for this year and we need to start thinking now of how to get through that by being sparing with water.
Setting up rain catchment now, as easy as putting plastic garbage cans or barrels under eavestrough downspouts, is one way to collect water for spring and summer watering. Turning off the tap while brushing teeth can save more water than most people think.
Transition Sooke Water Group aka 606 Water Group will have a table display for Earth Day where we hope to be able to better inform people about our water here. We are always looking for people to lend a hand or two and who want to learn more about water and its important place in our lives. No need for any expertise and if you are interested, please email 606 Water Group or let Transition Sooke know.
All wells in our area depend on rainfall
We have one big bedrock aquifer with unconsolidated aquifers above it. Shallow wells are likely tapped into one of these closer-to-the-surface deposits of gravel, sand and such left by the receding ice. Wells drilled into the bedrock need to tap into cracks where water seeps through the formation. All our aquifers filled by rain and snow. We do not know enough about the recharge for our area but less precipitation definitely means less groundwater. All life depends on water.
Please give the Government of BC your views on protecting water in Sooke, Otter Point and BC with feedback on the BC Watershed Security Strategy and Fund Discussion Paper
Access to clean water and the protection of our watersheds is vitally important for public health, protection of the environment, and healthy ecosystems. With climate change, floods and drought are increasingly posing challenges for British Columbians.
Do you want bottled water companies coming in and setting up operations our streams and rivers here? Should we be letting development divert streams and riparian areas? What happens if people take too much water and all the wild plants and animals around us don't have enough? Several places in the world have given rivers the same rights as a human. What do you think of that? Are we going to wait until the aquifers are so depleted by humans that they are running dry and the ground above them is sinking since the water layer that held them up no longer supports it?
Note: The deadline for submissions and comment is 4 p.m. March 18 2022
District of Sooke Delays Official Community Plan
The March 7th Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting was to consider a recommendation from the OCP Advisory Committee and planning Staff to give 1st reading to the draft OCP. Staff cannot consult about the OCP with the Province and other agencies without this formality.
Public comment was invited (which is unusual for items being given 1st reading. About 14 people spoke against the OCP and asked Council not to give it 1st reading without further consultation with the public. Many speakers said that consultation was inadequate due to COVID, when in fact participation in the engagement process was high. Landowners and developers were invited to attend their own OCP consultation workshop, yet some said they hadn’t known about it or were too busy working to be involved.
Most of those who spoke were landowners and developers, speaking on the potential negative impacts of a 30-metre setback from the oceanfront, and a down-zoning from Community Residential to Rural Residential. A few talked about affordability and growth. One woman, who spoke passionately about economic justice issues, would have praised the OCP for addressing those issues if she had in fact read the document. Instead, she opposed it. Helen Ritts, who presented the OCP, was not allowed to answer the comments or correct inaccuracies made in the comment period. By the end of the comment period Council was doing backflips to accommodate the naysayers.
So now, the OCP will not move forward through the readings to a Public Hearing, as usual. Now, there will be an extra Open House at which the public can talk to Councillors one on one about the OCP. “Findings” from this event will be brought to another Committee of the Whole and the OCP will be examined page by page. Then will come the 1st 2nd and 3rd readings and a Public Hearing. This could put its passing around the election—making it election fodder.
Upcoming Transition Sooke Events
Transition Sooke's AGM will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022, via ZOOM. We will be saying a fond farewell to Michael Tacon (Moki). Moki was a driving force in the formation of Transition Sooke 11 years ago. We are grateful for his wisdom and leadership.
Earth Day is coming April 22, and Transition Sooke will be hosting various events during Earth Week. Look for a Transition Sooke booth on Market Day, as well as a separate 606 Water Group table, an EV display, climate change art display and a Repair Cafe at various locations throughout the week. Watch for more details in the April newsletter.
Ongoing Transition Sooke Events
Transition Sooke groups are continuing to meet via teleconferencing. For the Climate Change Emergency Teams, contact the individuals listed at the top of the Climate Emergency page on the Transition Sooke Website. Our Transition Sooke monthly meeting is at 7 pm on the first Wednesday of each month, so meeting dates for the next four months are:
Climate Resilience and Food Systems Roundtable | March 16th, 1 - 2 PM
The Good Food Network joins numerous organizations and individuals across the Capital Region with the shared purpose of connecting and aligning our efforts and working together towards a healthy and sustainable food system in our region. Organizing across these networks, we work together to build collaboration between community, government and the private sector to strengthen action.
The purpose of the Climate and Food Roundtable is to bring people together working in Food Systems, Climate Action and related work to network, share information about the initiatives they are involved with and have the opportunity to discuss issues, co-create solutions and opportunities as a diverse group. Please stay tuned for the agenda and zoom link closer to the session!
National Day of Action for a Just Transition - March 12
Victoria, BC
Lekwungen Territorry
Centennial Square
Saturday, March 12, 1:30 pm
It’s been nearly three years since Justin Trudeau pledged to pass a Just Transition Act that would support workers and communities as Canada accelerates its shift off fossil fuels, but we’ve seen no serious progress. There will be a National Day of Action for a Just Transition and one of the events will be in Victoria. Plan to attend!
Transition Sooke Needs You!
Food Security – A few years ago we held a Green New Deal meeting followed by a workshop where we established a number of Action Teams. One of those Teams — Food Security — could really do with some new energy.
Action Teams – Come and get involved in our Water, Local Economy, and OCP and Climate Action Teams.
Council Watch Dog – We need folks to attend council meetings (in-person or online) and write a short report on issues relevant to Transition Sooke.
If any of these tasks interests you, please email us.
Your Opinion Matters! Your letters and articles on climate change, development, and community resilience in the Sooke News Mirror and the Sooke Pocket News keep important issues in the public eye. If you want to join one of Transition Sooke's Action Groups please contact us. And if you have a photo you'd like to send the newsletter, a letter to the editor, or a piece of news, please forward that to us as well. Thank you!
