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October 1, 2024 Rotary Club of Sooke Dear Donor, Here we are again for another Rotary Club of Sooke online auction at www.32auctions.com/vrad2024. Mark your calendar for the weekend of November 29 – December 1, 2024, when items and services like yours will “be on the block”. We are so grateful for your support in the past, we are humbly asking for your support again this year. This is our Club’s major fundraiser. All our funds raised are returned to programs Rotary supports, as well as, requests from within our community. Locally we have several little libraries, we distributed books to local schools and included a reading space at Sooke Family Day. This year we built a gazebo at the Diamond Jubilee Seniors Housing and purchased a large refrigerator for Meals on Wheels. We continue to support our local students with scholarships to further their education. We also made another significant donation to the new Gathering Place. Without your support our Rotary Club would not be able to continue giving back, not only to our community, but to international projects as well. You’ll find the Rotary Wheel at projects throughout our community, such as the Rotary Pier, the Ayre Manor and Diamond Jubilee Seniors Housing Gazebos, the Rotary Skate Park and a teaching garden at John Muir Elementary School. We have been invited back by the Sooke Lions to participate in Sookarama – Business Fair, held in April 2025, where we will hold a silent auction. This means that your donation may be held for this event instead of the online auction. Our online VRAD-2024 auction reaches thousands of people, in Sooke, greater Victoria and beyond - fantastic exposure for your business! Rotary Club of Sooke is grateful for your support, without it we would not be able to give back to our community or internationally. Please, will you support us again? Yours in Rotary, Nel Burger, President Jeannette Wilford, Estella Arlott, Rotary Club of Sooke Auction Chairs

From left to right: Jennifer Osmond, Sheila Thomas and Susan Percival

SAC is Proud to Expand Opportunities for Regional Artists

Dear Fellow Artists, Being the curious sort, I responded to a FB post about an Artist in Residence opportunity at the Sooke Campground. At first, I did not understand how an Artist in Residence could work in a campground. I had a great conversation yesterday with Stella, the campground keeper. Stella has a family background in the arts, has lived in a wide variety of places and brings an enthusiasm for promoting local artists with her. As we stood in the reception shack, looking out through the pouring rain, Stella had many ideas of how to incorporate art, both interior and exterior, as a way to promote and beautify the area. Murals, sculptures, wall art, workshops and interactions with campers were all possibilities. Stella’s enthusiasm was contagious and the potential for including art seemed endless. If any artists are interested in displaying small works in the reception shack the renovations that are underway are intended to provide space for wall display. There is already a selection of laser cut steel silhouette images waiting to be hung. Anyone interested in setting up to produce outdoor sculptures like chain saw carving, cement works, cedar bark weaving or other outdoor friendly products could chat with her about the possibilities. The ”in residence” concept is for those artists who would like to set up camp and share their expertise with other campers on a casual basis in exchange for camping fees. I might just take my little camper down for a few days and set up for some plein air painting. Painting rocks with the kids or sharing skills with adult campers would be a pleasant way to spend some time this summer. (The last time I painted at the flats I got a commission, much to my surprise!) Thank you to Stella for wanting to promote our local art scene in such a unique way. See you at the Flats! ~Susan Percival, SAC Secretary and Artist at Large

The Sooke Arts Council is pleased to be continuing the Bus Shelter Art Project which was originally hosted by EMCS. The project was initiated by Susan Percival, longtime employee of SD62, as a solution to the ongoing vandalism of the bus shelters. This project has resulted in 15 years of beautification, showcasing local talent and maintaining functional shelters. The Bus Shelter Art Project has hosted art from many different sources within the Sooke Region during the years. EMCS art students, primary school students and local adult day programs have proudly displayed their work. This tradition will be carried forward but will also include art and word from a wide range of artists, writers and performers in the Sooke Region. This is in the spirit of support for the wide range of art genres that co-exist and are represented under the Sooke Arts Council umbrella. Sooke Arts Council invites any and all interested artists, artist groups and arts based organizations to participate by contacting Susan at susanpercival@shaw.ca .

"We imagine a vibrant arts and culture sector in which people can bring their whole selves to their work." ~Pathways 

SAC Bus Shelter Coordinator Susan Percival and Team Transit Volunteers Maurina Joaquin and Sheila Thomas.

Susan Percival, Bus Shelter Art Project coordinator, shows this year’s artwork. The Sooke Arts Council will continue to curate and oversee the artistic showcases. (Contributed photo)

Sooke Arts Council member Kimberly Zutz at Whiffin Spit