Sooke residents only have a few opportunities left to learn about the 2026 budget this summer.
The district will conclude phase one of the 2026 budget engagement process with two pop-up events. District Staff will be at the town centre kisok by Evergreen Mall from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. Following that staff will once again be present at their booth at the Sooke Night Market from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21.
These events will be the last of 18 pop-up events held by the district since June, where staff and elected officials have connected with more than 1,300 residents and visitors to talk about budget priorities.
“Our target this year was to connect with 1,500 participants through phase one budget engagement – aiming to increase participation by 25% over last year,” said Christina Moog, Manager of Communications and Community Relations.
“Thanks to your active participation, it certainly looks like we will reach that target! Your voice matters. We are listening, and we are grateful for all of the conversations we’ve shared to ensure your voices are heard.”
For those who missed out on the pop-ups. An online budget survey is available at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget until Aug. 24. As the online survey closes, the final step of the districts phase one engagement plan will begin as 300 randomly selected households are set to receive a print survey in the mail. If selected to receive the survey, residents are asked to complete it and return to Sooke Municipal hall by Sept. 24, 2025.
“Council relies on community feedback to help guide our budget decisions. By sharing your thoughts – whether at a pop-up, through the online survey, or in the print survey – you are directly shaping how we prioritize investments in our community,” said Sooke Mayor Maja Tatit.
