Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – The District of Sooke’s seasonal sandbag station, located at the Ed Macgregor Park parking lot, will officially close for the season on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
This year, the station provided complimentary sandbags to local residents through a 24/7 self-serve service from October to April—a simple but impactful way the community comes together to prepare for and respond to seasonal flooding events.
The District gratefully acknowledges the Sooke Parks team for maintaining sand and bag supply throughout the season and the funding support of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness B.C., which helped ensure the station’s accessibility.
“This station is just one example of how we support community preparedness, helping residents to proactively manage flood risks and build resilience,” says Ryland Bennett, Emergency Program Manager. “The more we work together to prepare, the stronger and more resilient we become as a community.”
Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility, and every action counts. As we continue building local capacity to face emergencies and climate-related challenges, residents are encouraged to:
- Sign up for Alertable, the District’s public emergency notification system: sooke.ca/alert
- Join the “Hike for High Ground” on Wednesday, April 17 at 11am, a fun, family-friendly event promoting tsunami awareness and evacuation readiness.
- Visit Emergency Support Services at Sookearama, taking place at SEAPARC, on Saturday, April 26 from 10am to 3pm.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to build local resilience. Recently, the District secured a $150,000 Community Emergency Preparedness Fund grant to enhance Sooke’s emergency preparedness and climate adaptation planning. This project will strengthen our understanding of climate risks, support coordinated planning, and improve emergency response capabilities across the community.
Together, through accessible resources, collective action, and community-focused programming, we are building a safer and more resilient Sooke.
Learn more about the District of Sooke Emergency Program on our website:
Sooke Emergency Program