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Sooke - Through 2025, the Sooke Region Historical Society (SHRS) led a community dialogue asking for feedback on how the museum is viewed by the community, what could make visits more enticing, and what the museum could offer in future.<br>
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“We’re very pleased with the enthusiastic response from more than 1,900 people in all areas of the region from East Sooke to Port Renfrew,” said Doni Eve, president, SRHS. “You told us that most hold a positive impression of the museum and offered many great
ideas on ways to make your experience at the museum better.”<br>
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An overwhelming majority (88%) of respondents had an overall impression of the museum as either positive (43%) or very positive (45%). People of all ages and backgrounds, from all regions, participated in-person and online, by completing the survey, or attending
discussions or activities to share their views about the museum and its future.<br>
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“Whether you painted a rock showing the lighthouse or made one of the many comments regarding parking, the feedback is very valuable and will help guide planning for museum programming and exhibits,” said Michelle Richard, Sooke Region Museum executive director.
“We heard about updating exhibits to reflect broader historical periods and perspectives, and ways to bring stories to the community, such as through heritage signs or exhibits in East Sooke or Shirley.”<br>
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The top themes in the responses included adding more Indigenous stories, offering more workshops, talks, tours, and hands-on activities for all ages, updating and expanding exhibits and improving accessibility. Many respondents said they are interested in finding
out more about natural heritage and connections to the land, water, other animals, and the geology and geography of the region.<br>
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“We are fortunate to have a variety of trees and plants on museum grounds, with gardens and the wetland providing opportunities to connect people to nature through interpretation and different programming,” Richard said. “An exciting development is that we’ve
recently improved the Events Pavilion to open a view of the marsh and added retractable doors to create a space for year-round programming, thanks to funding from BC Arts Council.”<br>
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Details of the community engagement project, along with recommendations, are now available in the comprehensive
<b>Voices of the Community: Insights From a Community Dialogue</b> report published online at:
<span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" class="x_x_x_x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWA0e42e707-a414-508e-012f-1003c5dcd598" href="https://sookeregionmuseum.ca/community-survey/">Community Survey -
Sooke Region Museum</a></u></span> <a data-auth="NotApplicable" class="x_x_x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWA55df3296-83b1-7764-3ec4-3a611723979b" href="https://sookeregionmuseum.ca/community-survey/">https://sookeregionmuseum.ca/community-survey/</a><br>
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“We are very grateful to everyone who shared their views and offered suggestions, and we are committed to continuing to meet the needs of our growing communities,” Eve said. “You’ll see some ideas that we can do quickly or for little cost happen sooner, but
other ideas will need considerable planning and funding.”<br>
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As the museum prepares for its 50th anniversary in 2027, work will begin to refresh the current exhibits in the museum main building. To remain relevant to the communities served, this refresh will be an opportunity to bring in new stories and perspectives
as requested by the community.<br>
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Stay tuned to updates by following Sooke Region Museum on Facebook and Instagram, subscribing to the museum’s e-newsletter, and visiting
<span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" class="x_x_x_x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWA967e506a-67cb-0dc3-a030-833a324a8c08" href="http://www.sookeregionmuseum.ca">www.sookeregionmuseum.ca</a></u></span>.</div>
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BACKGROUNDER AND IMAGES ATTACHED.<br>
For more information:<br>
Michelle Richard, Executive Director, Sooke Region Museum: 250-642-6371, <span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<u><a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" class="x_x_x_x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWA651587c1-1ccb-6023-6ae9-2795c84c7c3a" href="mailto:director@sookeregionmuseum.ca">director@sookeregionmuseum.ca</a></u></span><br>
Doni Eve, President, Sooke Region Historical Society: 250-642-5919</div>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">Michelle Richard</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">Executive Director<br>
Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">Mailing: PO Box 774, Sooke, BC V9Z 1H7</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">Street: 2070 Phillips Rd., Sooke, BC V9Z 0Y3</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">t. 250-642-6351 | c. 778-922-6424<br>
</span><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin: 0px;" title="https://sookeregionmuseum.ca/" class="x_x_x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink" id="OWAa0acff20-64e1-6567-b939-18961c92ab45" href="https://sookeregionmuseum.ca/">sookeregionmuseum.ca</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><i>The Sooke Region Museum operates in the territories of the T’Sou-ke, Sc'ianew, and Pacheedaht peoples, who have inhabited this land since time immemorial.</i></span></p>
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