Sooke Council Invests Again in Community Voices: $7,000 Grant for Year Two of Sooke Community Radio

We are thrilled to share some exciting news: Sooke Community Radio has been awarded $7,000 in funding from the District of Sooke for our second year of operations!

This generous support comes through the 2025 Sooke Community Grant program, which distributed over $100,000 to 26 incredible local not-for-profits. You can read the full story from the Sooke News Mirror here.

During the District's Special Council Meeting on May 5, 2025, Councillors expressed their enthusiasm and belief in what we’re building together here.

One Councillor noted:

“Here is a startup, last year we gave them $5,000. Cooperative radio, in this era when a diminishing number of voices are being heard, it's all the more important for this opportunity to be pursued. It's been a long time coming and I'm excited to see how they've launched.”

Another added:

“This is amazing community infrastructure... I don't know when our money has ever been better spent.”
(Watch the full discussion at 1:34:00 in the Council meeting video)

These words mean so much to our team of volunteer broadcasters and community members who have worked tirelessly over the past year to get Sooke on the digital airwaves. From local music shows to interviews with artists, storytellers, and changemakers, we’re just getting started.

So what’s next for Sooke Community Radio?

With this renewed support, we’re planning some exciting new initiatives:

- A live music event series featuring Sooke's incredible local talent - watch for news coming of these monthly summer events
- Live streaming community events including the Sooke Music Festival this summer
- Continuing to grow our team of volunteer broadcasters and expanding our slate of live and pre-recorded shows
- Our biggest dream this year: to open a physical radio station space—a hub where community members can drop in, record content, spin vinyl and CDs, and create media together

And we can’t do it alone.

We are always looking for new volunteers, whether you want to host a show, help with tech, support behind the scenes, or bring new ideas to life. We also welcome supporting members who believe in independent, community-powered media. Learn more and get involved at sooke.live/join.

Thank you to Sooke Council, our partners, and—most of all—you, our listeners and neighbours. This station is powered by your passion, and we’re honoured to keep building it together.

Onward,
The Sooke Community Radio Team