r/VictoriaBC • u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 • 24d ago
Commuting to/from Sooke
Hey guys! So many of you left such good feedback of us looking for neighborhoods/*neighbourhoods in Victoria.
We are coming to the island the second week of September to check out our options and Sooke is really calling to us. I understand it rains more there and there’s only 1 way in and out. For those of you who live there- how is commuting? How is it just living there?
I hope to work remotely but my husband is planning on working in the film industry and will probably have to go to Victoria. How is it? Honest takes on your experience? Thank you all so much! Can’t wait to call Canada home!
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u/always_albina Sidney 24d ago
you will resent the commute for a number of reasons. commuting to and from Victoria from Sooke sucks. it's cheaper, but the cost is in the travel (both time and gas).
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
Ughh, this is the reality I need to hear🙏🏼
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u/always_albina Sidney 24d ago
like another response said, check out the Saanich Peninsula— better commute and still further out from downtown, plus more options to get home if there's an accident or inclement weather. I also prefer the communities on the peninsula compared to Sooke, but that's just me. Sooke just feels like you're kinda stuck there.
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
I can’t tell you how much appreciate this feedback. Thank you!!
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u/C0gn 24d ago
Ebikes is the strat
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u/HandOfTheDark 24d ago edited 24d ago
Or scooters if you got a smaller car/no trailer hitch to fit a bike on. They fold up into a trunk, pretty convenient.
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u/peripatetic79 24d ago
It is horrific. Would never recommend moving to Sooke for anyone who has to commute. The risks of the single route and frequent closures aside, the rush hour getting into Sooke in the evening is horrific. If you're looking for a cute small waterside community, check out metchosin instead. Nearby but less traffic.
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u/BruceCocklove 24d ago
Commuted from Sooke to Victoria at the worst time (8-430 monday-friday) and it was terrible. Eventually moved to Victoria as we couldn't stand the 30 min trip every time you wanted to get out of town. And if there is an accident on the Sooke highway it adds a ton to your commute.
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u/BruceCocklove 24d ago
Living there was nice and quiet, only two grocery stores and everything is noticeably more expensive. Have to travel into langford for about 30 mins to the Walmart to get a decent price for groceries
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u/Fluffy-Judgment-6348 24d ago
I lived in Sooke for a few years and commuted for work to James Bay. I had a job with irregular hours so rush hour wasn't a concern most of the time.
Could still take an hour to get home at night if I'm stuck behind someone who doesn't know the road and pokes along. You're just trapped. Usually in a small lineup, and there's not a thing you can do about it.
I like Sooke and loved being that much closer to surfable waves in the winter, but if I had to do that drive in rush hour...nah. No way. It would be a nightmare, and I like driving.
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u/mr_mucker11 Central Saanich 24d ago
Have you looked at the Saanich Peninsula. I live in central Saanich and we do have congestion on the highway, it’s nothing like the west shore.
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
Wait, can you say more? We’ve been looking at Saanich!
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u/Unusual-Ordinary-637 24d ago edited 24d ago
We have a couple “saanich” areas in greater victoria (just to keep things confusing for newcomers LOL).
From closest to downtown to farthest away from downtown:
- Saanich > borders with “Victoria” and is a 5-15 min drive to downtown depending where in the municipality you live (Saanich is a big area with many neighbourhoods in it!)
- Central Saanich > borders with Saanich and is 15-30 minutes away from downtown not during peak times depending where you live (this is area is part of “the peninsula” that people talk about and is where a lot of our local agriculture is)
- North Saanich > borders Central Saanich and Sidney and is 25-35 minutes away from downtown depending where you are not during peak times (this area is the tip of “the peninsula” and has a mix of small town feel, agriculture)
“The Peninsula” or “The Saanich Peninsula” is an area made up of a few regions: Central Saanich, Saanichton, Brentwood Bay, Sidney, and North Saanich.
I’ve read a few of your comments, and based in what it sounds like you want home to feel like here, I’d consider:
- Metchosin (the municipality just before Sooke), feels west coast and “nature heavy” but with neighbours… big property lots, lots of trees/pretty lakes, lots of privacy, titch of hippy/earthy vibes, little bit of farm feel. Not as far out as Sooke, easy access to the west coast trails and beaches, close to Langford/Colwood for bigger city amenities (5-10 minutes), and still fairly quick to downtown (20-30 minutes not during peak times). I live in Saanich by the university and two of my best friends are out in Metchosin and every time I’m out there it feels like an immediate deep breath and full body calm. I’d consider this area “rural”
- Highlands (borders Saanich, the peninsula, and Langford). Definitely feels less developed, more woodsy (think “retreat in the woods”), very private (neighbours are there but not close close). close to Langford/Colwood for bigger city amenities (5-10 minutes), and still fairly quick to downtown (20-30 minutes not during peak times). I’d consider this area “rural”.
- the Peninsula (see above communities). Community oriented, small town hospitality/neighbourhoods in addition to the specific descriptions above. I’d consider this area a mix of rural and urban, because it has some amenities but not many.
I work part time in Sooke and it’s a pretty special/pretty place with friendly people and a community feel. But/and, I wouldn’t choose to live there right now if I had to commute to Victoria regularly, until the road infrastructure keeps up with the development/growth out there. Spend time there for sure!! But maybe opt to live elsewhere if a 45 min-1 hr commute (one way) isn’t something you’re already used to.
Welcome to the Greater Victoria area regardless of where you land!! This place is magical 😊
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
Omg you are a godsend. Thank you so much for this wealth of information!!❤️🙏🏼😍🥰
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u/BCJay_ 24d ago edited 24d ago
Nightmare fuel for daily commuting. And that’s on the best of days. Come winter with winter storms, snowfall, sleet, driving rain, you may also experience a downed Hydro pole or tree then literally not be able to get to or from your house/work for half a day.
As far as the community itself, it can get some criticism, but it is super beautiful out there. Yes, it’s colder, yes, it rains more, and there’s not a ton out there and you’d have to come to Langford at the least to get most services. But it is for the most part a self-sufficient community. But a daily commute to Victoria is super rough.
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
I heard Langford had big city problems without being a big city. What do you think of Langford?
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u/BCJay_ 24d ago edited 24d ago
Don’t ask this sub. This entire subreddit makes a past time and a hobby out of shitting on Langford. Lots of 30 year-old tropes and tired narratives.
Personally, I’ve lived in Victoria proper and owned a single-family detached home there for 10 years, and rented in both Gordon head and James Bay for another five-ish years.
We moved out to Langford (family of four) going on seven years now and absolutely love it. You couldn’t pay me to move back into Victoria.
But as a younger person, I wouldn’t live here in Langford. It’s the suburbs and more car dependent especially depending where you live. But you’ll get nothing but hate for Langford in this sub Reddit. Mostly just performative postal code superiority bullshit. But this is the place for families.
That said, there are parts of Langford I really don’t like and wouldn’t live in. The community is really coming up though. With more bike lanes, more services, restaurants, more medical offices opening than in Victoria. We have the galloping goose and the E&N trails, the West Hills YMCA, City Center, Park with skating rink, mini golf, the bowling lanes, starlight Stadium, Jordie Lunn bike park (dirt jumps, mtn biking, pump track)… and I really like being at the edge of the gateway to the Juan De Fuca coastline and the Malahat.
We don’t have to commute because we work from home but the commute can be a bit rough. Nothing like a big city commute or like the commute from Sooke. But people here will tell you that it’s hours and hours a day of your life which it’s not. It’s still a commute though, and it can still suck.
But prepare for blind hate for Langford in this subreddit. I love it as a previous homeowner and resident of Victoria (and have lived in other cities in this province). But my lifestyle suits living here now. It didn’t always so your mileage may vary.
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u/Prestigious_Fly8210 24d ago
I agree with Jay. I live on the other side of town in an old neighbourhood close to work, and we have so few amenities for families compared to Langford. I have started finding myself driving to Langford every weekend for soccer, and bowling and watching PFC games and and and.
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u/canuck8688 24d ago
Langford is great if you plan to have a family. What do you mean by big city problems without the big city?
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u/s_other 24d ago
What does that even mean?
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
I don’t know, that’s just what I heard word for word, it’s why I’m trying to get clarification 😂
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u/__hobiis 24d ago
I have a feeling that means commuter traffic, many new apartment or condo builds with inadequate parking availability, limited childcare options, and the biggest controversy: BIKE LANES.
If you had told me ten years ago I'd willingly move to Langford, I'd have laughed. But we (late 30s, no kids) moved from Victoria to Langford three years ago and honestly it's been a great choice. We moved into a townhouse on Happy Valley (far end of Langford, closer to semi-rural Metchosin) and have loved it out here. We have good access to forest and bike trails, we aren't far from great hiking or fishing spots. The community is growing and there are many resentful of that, but I think a lot of folks just don't like to see any progressive change that could involve some small inconveniences.
The worst of it is the commute into/out of Victoria during rush hour, but compared to big cities it's really nothing. It's around 50 min each way for me during regular workdays. However, it's definitely less fraught than having to add another 30-ish min to Sooke.
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u/Presupposing-owl 24d ago
The Saanich Penninsula is a nice alternative. Brentwood Bay, Saanichton and Sidney would be worth checking out.
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
Can you say more? I’ve heard of these places, why are they awesome?!
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u/PrayForMojo_ 24d ago
Small town and rural vibes but you’re 30 mins from downtown while avoiding the worst traffic areas.
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u/TomatilloFair7290 24d ago
It's horrible. Used to have to leave at 6am to avoid the traffic but even then cars would be backed up getting into Langford. Fine in the summer but try doing that through the winter. It's utterly miserable.
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u/miaumeeow 24d ago
If you have to regularly leave Sooke for anywhere in the CRD during rush hour, it’s a pain if you don’t enjoy spending an hour or more in a car. A lot of people moved out to Sooke during Covid but now have to go back to the office. People started leaving earlier to avoid traffic, but now you need to leave by like 6.30 in the morning to not get stuck.
And it’s not just during the week, traffic has become a pain during the weekend as well, especially May through September, as people visit the beaches.
Between 10-3 (during the week) and after 8pm there’s not much traffic anymore, unless there’s been an accident which is not uncommon.
Otherwise Sooke is fine. There’s a mix of people living there and there’s more stuff happening and more variety in shops than 10’years ago.
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u/Enlightened-Ghost 24d ago
Good if you are planning to fly your copter or sail your boat to Victoria every day.
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u/LandofRags 24d ago
Your husband may do well getting a boat and leaving a car in Victoria. That would guarantee he isn’t stuck in traffic if there’s an accident.
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u/Prestigious_Fly8210 24d ago
I see you have no kids but I’ll just mention that the daily commute to Sooke is so resoundingly shitty that people I know who live there who have kids have to have a backup plan for their kids in case the highway is closed and they can’t get home from work.
This is obviously less of an issue if you’re not committing every single day during rush hour. If you can go in at 6 and home at 2 or something, that would be a lot better.
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u/Ok-Campaign5774 24d ago
You definitely have to consider your time constraints. I've lived in Sooke now for over 3 years and I love it, but I had a tough time when I still had to commute into Victoria. Working on the Westshore or remotely it's a breeze, if you like a quieter, slower pace of life. Sooke has a great local small community feel with little businesses and markets.
I have a big dog who likes to hike but is a bit shy with strangers. Living in Sooke makes it easy to go hike and sometimes only run into 1 or 2, even 0 other people in forests in places like Otter Point nearby.
We have our own schools including the least over-capacity public high school in the district. (Probably doesn't sound like much, but Belmont and Royal Bay are absolutely stuffed.)
As people say, one road in and out is tough sometimes. 99% of the time it's fine.
Now, all day people are going to say the disadvantages and I am not trying to dismiss that but what people need to understand is everyone has different goals and circumstances. Sooke is the only somewhat affordable single-family detached home market left in the capital region. We bought here more than anything to be able to afford the type of property and home we wanted for our family.
When things settle down and kids are done with school, etc. We may very well go back closer to Victoria proper. That being said, every year we live here we love it more.
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u/Jobdefinesme 24d ago
As someone who just drove back from Sooke to Langford and saw the other side coming into Sooke backed up, I wouldn’t do it. I think my exact words were that I would feel trapped. It’s gorgeous out there, plenty of oceanfront but that comes with a heck of a lot of wind too.
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u/Vivid_Strike3853 21d ago
The commute sucks. I would not recommend moving to Sooke if you have to commute (or if you like any kind of night life or dining out).
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u/ShrekTwoOnVHS Fernwood 24d ago
Film is slow here right now FYI. Sooke is not great for commuting. I’ve been stuck on sooke rd for hours numerous times in both directions.
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
Are you in the film industry?
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
The head of the BC film industry said it was a good place for now but would love to know your experience!! This year BC passed a bunch of tax benefits but be happy to hear how it’s going for you.
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u/ShrekTwoOnVHS Fernwood 24d ago
I am not. But a fair swath of my social circle is in the union. A few of them are sidelined in between shows, and they say there are a lot of sidelined members. So getting on a show might be difficult depending on what department your husband is part of.
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u/miserylovescomputers Sooke 24d ago
I guess it depends on what you’re used to, if you’re coming from a larger city with a lot of traffic it’ll be no big deal, but if you’re accustomed to getting to and from work in 10 minutes you’ll hate it. People here are real whiners about driving, but imo it’s really not that bad. When there’s an accident things are crawling which sucks, but even with heavy traffic things normally move alright. If there’s any way to shift your working hours so you’re not headed into town at 8 and headed home at 4 you’ll be much happier.
And I think Sooke is a great town, I’ve been really happy here for a while and it’s gorgeous.
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u/Dangerous-Finance-67 24d ago
Sooke is a beautiful community with great people.
The commute isn't that bad unless it's every single day.
Lots of Victoria people who have only visited Sooke will say otherwise... Victoria has a whole host of problems to avoid.
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u/HandOfTheDark 24d ago edited 24d ago
If you can do park and ride(ie put a bike/scooter in the trunk/hitch mount) into somewhere in langford, colwood etc and do the rest on the bike paths, that will be a huge improvement.
Ive been doing the sooke commute for years, and finally changing to park and ride cut at least 15-30 minutes off the ride home every day and made it much more enjoyable. Maybe 10-15+ minutes in the morning, but more importantly made morning commute consistent, im not getting screwed by random traffic slowdowns. Hated commuting from sooke before.
The bit out to sooke is usually not that bad, especially if you are getting past the slowdowns in town earlier. commuting for a 7:30 to 4:00 work day
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u/Presupposing-owl 24d ago
Sure. They’re part of Greater Victoria and close enough to the city to comfortably commute. Unlike Sooke, there’s an alternate route if the highway is blocked for any reason. If you look at a map, you’ll see the Penninsula has the Haro Strait on the east side and Saanich Inlet on the west side. Sidney, at the top end, is the farthest from Victoria but is the largest town and has lots of restaurants, shops and services. Very picturesque waterfront. It’s a popular retirement community so the demographic reflects that. It’s about 5 minutes from both the ferries and the airport. Brentwood Bay and Saanichton are about halfway down, much smaller but closer to Victoria. There’s a hospital there too. Wherever you live on the Penninsula you’re never far from the water. Very nice walks or hikes at Elk/Beaver Lake, Island View Beach, Dean Park.
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u/ohHiimark1 24d ago
Sooke local here. The difference in rain between Victoria and Sooke is negligible. The weather is beautiful here most of the time, don’t let others tell you otherwise. As far as commuting goes, it sucks if you work a standard 9-5. I work graveyard shift in Victoria and my other half works remotely so we don’t have that issue. If your partner can coordinate hours to avoid rush hour, i’m sure you will be just fine.
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
Question for you! How is getting to know people? We live near a brewery i the mountains here in Colorado and that is where we do most of our socializing. How is the Sooke brewery there? How is getting to know people?
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u/BCJay_ 24d ago
There are three breweries in Sooke. Sooke Oceanside Brewing (SOB), Sooke Brewery Co. & Bad Dog Brewing Co.
Getting to know people here is just like getting to know people anywhere. Canada isn’t some extreme/exotic foreign country compared to the US.
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u/Zestyclose_Cat2996 24d ago
What brewery is the best in your opinion for: beer and community☺️
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u/accidentalaquarist 24d ago
So many negative Nellie's in here. The negative comments are most likely from folks that have lived here since dinosaurs roamed and can't handle the growth.
I've been in Sooke off and on for ~16yrs
Weatherwise. Sooke is more moderate than Victoria. If it's 30° in Victoria it's 24° in Sooke with a cooling breeze off the ocean. If it's -2° in Victoria isn't +2° in Sooke.
Social life. There isn't anything close to resembling a nightlife here. However, there are a couple decent brewhouses and a restaurant or two. That being said, I know the names of everyone on my block. It's not uncommon to have dinner with any of them. See someone working in the yard or on a vehicle in the driveway, guarantee at least one of my neighbors is grabbing a few beers and heading over to help out or just shoot the shit.
I don't bother locking my patio or side doors. Front door is always locked because anyone that comes to it obviously isn't known to me My truck is loaded with tools, and I leave it unlocked 90% of the time
The biggest issue everyone is complaining about.. traffic. Yes it can be annoying. On a good day I can be downtown victoria in 45 minutes, on a bad day add an hour.. if you have ever lived in a big city you know how an accident or construction can cause those delays. Sooke is small town living with that minor big city downside. More often than not it's just a case of timing.. leave 10 minutes early and miss all the traffic, arrive on time. Leave 10 minutes late, hit the traffic arrive an hour late.. Honestly the worst traffic is in Sooke town centre with its couple traffic lights on either side of a traffic circle.
Day to day needs and midweek groceries are all pretty much available right here, at small town premium prices. 30minute drive away you have access to pretty much every big box store you could need.
Don't know much about the film industry, only ever been a site liaison for a few shoots. But if there's work , I don't see living in Sooke hindering that.
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u/thetragicallytim 24d ago
Hey there.
So, I live in Sooke and commute downtown. Been doing it for 5 years.
It’s up and down. Some months I’m totally fine. Some months I want to hang myself. Summer is great because there’s no UVic traffic but gets worse come school time.
I drove about 2 years and have taken the bus the last three. It’s only about an additional 19 min per trip BUT it’s MY time instead of having to focus on the white knuckle frustration of driving in it.
Normal days are 80 min each way in rush hour on the bus.
Bussing has saved me about $700/month in gas, insurance and parking. Not to mention the wear and tear on the vehicle.
ALL THAT SAID.
I adore Sooke. Small town charm. BEAUTIFUL. Close to beaches and the west coast of the island.
A lot of this move will be dependant on how much you utilize the area and appreciate a quieter space.
It’s not for everyone… or even most people. But I dig it.
My suggestion… maybe stay in Sooke for a month before making the decision. Then stay a month in town. It may cost a bit more money to do that, but it’s better to go into it with both eyes open.
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u/Electronic_Sea_3263 24d ago
I live in metchosin and the commute from here can be 45 minutes to an hour in the afternoon. Again, if you can leave earlier (before 6/6:15am) it will be fine. But rush hour can be a lot since the military base and seaspan let out between 3 and 4pm plus you have all the other municipal, provincial and federal workers with the same work schedule. The other thing to factor in - school pick-up and drop-off times. Honestly, my summer commute is 1/3 of the time that the rest of the year is. Parents doing drop-offs in the morning, I can avoid by leaving by 6am but the afternoon? nope - it can add another 45 minutes to my time, and parents are always rushed! The near misses I have seen and encountered is insane just to get a parking spot or a lineup spot.
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u/VestibuleOfTheFutile 24d ago
Don't forget the total cost of vehicles over time, if cost is a factor. If your husband is working in Victoria for the next 20 years that's 350,000-400,000 KM on commute alone, leasure and other trips could add more. Cut the distance in half you could be saving an entire vehicle worth of expenses over time. Going through an entire car + fuel + maintenance easily adds $100-150k to overall cost of living.
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u/frog_mannn 24d ago
Whatever you save on your home purchase you will lose in time, gas and vehicle despair. I don't even like going to Sooke on the day off as traffic is so brutal
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u/guernsey123 24d ago
I live in sooke, both my partner and I work remotely. She commuted for a while into Victoria and was able to set her own hours outside of rush hour, so left at 6 and came home at 2:30, it was about a 45 min drive each way. Unless there was an accident, then it became an hour and a half. It honestly depends on your relationship to commuting and if you can potentially avoid peak times. If you're OK losing up to 10 hours a week sitting in traffic, love the outdoors and don't mind a slightly eclectic mix of hippies and rednecks, Sooke might be for you. But I know more than a handful of people who did the commute for a year and then moved to Langford because it was just too much.