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9-472: The museum is unusual in Canada as it receives core funding as a result of a referendum where 83% of local residents voted to raise their property taxes to provide operating funds, subsequently the local governments decided to make funding more stable by making the museum a service. The museum also operates the official Visitor Information Centre for the area and a temporary exhibit space. There are outdoor exhibits and

18-540: A federal registered charity. The first curator of the museum was Elida Peers, for this and other works she received the Order of British Columbia , which is the highest honour that the Province of British Columbia gives. She continues to volunteer at the museum as the historian. 48°23′03″N 123°42′23″W  /  48.3843°N 123.7065°W  / 48.3843; -123.7065 Triangle Island Triangle Island

27-437: A main museum building. One of its most visible attractions is a lighthouse that was originally on Triangle Island , off the north tip of Vancouver Island. The museum averages over 40,000 visitors a year. The museum operates a gift shop and does special tours, including traditional salmon BBQ's. The museum is also the location of the annual Sooke Summer Night Market. The museum has been involved in both commemorating and exploring

36-520: Is a small island, approximately 119 hectares (290 acres ) in area, located off the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island , British Columbia , Canada . It is situated approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles) from Vancouver Island and 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) from Sartine Island, Triangle Island's nearest neighbour in the Scott Islands group. The island is notable for being the location of British Columbia's largest seabird colony, hosting such species as

45-461: Is otherwise uninhabited, aside from a small cabin for research use. In 2004, the lantern room from the lighthouse was moved to the Sooke Region Museum, though the base remains on Triangle Island. The island was the site of ancient First Nations hunting and egg-collecting activities. Access to the island is tightly regulated and requires a permit. Environment and Climate Change Canada

54-616: The Cassin's auklet and the tufted puffin . The Cassin's auklet population is the world's largest. The island is administratively a part of the Scott Islands Marine Wildlife Area and is more specifically home to the Anne Vallée Triangle Island Ecological Reserve, named after a researcher who frequented the island and died there in an accident in 1982. Visiting the island requires permits from

63-639: The British Columbia Ministry of Environment, and it is usually frequented only by researchers. It is the westernmost and most remote island in British Columbia, save for Haida Gwaii , which is off the coast of northern British Columbia. The island takes its name from its triangular appearance on sea navigation charts. A lighthouse existed on the island from 1909 to 1919 but was abandoned due to severe fog, regular hurricane-force winds, and conditions utterly repellent to human habitation. The island

72-462: The heritage of the region, including helping in the discovery of a historic bake oven in the wilderness and another they have located on their grounds. The museum is currently working on restoring two small rail engines, which they hope to soon have on display. The museum also publishes books, most recently Bringing Water to Victoria . There is also an archival collection housing documents and photographs. The museum has been upgrading its facilities with

81-532: The support of various agencies, including the federal government. The museum has programs for children. The museum founded the annual Sooke Fine Arts Show, the largest juried art show on Vancouver Island. They ran the show for 20 years, it is now operated by a separate society. The museum is operated by the Sooke Region Historical Society, which is incorporated under the BC Society's Act and is also

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