Sooke Harbour House: Gold Award for Best Restaurant on Vancouver Island

21st annual Restaurant AWARDS Vancouver Magazine, Sooke Harbour House Gold for Best Restaurant on Vancouver Island, Silver for Resort Dining and Lifetime Achievement Award for owners Sinclair and Frederique Philip owners.

"Sinclair and I were first, I think, very surprised but also immensely honoured to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Vancouver Magazine!" says co-owner Frederique Philip.

"For me it was, while I never wanted to admit it or even feel it, that I was old, it was confirmed!. I still think the way I did when we started our Sooke Harbour House adventure in 1979, I also am very fortunate to still have pretty much the same amount of energy I had then…but yes, 31 years have passed at a lightening speed I should add.

"We have been so fortunate to meet and work with so many extraordinary cooks now chefs of well known restaurants Michael Stadtlander,James Walt, Peter Zambri, David Feys, Pia Carrol, Ron Cherry,Edward Tuson , Rhonda Viani, Andrea Clarkson,Melissa Craig,David Macmillan, Rene Fieger,Brock Windsor, gardeners, foragers, artists, housekeepers, and everyone in our staff that have made over the years what Sooke Harbour House is now. Without them we could not have done it.

"We have had successes, gone through growing pains, have experienced a great loss, have weathered some down turns ( we actually started Sooke Harbour House and experienced the 23% interest rate!) and are now again facing a stronger challenge than ever experienced before.

"We have also encountered and become friends with a very large number of incredible individuals among our customers, supporters, ambassadors. Meeting everyone of you and sharing part of your life while you were staying with us and working with us has made this voyage of owning and running a small business in the little town of Sooke on Vancouver Island an extraordinary and epic adventure.

"Very humbly from the bottom of our hearts we thank you for your support, advice, encouragement, patience and help."