Sungoma Art Center

The Old Solley House — The Old Solly House

The Sungoma Art Center has an interesting history. Its 29 acre location was subdivided off 150 acres that was known as Lakeveiw Farm. L. F. Solly settled and cleared the farm in 1907 when he relocated from Victoria. Solly described the operation as specialized mixed farming. He specialized in chicken breeding and produced 500,00 breeder-stock chicks a year and exported all over the world as far away as New Zealand. Most of the farming was located on 35 acres of low lying land and produced 35 tons of potatoes a year. The workers’ residences were located on the hillside overlooking the valley, and the Solly mansion was located on a rock outcrop.

A mansion, a family home and ten cottages, plus four Chinese squatters cabins were located at the top of the property.The farm also consisted of 80 farm buildings including a general store. In other words, the building footprint was considerable. After World War Two, Lakeview Farm acquired the nickname The United Nations. The name was derived from the fact that there were so many refugees from war torn Europe of different nationalities living and working on the farm, and the general store and workshop were converted to accommodate the influx of refugees. In the 1960’s more coops were converted into accommodation, and in 1973 the ALR bill passed. For a long time Sungoma Art Center has been a place of refuge, providing low income housing, education, and a focal point for arts and music.

Sungoma has hosted many benefits for the less fortunate around the valley: helping Mexican children in Aqua Verde go to school, sponsoring children with the Elena Macias Foundation, relief benefits for tsunami victims, providing computers for young women and paid tuition for students in Sri Lanka, providing food and relief for a young widow with children after her husband was killed accidentally by the army in Trinkomali, Sri Lanka. Click here to more about our international humanitarian work and to see photographs. One of the first clean ups of the Cowichan River was organized with volunteered labour and funding from Sungoma.

Many good things have come out of Sungoma which can not be undone, and we are proud of that tradition.

7 thoughts on “Our Home, Our History”

I’ve visited and it’s beautiful, and the people there very helpful

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I have lived in Ontario for years, Edmonton for years and Victoria for around 18 years, I have never in 31 years felt so welcome anywhere in my entire life as i do at Sungoma. The people are friendly, caring, welcoming, understanding, helpful and non judge mental. I have been in Construction for 9 years doing Exterior Envelopes. Since being at Sungoma i have had the opportunity to open my mind while being supported by the people i have surrounded myself with and start building Live Edge Furniture, I feel i have all of there support and help to succeed. I have also met many other artists brain storming new ideas, and its light and fun the way Life should be! I have met my love here, We are Happy and plan to spend many more good years here!

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How many stairs are there in the back?

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Is Russell Davies still there and is he still in the jewellery design business. He made me earrings and a ring back in 1989 and I would like to do more business with him. Please reply.

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