Community outlook 2013: tourism and highway improvements for Creston

Population growth, increased tourism and improved traffic flow are on the agenda

Ron Toyota is the mayor of Creston, B.C. — Photo courtesy Town of Creston

The town of Creston saw some improvements in 2012. Mayor Ron Toyota said that Creston’s population has now officially topped 5,000—meaning the Town must now employ its own municipal police—and the opening of the Ramada Inn and Ricky’s Restaurant in May 2012 has resulted in increased tourist interest in the community.

“Our economic development committee and the town council will capitalize on these changes to develop our future economic growth,” Toyota said.

Toyota was happy to say that Creston recently welcomed a new family physician, Dr. Suzanne Hopkins, and that two more physicians will be arriving in 2013.

“We now have a professional recruiter, Marilin States, under contract, and funding for the physician recruitment program has been provided through the regional district economic development service,” said Toyota.

Spotlight on Creston

The Creston and District Society for Community Living's therapeutic riding program was B.C.’s successful contestant in the Kraft Celebration Tour competition in August 2012, and was awarded a cheque for $25,000. This created quite a limelight moment, as the Celebration Tour paid a visit to Creston on August 17 to present the award, and TSN did a live broadcast of Sportscentre from the town on that date.

“That was a fun, memorable event that the whole community participated in,” Toyota said.

Traffic flow

Highway realignment to reroute transport trucks has been in the planning stages for quite a few years. The vision is to build a seamless jog in the highway, moving the heavy truck traffic onto Cook Street, one block south of its present route through downtown. This would expedite passage through town for heavy trucks, eliminating much of the stop-and-start that they now face, with its attendant environmental impact.

“We want the main street to be more available to local and tourist traffic,” Toyota said. “For 2013 we’re working with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to create a true intersection at Pine and Railway, where the grain elevators are. If we can get it approved and designed and financed, then maybe in 2014 we can get the actual work done.”

News about brews

Toyota said that Columbia Brewery, which makes Kokanee and Alexander Keith’s beer and is Creston’s major employer, recently disclosed some exciting news.

“They announced that they will be starting production of Budweiser beer, the most popular brand in North America, so that will be a big thing in 2013,” Toyota said. “It means the brewery will be growing and that employment will be solidifying.”

Indications are positive for a happy and prosperous year in the Creston Valley.