Growing Creston

Creston, B.C., is seeing advances in its goods, services and business potential

These are the friendly faces of the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce: Jim Jacobsen, executive director; Reede Hawton, summer staff; and Amy Maddess, visitor centre co-ordinator. — Kristen Mitchell photo

“There’s a sense in Creston that momentum is building and the community is primed to take off in a great way,” said Jim Jacobsen of the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC).

The 154-member CVCC supports business, industry and community-building initiatives, with some of the sectors sharing ground. At the farmers market, agriculture shares space with tourism and environmental interests, and tourism likewise meets environmental interests on the Creston Valley’s much-loved recreational trails. Members of the chamber of commerce receive significant benefits, some of them in the important areas of communication and visibility.

Today’s leaders

Jacobsen’s admiration was evident in his enthusiastic mention of some Creston individuals who are making an impression on both the business community and the general community.

• Mike Vigna of the Creston Dairy Queen is building a new gymnastics centre;
• The Perry-Ditzler family manufactures heavenly, handmade Bad Duck Caramel;
• Traven Huscroft owns and operates Tratech Mechanical Ltd., a growing, full-service plumbing and HVAC business;
• Dave Basaraba and Mike Wigen are partners in fine wine production at Wynnwood Cellars Estate Winery;
• Young Dan Cull is making a great success of the local Panago Pizza;
• Doug and Charlene Vance recently opened Canyon Street Furniture;
• Mary Jayne Blackmore, president of the Trails for Creston Valley Society, is deeply involved in improving access to recreational trails in the Creston Valley;
• Laura Hannant is involved in a consulting company co-owned with her husband, in Kootenay Employment Services and the local LEAP program, in the Young Agrarians,  in the second annual Tour de Farm and in the recent happiness survey in the Creston Valley;
• The Lower Kootenay Band, under Chief Jason Louie, has purchased Ainsworth Hot Springs; and
• Larry J. Binks, Area C director, recently spent 10 days in China working to finalize commitments for significant investment in the Creston Valley.

The CVCC is supporting three initiatives that address the interests of a variety of sectors in the community: agriculture, tourism, local businesses and health and wellness. The 10 Mile Diet is a Buy Local food campaign partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, tailor-made for the fertile Creston Valley and our growing culture of foodies and oenophiles.

For the convenience of tourists, a wayfinding strategy has been undertaken by the CVCC. This is an inventory to assess accuracy in existing signage. A good wayfinding system educates visitors and locals about the existence and location of attractions and amenities, encouraging longer stays and increased spending.

The third initiative is a comprehensive agriculture strategy—a two-year plan to develop a land use inventory and produce recommendations for strategic directions to grow, develop and support agriculture and agritourism in the Creston Valley.