A forum timed to acknowledge United Nations World Environment Day drew about 40 invited guests to the Creston Golf Club on Monday.
Co-sponsored by the Town of Creston and Labatt’s Columbia Brewery, the forum brought together businesses, government and other organizations to celebrate local water conservation, collaborate on conservation best practices and explore ways of working together toward long-term sustainability in the valley.
Using a theme of “Grow Together, Conserve Together”, the forum was designed in part to test the waters for creation of a Creston Valley environmental sustainability network. The forum theme gives a nod to the “Grow together” and “We work better together” mottos that have given expression to the Town of Creston’s positive and co-operative municipal philosophy for years.
“It makes sense to extend the town’s mottos on working and growing together to encompass the environment,” said Creston Mayor Ron Toyota. “We all share the same planet, and the same corner of it that we call the Creston Valley. If we’re to grow together, we need to conserve it together, too, looking for opportunities to take action as a committed group of Creston’s leaders to address and resolve a wide range of environmental issues together.”
Toyota said the diversity of representatives — from Lower Kootenay Band, Interior Health, Creston and District Community Complex, Wynndel Box and Lumber, College of the Rockies, Creston Valley Food Action Coalition, along with the town and brewery — was an indication of a willingness to form an environmental network.
“I am pleased that we could come away from today with a network to share ideas and concerns that will contribute to our sustainability,” he said. “I give full credit to Labatt’s Columbia Brewery and general manager Murray Oswald for spearheading this forum.”
“Our goal is to collaborate with as many organizations and individuals as possible for the long-term sustainability of the Creston Valley,” said Oswald. “Every person present is invited to contribute their input and suggestions. This event isn’t just about a single environmental awareness day. It’s about taking that environmental awareness to shape our shared future.”