The Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a public forum for election candidates on Nov. 1.
“Because of the large number of candidates, we are changing the format this year,” chamber manager Jim Jacobsen said on Monday. “Each of the incumbents and challengers will have a couple of minutes to introduce themselves and raise issues they want to discuss, then we will break and invite the candidates to circulate for informal talks with those in attendance.”
All candidates — for Creston mayor and town council, Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors and School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) trustee — will be invited to attend. RDCK Area A and C directors Garry Jackman and Larry Binks, elected by acclamation, have also been invited.
“With 27 people invited to speak the ‘mix and mingle’ approach seems to make more sense than having the group addressing a few questions from the audience,” Jacobsen commented. “This way people attending have the opportunity to meet and talk to candidates in person.”
The chamber of commerce forum will run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the Creston Room at Creston and District Community Complex.
A forum for school board candidates is planned for Nov. 2 in the Prince Charles Secondary School gymnasium from 7-9 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Creston Valley Teacher’s Association, the Kootenay Lake Parents’ Advisory Committee and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.