In 2014, for the first time, Creston will host the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments annual conference.
“This is good indication of what kind of conference business Creston is now getting after the opening of the Ramada inn and conference centre,” Mayor Ron Toyota said on Monday.
Scheduled for April 9-11, 2014, the AKBLG event will force the Cresotn Valley Home and Garden Show to be moved next year, something Toyota was grateful for.
“When I contacted Jim Jacobsen (chamber of commerce executive director) about this last week he worked quickly to move up the home and garden show up by a week for 2014,” he said.
The AKBLG conference brings together several hundred local government elected officials and staff for three days of working sessions, presentations and meals and coordinating the logistics will be a joint effort of the Town of Creston and Regional District of Central Kootenay Area A, B and C directors.
Toyota said he hopes to offer a distinct local flavour for the entire event, involving the Lower Kootenay Band and local entertainers. Tours could be offered to local industries and attractions.
Town staff and elected officials attended the recent AKBLG conference in Invermere, keeping a close eye on how the event functioned and meeting to discuss how Creston could handle, and improve on, the conference.
“I’m pleased that the Creston Valley is now in a position to host larger conferences,” Toyota said, adding that another large regional event is scheduled for in the coming months. “It gives us an opportunity to showcase what we have to offer and benefits all of our local businesses.”