As the voice of business, the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce envisions the Creston Valley as a growing, vibrant, and prosperous place to conduct business. We are a non-profit organization that relies on a volunteer board to oversee this vision.
We recently held our annual general meeting. We are delighted to announce our board of directors for 2013-14: President Rob Schepers (Home Hardware Building Centre), John Huscroft (Creston Truck), Rick Minichiello (Gadicke Minichiello Carr, Chartered Accountants), Ralph Vigna (Dairy Queen), Kevin Galloway (Across the Board Creations), Tammy Hardwick (Creston Museum), Kerry Hobbs (Ramada Inn), Peter Martin (Century 21), Don McLarty (Columbia Brewery), Paul Hutcheson (Snoring Sasquatch), Kevin Smith (Beadazzled) and Jack Schwartz (Kokanee Inn).
We are looking forward to working with the business community, local stakeholders, organizations and individuals to improve the business climate and quality of living in the Creston Valley for residents, workers and visitors.
Our priorities include:
•Strategic development for the agriculture sector;
•Continued implementation of the “Growing Together” brand to promote the Creston Valley locally and around the world;
•Packaging of art, culture and agriculture tours; and
•Strategic planning for future projects, including promoting the area as a bird watchers paradise.
In other news, we are ready for a busy tourism season. We have two summer staff, Ethan Guthrie and Danielle Ferguson, to help with the Visitor Centre.
The Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stop in and see local art, including Stewart Steinhaeur’s Creston Valley Sentinel, the Creston Valley Rotary Club history wall or to find out about local events and happenings.
Currently, we are hosting the Creston Art Club show. The work of 28 artists is on display until June 30. Then, Artistic Vision has a show featuring 14 artists for the remainder of the summer.
Plans are underway for Canada Day celebrations at the Creston and District Community Complex. This event is planned in partnership with the Creston Spirit Committee and the chamber of commerce. Want to help out? We are always looking for new ideas and new people to help with community events. Drop in or give us a call.
Jim Jacobsen is executive director of the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at 250-428-4342 or manager@crestonvalleychamber.com.