So, since our anniversary just quietly slipped past, do you remember what I was wearing the first time? Didn’t think so, but it was a black T-shirt with our logo and an “Ask Me!” button pinned on the front. I am, of course, referring to the facility grand opening, which was June 26, 2010, on a beautiful summer day. It is hard to believe that two years has slipped by since the ribbon was cut and a pretty healthy-sized crowd slipped inside to check things out. Ironically, you could probably state that the crowd is healthier now, or at least the ones coming in and using the place are.
As we prep for the fall leisure guide, it is interesting on the changes to the programming over these past couple years as we gather more information and feedback on what works, what doesn’t and the grey area in between. Without a track record, as it is an entirely “new” building, we have successes beyond expectations in some areas and some flops in others as we develop content within some pretty rigid fiscal guidelines and the changing demographic of users. I will say, however, the duds have been few and are a given in any facility offering programming. What is apparent (and unlike the stock market) is the rising numbers of guest visits over the previous year, so it should be an interesting comparison once we have another term with the finished facility under our belts.
We do want to say thank you for your patience as we tweak some of the drop-in programs or times throughout the year; sometimes we do it for cost efficiency or to accommodate other programs serving different ages or needs of the community or perhaps there just aren’t enough people to make it work. Either way, the majority of people are understanding as we try and provide for everyone and we do appreciate it.
Make sure you set aside some time on the afternoon of Aug. 17 between 1 and 4:30 p.m. as the Kraft Celebration Tour spends the afternoon here in the Creston and District Community Complex parking lot and grounds, culminating in a live broadcast beginning at 3 p.m. This unique event is the first stop of the tour and will feature a free, Kraft sponsored barbecue offering hotdogs and hamburgers. Samples of Kraft products will be available, while quantities last, and family friendly games and activities are planned. To cap off the big event, TSN will broadcast SportsCentre with hosts Darren Dutchyshen and Kate Beirness live from Creston from 3-4 p.m. This is one of the bonuses of Creston’s Therapeutic Riding Program winning the $25,000 competition in B.C. with help from most of you. Like the Olympic torch relay, this will be one of these things that you probably won’t see again for a long, long time in our little valley. Check out all the information at www.gocreston.ca and we’ll see you there!
Neil Ostafichuk is the recreation supervisor at the Creston and District Community Complex.