As I sifted through our most recent 52 issues to prepare the Year in Review feature that dominates this and next week’s papers it became obvious why I find myself so often speaking and writing about this wonderful community we share.
2016 has, by most any measure, been a terrific year for the Creston Valley. And it seems appropriate that as we enter into Canada’s 150th year local efforts are well underway to celebrate our own agriculture and arts communities.
Stories throughout the year reflect just how active both of those sectors have been. It seems almost impossible that Fields Forward is less than a year old. Its accomplishments are many and varied, and an ambitious plan to purchase a mobile fruit and vegetable press will open new opportunities in the Creston Valley and other Central Kootenays communities too.
Some of my favourite stories of the year have featured artists. I know I am a lucky guy when I get to spend time in the company of the likes of Andrea Revoy, whose Blue Moon Pottery and Fibre Studio is a visual delight,; Anne Fetterly, whose fibre arts are a sensual feast; Amanda Anderson, whose cello and personality has brightened our lives as she continues on her one-year sabbatical from her symphony job in Germany; Stewart Steinhauer, whose stone carvings lend weight and depth to wherever they are displayed; Sarah Miller, whose brilliance as a glass artists grows with every project she undertakes; the list goes on and on.
And hasn’t it been a great year for the downtown core? Ralph Casemore and Tanya Wall have undertaken an ambitious plan to rejuvenate the old Kootenay Hotel and the new red brick façade has also added a wonderful dimension to Canyon Street. A couple of blocks to the east, Jimmy Karountzos’s new liquor store is under construction and it will create another anchor business downtown. There are fewer empty storefronts than in recent years, public washrooms are under construction and new stores, focused primarily on niche markets, are popping up.
Changes are underway for the Creston Visitor Centre, which will now be operated by the economic development arm of RDCK Areas B and C and the Town of Creston, freeing the chamber of commerce to focus on its core interest, Creston Valley businesses.
And, just across the street, Kunze Gallery has taken the retail arts scene to an entirely new level. The truth is, Sandy and Dirk Kunze’s gallery has already outgrown it space in the renovated annex to the red grain elevator. From the day it opened in July, Kunze Gallery has drawn swarms of visitors and locals. The works outside—primarily Steinhauer’s granite sculptures—and inside are superb examples of what kind of artistic talent we have in this area.
Speaking of Sandy Kunze and Stewart Steinhauer, they were the stars of one of my favourite stories of 2016, in which I documented the work they did for the new International Terminal at Calgary’s airport. I knew about the project for a couple of years, but couldn’t write or talk about it because confidentiality agreements kept it secret. It is a wonderful testimony to their talents, and thanks to Bruce MacFarlane for facilitating their participation. An added bonus is that we now call Bruce and his wife Renata Creston Valley residents. They are part of a growing trend of what I have come to call early retirees, people who arrive in our community eager to participate. They bring skills and enthusiasm, and they don’t take our assets for granted. Their energy is contagious.
As part of my preparations for the Year in Review I have been reading through each weeks police report, most of which I have written, pulling out snippets that show the quirky side of life in Creston. A week does not pass in which I don’t get a comment about the police news and I am amazed at how many readers can site their “favourites”, the odd stories that lighten and enlighten at the same time. Thanks to Staff Sergeant Darryl Hammond and his team for the efforts they make to give the Advance details that go beyond the typical crime and car crash reports that many other communities get.
The past year was one of change here at the Advance, with the departure of Brian Lawrence, who edited these pages for more than a decade. Brian remains a friend of this newspaper and we are proud of our happy relationship with I Love Creston, which he now edits. In his place, we welcomed Chris Brauer to our staff. We knew he was a terrific writer, of course, but his co-workers have come to enjoy his time among us. His great sense of humour is an asset, and we enjoy his writing as much as our readers do.
A few years ago, Angela and I talked about moving back to Calgary to be closer to our grandchildren and for a brief few months the prospect seemed exciting. The idea faded though once we considered all factors. The simple fact is that we are more in love with the Creston Valley than we were when we moved here more than 37 years ago. We can make our regular trips to Calgary to enjoy family time, but what his wonderful community offers day-to-day and season-to-season provides more than ample reason to stay.
With gratitude to our Creston Valley Advance staff—Dianne Audette, Anita Horton, Jacky Smith, Casey Luscher, Asha Wainionpaa and now, Chris Brauer, I look forward to 2017 and whatever it might bring. On their behalf, I thank Advance readers for their continuing support and wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.