Tourism Guide - 2014 Creston Valley Travel Guide

CRESTON VALLEY 2014/15 Travel Guide

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Table of Contents 04 05 06 07 09 12 16 20 21 22 24 26 28 30 32 36 38 40 41 44 48 50 53 54 58 59 60 62 63

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Published by the Creston Valley Advance A division of Black Press Group Ltd. Publications Agreement No. 40069240 The contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal noncommercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited.To make any use of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright.

Welcome to the Creston Valley Message from the Mayor Location, Location Life in the Creston Valley Once Upon a Time Four Seasons of Fun Places to Eat No End to Learning Places to Stay Sit, Splash or Swing On the Green Creston Museum Wildlife Area Food & Wine Farm Fresh Guide Alive & Growing Fresh, Fabulous Food From Farm to Table International Selkirk Loop Canvas, Page & Stage Creston Valley Public Library Hiking, Biking & Hunting To Yahk & Back Explore the East Shore Kootenay Lake Ferry City Centre Map Creston Valley Map Ripening Guide Artists on Display

LORNE ECKERSLEY • BRIAN LAWRENCE • DIANNE AUDETTE Publisher Editor Office Manager ANITA HORTON • JACKY SMITH • ASHA WAINIONPAA Sales Manager Production & Design For further information, contact the Creston Valley Advance at 250.428.2266 or publisher@crestonvalleyadvance.ca

www.CrestonValleyChamber.com

Welcome to the Creston Valley Welcome to the Creston Valley and thank you for picking up this edition of the Creston Valley Travel Guide.

The following pages highlight many of the attractions, area business services and the idyllic lifestyle we enjoy in our beautiful valley. Surrounded by the Selkirk Mountains to the west, the Purcells to the east, Kootenay Lake to the north and the United States border to the south, the Creston Valley is ideally situated and is home to almost 16,000 people (with 5,000 in the town of Creston).

Naturally abundant, the area is rich in agriculture-related businesses and services and thriving agritourism. With a burgeoning wine industry, fruit and vegetable markets, handcrafted

organic cheese, animal and grain farms, secondary food processing and the world famous Columbia Brewery, the Creston Valley lifestyle epitomizes the “100 mile diet”, though in our case it is really closer to 10 miles.

Our rich agriculture heritage is celebrated in the spring at our annual Blossom Festival and in the fall with our annual Fall Fair.

We have extraordinary outdoor recreation. Enjoy world class boating, fishing, golf, hunting, hiking, back-country skiing and snowmobiling in the area.

The Ramsar-designated Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area is rich and biologically diverse.

Over 300 species of birds, 57 species of mammals and 29 species of fish, reptiles and

What Moves You?

amphibians call the area home.

Other key sectors include forestry, secondary manufacturing, health services, retirement, and arts and culture.

Be sure to stop in at the Creston Visitor Centre for more information. Our centre showcases local attractions and businesses, maps, free wireless Internet, feature artisan displays and the Creston Valley Rotary Club history wall. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you plan your vacation or make your relocation a smooth transition.

We look forward to seeing you!

Jim Jacobsen Executive Director Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre

Creston Valley

DISCOVERY REAL ESTATE

“Packing Sheds to Flower Beds”

May 16 to 19, 2014

EVENTS

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Discovery Real Estate

• 1013 Canyon St., Creston • 106 33rd Ave. S., Hwy. 3, Erickson

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• Office 250-428-2234 • Toll Free 1-877-428-2234 100% LOCALLY OWNED • 25 YEARS SERVING THE CRESTON VALLEY

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• Lion’s Pancake Breakfast • Mammoth parade on Saturday • Children’s events such as bouncy tents, the train etc.

• Lion’s Street Fair • Millennium Park Showcase • Show and Shine Car Show • Knights of Columbus Breakfast • Creston Airport Events • Lion’s Kiddie parade on Monday • Lion’s Kids Party in the Park • Duck Race ... and much, much more!

For more information call 250-428-4284 Visit our website www.blossomfestival.ca Next year we celebrate Blossom Festival 75 May 15 to 18, 2015

Message from the Mayor In my role as mayor and on behalf of our town council, I am pleased to bring greetings to visitors and residents alike!

“There are reasons for living down in the valley that only the mountains know,” wrote Noel Paul Stookey in the song, John Henry Bosworth. But it just so happens we have more than a few incredible reasons of our own.

Here, we like our food slow and our friendships fast. Our family-friendly, charming community bustles without hurrying and we are home to down-toearth, hardworking innovative folks of all ages.

Our region’s cultural scene boasts everything from live music and theatre to hidden

studios ready to welcome folks for a tour. There are 17,000 acres of internationally recognized wetland, an 18hole championship golf course with spectacular valley views, multiple wineries, a winning hometown hockey team and a newly upgraded and expanded recreation centre — complete with arena, indoor swimming pool and fitness centre.

Here, simple pleasures and experiences abound!

Pride of place is evident in Creston. Our valley’s unique climate and incomparable geography make it a place where one can feast like royalty on a 10-mile diet, thanks to its rich, diverse agricultural industry, and then whet your

whistle with locally produced wine and beer, not to mention the world’s best pure juice!

The Saturday farmers’ market is one of the best in the region and should not be missed!

In the valley, farmers, foresters, and a savvy business community continue to flourish in a wide variety of trades and industries. We’re proud of who we are and we aim to retain our small town charm and personality, while continuing to grow stronger and better together.

Make 2014 your year to visit Creston!

Ron Toyota Mayor Town of Creston

SMALL TOWN CHARM

We’re Growing Together.

“With a little planning,

Tucked into a sunny bench between the Purcell and Selkirk mountain ranges, the Creston Valley is a perfect retreat for outdoor adventures, foodies, creative souls, lovers of the land, and anyone in need of a wholesome home-away-from -home experience.

you can make your visit to the Creston Valley truly unforgettable. We welcome your stay and invite you to visit again soon.”

Ron Toyota, Mayor

www.creston.ca or the Visitor Centre at www.crestonvalleybc.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

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Location, Location

Finding the Creston Valley The town of Creston is easy to find, located along the southernmost route joining the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. It is just an hourand-a-quarter west of Cranbrook on Highway 3, or an hour-and-ahalf east of Nelson or Castlegar, travelling over the Kootenay Pass, Canada’s highest allweather highway.

Travellers from Nelson also have the option of a scenic trip along Kootenay Lake’s West Arm on Highway 3A, followed by a

trip on the M.V. Balfour or M.V. Osprey 2000 between Balfour and Kootenay Bay. The six-mile trip is the longest free ferry ride in the world, which makes it even more unique. From Kootenay Bay, Highway 3A — referred to by some locals as the “lake road” — winds south, straight into Creston.

Creston is within two hours of two major airports, the Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) in Cranbrook and the Castlegar Airport (YCG).

The Creston Valley Airport, six kilometres south of Creston, is suitable for light aircraft and small charter planes. South of Creston, in Washington, the Spokane International Airport (GEG) is a three-hour drive.

Creston is served by Greyhound Bus Lines, with one bus each day to or from Cranbrook and Nelson — and beyond. The community also offers BC Transit and HandiBus services, as well as Creston Valley Cab Co., the town’s only taxi service.

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Life in the Creston Valley What could be better?

Creston is still a small town, but it keeps growing. The 2011 census indicated a population of over 5,300 — more than 500 higher than in 2006. Newcomers appreciate the relaxed, community-oriented lifestyle that permeates the entire Creston Valley, which entices them to purchase homes in the area.

“Creston has become a retirement destination for young baby boomers looking to spend the next twenty years enjoying an active but relatively

inexpensive lifestyle,” says Creston Valley Realty owner Shelley Voight. “What brings them here are the beautiful views and warm climate — what makes them stay are the great people and the peaceful pace.”

The many activities available in the valley also draw younger people and their families to the Creston Valley, where they enjoy everything from hiking to fishing and music to sports.

Major renovations to the Creston and District Community

Complex, which began with the construction of an indoor aquatic facility that opened in 2010 and continued with upgrades to the Creston Curling Centre and John Bucyk Arena, ensure that families have an endless array of physical activities to keep them fit and occupied.

The Creston Valley’s rich agricultural possibilities are another important factor behind the decision to move to the valley — although the relatively

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Fall Fair

Your connection to Real Estate in the Creston Valley

4-H is Celebrating Their 100th Anniversary!

Friday, September 12 & Saturday, September 13 at the Creston & District Community Complex • Fruit • Vegetables • Quilts • Home Baking • 4-H Shows • Photography • Needlework • Home Preserves • Arts & Crafts • Wine & Beer • Penmanship • Farming Demonstrations • Poultry & Livestock • Woodwork • Student Section • Sunflowers • Grain & Foliage • Flowers • Young Farmers • Local Entertainers

www.crestonvalleyfallfair.com

Growing with the Valley for 96 years!

CENTURY 21 Veitch Realty – Creston 1131 Canyon Street, Creston, BC 1-866-428-9331 Sales@C21Creston.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

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What could be better?

ARNOLD LABRENTZ

Beer and beef are both a part of Creston Valley life.

inexpensive real estate, both in town and in rural areas, is also a big draw.

“It’s typically the quality of life that we enjoy here, and the climate — Creston has got one of the nicest in all of Canada,” says Re/Max Discovery Real Estate owner-broker Michael Carpenter.

“To boot, we have very reasonable prices compared to other areas that are in a 5 or 6 agricultural zone. They want to grow their own food, and get away from the city and get away from a harsher climate. They also appreciate the beauty of the valley, which is somewhat unsurpassed.”

Of course, a brief wander through downtown Creston is enough to make many people

YYEEAARRSS and

102

1912 - 2013 • 101 Years Farming In The Creston Valley

want to stay. Coffee shops and unique businesses — where all the regulars know each other on a first-name basis — make a first visit to Creston feel like coming home.

New residents can easily learn more about what the Creston Valley has to offer by calling Hi Neighbour Welcome Service hostess Christy Johnston at 250-428-7074. She is happy to visit newcomers with a greeting package of coupons and information.

“The most common thing said is, ‘What a beautiful valley,’ ” says Century 21 Veitch Realty managing broker Scott Veitch. “They love the scenery, the climate, the small-town atmosphere and how friendly everyone is.”

Protecting Your Home Protecting Your Lifestyle Protecting Your Family

Truscott Farms 2012

m, Ice Crea Fruit h s e r F Coffee, thies Smoo n & Froze Entrees

Fresh L oc Vegetab al Fruit • H les Honey • erbs Bee Cheese f Cornwall Farms 1912

NEW! In-store Bakery & Deli 3016 Hwy 3 Creston, BC 250-428-4983 Open Daily Dawn to Dusk

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www.CrestonValleyBC.com

Fruit Stand

Insurance • Drivers Licenses Vehicle Registrations Relocation Advice www.crestonvalleyinsurance.com 250-428-2294 or toll-free 1-888-853-6465 info@cvins.ca Conveniently located at the Mall

Once Upon A Time Creston Valley History

For centuries, the Creston Valley and surrounding mountains and waterways were familiar only to the aboriginals known today as the Lower Kootenay Band, one of the seven bands that make up the Ktunaxa Nation. It wasn’t until the gold rush in the Fort Steele area that the Dewdney Trail opened east-west access in the southern portion of British Columbia.

The Dewdney Trail, which enters the Creston Valley along Summit Creek and then follows the Goat River eastward toward the Columbia Valley, provided land access to areas where only water transport had previously been relied upon.

The first white settlers, who came to the area only 125 years ago, arrived to find a broad, lush valley that was flooded annually by the spring freshet. Among those first settlers was J.C. Rykert, who was dispatched from Victoria in 1883 to set up a customs house on the 49th parallel. Transport for Rykert upon his arrival was a rowboat, with which he made an 80-mile return river trip to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to pick up the mail. The Rykerts border crossing featured a log cabin customs house.

Populating the area was a slow process and it wasn’t until 1891 that the Creston Valley’s first white baby, Christine Hood, was born. She would eventually marry Charles Sutcliffe, one of the area’s remaining pioneer families.

CRESTON MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

(Above) The S.S. Nasookin, one of many sternwheeled steamships that plied Kootenay Lake in the early 1900s, near Kootenay Landing, at the south end of Kootenay Lake. (Below) The 1000 block of Creston’s Canyon Street, circa 1910.

In 1892, Fred Little, John Arrowsmith and John Dow, staked a claim to portions of the valley along the benchland west of what is now 10th Avenue North.

Little’s property would provide the location for the original townsite development.

John Arrowsmith married a daughter of William and Jane Huscroft, a pioneering couple who had arrived by chuckwagon and raft from Utah, staking their

land claim on July 5, 1893. Jane was only a few months late to lay claim as being the first non-native woman in the Creston Valley.

Sarah Ellen Dow, wife of John, arrived on the steamboat S.S. Nelson, which plied the Kootenay River between Bonners Ferry and Kaslo, B.C. Her diary would provided the first recorded glimpse into life in Creston’s early days.

Canoes were used to transport the first white settlers as they www.CrestonValleyBC.com 9

Creston Valley History disembarked from the several steamboats that had begun to provide regular service in the area. Sarah Ellen’s husband, John, arrived at the steamboat with a canoe, and soon the couple was paddling, then walking a mile-and-a-half, then crossing a slough in a dugout canoe before arriving at the cedar log cabin they would call home.

Sarah Ellen gave birth to a son, Campbell, in Spokane, Wash., on Aug. 16, 1893, and mother and child came home six weeks later, greeted by a large group of Lower Kootenay Band members eager to see the new white baby.

In 1883, a solution to the water-sodden flatlands that made up much of the valley came in the person of entrepreneur William Adolf Baillie-Grohman, who envisioned a rich agricultural opportunity if the floodwaters could be tamed.

Good intentions were ignored by nature, though, and large floods often swept through the dikes, until the project was successfully carried out in the 1920s and 1930s.

Until the late 1890s, steampowered sternwheelers plied local waterways from Creston south to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and north to smaller Kootenay Lake settlements, and the ships played a large part in transportation until the 1930s. In the late 1890s, two railroads, Great Northern and Canadian Pacific, arrived, making transportation in the valley that much easier.

Roads developed in short sections, which connected small 10 www.CrestonValleyBC.com

CRESTON MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

(Top) Marion and Geoff Collis with a horse pulling a harrow in the early 1920s.

(Below) John W. Dow (at the left facing right) at his cabin, about 1893.

communities throughout the valley and up the East Shore of Kootenay Lake. Later, these sections were joined, becoming part of a provincial highway system in the early 1920s. The government completed the road to Gray Creek in 1931, and the S.S. Nasookin made three daily stops at Gray Creek until 1947, when the road to Kootenay Bay was completed and the M.V. Anscomb (now sunk near Kaslo) was launched to ferry traffic between that point and Balfour.

Traffic kept flowing along the lake, until two big changes came about in the early 1960s — the opening of Rogers Pass as part of the Trans-Canada Highway in July 1962, and the Salmo-Creston

portion of Highway 3 opening in October 1963.

Creston’s modern-day history is closely tied to the development of the diking system, and the rich agricultural tradition has continued. Forage and grain crops, fruits and vegetables, dairies and other agricultural industries have long contributed to the economic stability of an area that also boasts a strong forest sector and mining history.

For more history of the Creston Valley, we recommend Sixty Bloomin’ Years by Helena White, which was published on the 60th anniversary of the Town of Creston’s 1924 incorporation.

Reprints are available from Kingfisher Used Books.

S

s

iou r e

Welcome to Creston’s year-round health and wellness facility!

Fun!

Competition 25 metre 5 lane lap pool 1 metre diving board • Aquatic climbing wall Leisure pool with lazy river Hot tub and steam room

Fitness centre with indoor track All the latest cardio, strength, free weights and other workout equipment Group fitness room with spin bikes Physiotherapy clinic

Hockey arena and dressing rooms Six sheet curling rink and lounge facility

Park area with baseball & soccer fields Beach volleyball courts and horseshoe pits Children’s playground

Large banquet room with kitchen facility Meeting rooms Rotacrest Hall facilities Concession stand Childminding available

Your Creston & District Community Complex Handicap accessible

312 - 19th Ave N, Creston BC 250-428-7127 For more info: email: crestonrec@rdck.bc.ca • www.rdck.ca

Experiencewww.CrestonValleyBC.com it!

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Four Seasons of Fun So Much to See and Do

Spring comes to the Creston Valley in mid-April, with green leaves, scented blossoms and green grass seeming to appear overnight, prompting residents of all ages to get outdoors and enjoy everything the valley has to offer.

Early May brings the valley’s newest festival, with the Creston Valley Bird Fest running for its second year, building on the success of the first, which drew

visitors from the Kootenays, Idaho and B.C.’s Lower Mainland. It celebrates nature by offering birding activities and presentations, while also highlighting the valley’s art and agriculture.

“The Creston Valley is a vital birdwatching area with over three hundred species of birds recorded,” says festival chair Tanna Patterson. “It is an ideal location for a festival and a

BRIAN LAWRENCE

Businesses and organizations from the Creston Valley and beyond take part in the Creston Valley Blossom Festival parade, celebrating the arrival of spring.

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natural source of pride for those of us who live here.”

That same weekend, Creston Museum opens for its season, which runs until mid-September (see page 26) and features a range of activities that draw tourists and locals of all ages.

It can often feel very much like summer by the middle of May, when the apple and cherry trees bloom and Creston hosts the annual Creston Valley Blossom Festival on the Victoria Day weekend. It opens on Friday night with a local talent contest and the announcement of Creston’s citizen of the year, and the weekend includes pancake breakfasts, parades, a street festival, children’s activities and a classic car show.

This year marks the 73rd annual festival, which began as a way to raise the community’s morale during the Second World War. “It’s a wonderful way for people of all ages to celebrate the spring,” says festival president Joanna Wilson. “It is a tradition for everyone in the valley.”

Outside the town, a demolition derby is an action-packed event in Kitchener, and the Lower Kootenay Band’s Yaqan Nukiy Powwow draws large crowds to see First Nations dancers from around the province.

“The Yaqan Nukiy Powwow asserts our sovereignty in our ancestral homelands,” says Lower Kootenay Band Chief Jason Louie.

So Much to See and Do “During Canada’s prohibition of cultural practices our forefathers stood their ground and did not allow our beautiful customs to disappear. We dance because our grandfathers and grandmothers would expect us to. No one can take away pride. Pride is forever!”

The May long weekend also sees the opening of the 17,000acre Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area’s Wildlife Interpretation Centre in West Creston (see page 28).

A visit to the Creston Valley in the summer isn’t complete without paying a visit to the many orchards and fruit stands in the area. A few offer meals, as well as fresh-off-the-tree (or -vine or -bush) produce.

One of these is the Blueberry

Patch in Lister, which offers country lunches, soups and homemade baking. It opens the first day of spring and features a shop with country giftware, and gourmet jams and spreads — as well as a candy cottage for the young and young at heart.

In addition to U-pick and ready-picked blueberries and raspberries, the farm also has its strawberry pavilion, with 20,000 hydroponically grown strawberry plants.

“That’s something they won’t see anywhere,” says owner Michael Sproule.

Cherrybrook Farms is unique, too, with a cherry tree leasing system that allows families to pick all the fruit from “their” tree. With an orchard on Erickson

Road, and a Highway 3 location that opened in 2011, owners Gord and Caroline Martin enjoy selling produce and other food products — including Creston Valley Jam Company jams and jellies — and visitors can also take a look at scale model train sets around the yard.

“Our dream is to become a community hub for local producers,” says Caroline.

For a variety of local products all in one place, a visit to the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market is a must.

It runs on Saturday mornings from May to September behind the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce, and October to December at Morris Flowers Garden Centre. In addition to fresh produce, it features live

CRESTON

Curling Centre

Creston & District Recreation Complex Six sheets of ice hosting Seniors curling Mixed Curling, Junior League, Ladies League, Men’s League, and open leagues – it is all there for you to try ANNUAL LADIES’ VALENTINE BONSPIEL - February ANNUAL MEN’S BUTTERFLY BONSPIEL - March The curling lounge is available for rent for your next family gathering, wedding, reunion, curling game or meetings

www.crestoncurling.com • 250-428-7512

on Valley Cruiser t s e s Cr ar Club

C

9th Annual Blossom Festival Show & Shine • Canyon St Sunday, May 18, 2014 10am–4pm Info: 250-428-5122 26th Annual Creston Valley Cruisers Fall Campout Show & Shine September 19, 20 & 21, 2014 at Centennial Park Info: 250-428-5122 www.crestonbc.com/cruisers/

1217 Canyon St., Creston, BC 250.428.4020 • 1.877.428.4020

GOLDNTREASURES.CA

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

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So Much to See and Do music and vendors offering crafts, art, flowers, plants, books, wood products, baked goods, freshly roasted coffee and breakfast — all made, baked, painted, written or grown in the Creston Valley (see page 40).

Naturally, swimming is a summer pastime, and the Creston Valley offers several great spots to enjoy the clean, cool water of the Kootenays, as well as the indoor pool, which opened in 2010 at the Creston and District Community Complex. In addition to public swimming, the pool offers many swimming courses and lessons for everyone, from boys and girls to new moms to lifeguards in training — and that’s just in the water.

“From swimming lessons to soccer camp, from scuba to underwater hockey, from outdoor boot camp to aquatic kick boxing, there is something for everyone,” says aquatic programmer Brooke Cherfils.

Miniature golfing is always a popular pastime, and visitors can enjoy it at Cheyenne Creek Mini Golf on Northwest Boulevard.

Owners Dave Schellenberg and Stephanie Soderling opened the 18-hole course in 2007, and it features waterfalls and rustic bridges, and misters spray cool water near one of the holes to give players a reprieve from summer heat.

It’s also pleasant to stroll through Creston’s downtown, browsing in stores — including a beading and mineral shop, book stores and a flower/antique shop — and being refreshed at one of several restaurants and coffee shops.

14 www.CrestonValleyBC.com

On Erickson Street, a tour of the Columbia Brewery is also a must, where visitors learn how “the beer out here” is made.

While you’re at the brewery that makes Kokanee, Bud Light and Alexander Keith’s, be sure to have your picture taken on the brewery grounds with the sasquatch sculpture, created by Canyon sculptor Karl Lansing.

Canyon Park is always hopping on Canada Day. A slo-pitch tournament and barrel racing are a big part of the event in Canyon, a few miles east of Creston, while kids’ activities and live entertainment are the highlights of the festivities in town.

The entire community will enjoy socializing at the 96th annual Creston Valley Fall Fair, which showcases — but isn’t limited to — local produce, baking, livestock and artwork.

“A true traditional country fair,” is how longtime volunteer Randy Meyer describes the September event. “There will be displays of the valley’s finest fruits and vegetables, flowers, grain and hay, as well as crafts, photography and woodworking that will fill the arena.”

The Creston Valley’s youth are well represented at the fair with presentations by 4-H dairy, beef and horse clubs. Visitors to the fair will find commercial booths inside and outside the arena, and activities will be scattered throughout the various section displays.

This is also the time of year when the Creston Valley Thunder Cats kick off the hockey season, which usually lasts through the playoffs in March. The Junior B Kootenay International Junior

Hockey League team has been around for more than 20 years (starting in the 1990s as the Creston Valley Thunder) and fans continue to cheer on the team at the John Bucyk Arena, named for the former Creston resident who played in the NHL from 19551978 and maintains a summer home on Kootenay Lake.

“The Thunder Cats not only provide affordable entertainment to all ages during the fall and winter months, but a sense of camaraderie and pride in the community,” says head coach Josh Hepditch. “It’s a place where the fans get together, as one, to cheer on ‘their’ team. The games have an air of excitement that is only accentuated when the home team wins. The more the team wins, the more excited the fans are. The more excited the fans are, the more the players want to win for them.”

For those who like their entertainment to offer finesse without brute strength, the Creston Valley Figure Skating Club, with over 70 members, presents an ice show each season.

The Creston Curling Centre is also located at the community complex. The club hosts the Valentine Bonspiel (for women) in February and the Butterfly Bonspiel (men) in March, which brings to Creston players from across B.C., Alberta and Idaho.

“The social aspect is a lot of it,” said curling club member Evelyn Tingley. “They come every year and see the same old friends.

And the competition is good.”

Cross-country skiers won’t have a hard time finding the perfect spot to practice their hobby.

So Much to See and Do

BRIAN LAWRENCE

The Creston Valley Fall Fair is a great place to check out the area’s livestock and produce.

The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area has more than 30 kilometres of trails to follow, some of which weave through the marshy area surrounding the Wildlife Interpretation Centre at 1760 West Creston Road.

Summit Creek Park, a former campground located a few minutes west of Creston on Highway 3, is also a popular choice, with trails that extend into the flat land on the valley floor. More trails can be found about 40 kilometres past Summit Creek Park on Highway 3 at the top of the Kootenay Pass, complete with a heated cabin to recharge after a day of vigorous skiing. (For more on hiking, see page 50.)

Downhill skiers will be pleased to discover five ski hills within a three-hour drive. West of Creston are the Salmo Ski Hill, renowned for its nighttime skiing, and Rossland’s Red Mountain, where Olympic gold medallists Nancy Greene and Kerrin Lee Gartner

got their starts. North of Salmo off Highway 6 is Whitewater Ski Resort, which, well-known for its powder, bills itself as being “pure, simple and real ... deep.”

East of Creston is the Kimberley Alpine Resort, which features 80 runs.

An hour to the south, near Sandpoint, Idaho, U.S.A., is Schweitzer Mountain Resort, where skiers take in panoramic views of Canada, Washington, Idaho and Montana — after travelling on Stella, Idaho’s only six-person high-speed lift.

Self-propelled sports aren’t the only ones that take place.

Snowmobiling is also popular, and about 70 members of the Kokanee Country Snowmobile Club enjoy miles of logging roads winding through incredible scenery.

“We have a number of amazing areas to ride, and each is a little bit different so you can always find something new,” says president Dean Bala. “With lots

of riding areas, and not a lot of snowmobilers, there is always lots of fresh snow to be found.”

Among the regular events held each season are a tailgate sale (a swap meet for snowmobilers, with local dealers showcasing new products), a poker run and a hotdog dash (eat a hotdog, then ride your snowmobile through a course up to the top of a hill), followed by a year-end banquet with dinner and prizes. For a map that shows what areas are off-limits to snowmobilers, as well as more information, visit kokaneecountry.webs.com.

There is also the Creston Valley Quad Squad, which was formed in April 2002 to provide an opportunity for ATV enthusiasts to enjoy their sport together. The club members clean and maintain trails in the area, and the club offers day trail rides, overnight campouts, poker rides and safety seminars.

More information is available at www.crestonquads.com. www.CrestonValleyBC.com 15

Places to Eat A Break in Time Caffé 1417 Canyon St. Creston, BC 250.428.5619

Take Out

Patio

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Advert on Page

(The best of the valley.)

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Bayshore Resort 13165 Hwy 3A Boswell, BC 57 250.354.4370 Buffalo Trails 1215 Canyon St. Creston, BC 18 250.428.5730 Creston Golf Club Restaurant 1800 Mallory Rd. Creston, BC 24 250.428.3383 Creston Hotel - Jimmy’s Pub & Grill 1418 Canyon St. Creston, BC 18 250.428.2225 Creston Valley Bakery 113 - 10 Ave. North Creston, BC 250.428.2661

17

Dairy Queen 1804 Canyon St. Creston, BC 29 250.428.9800 Home Style Café Hwy 3 Kitchener (East of Creston), BC 250.428.5011

17

Kokanee Pub 123 - 9 Ave. South Creston, BC 250.428.4241

17

Kokanee Springs - Bunkers Grill Restaurant 16082 Woolgar Rd. Crawford Bay, BC 25 1.800.979.7999 • 250.227.2006 Kootenay Thai Restaurant & Tony’s Bar 800 Northwest Blvd, Creston, BC 18 www.kootenaythai.com 250.428.7779 Panago Pizza 1029 Canyon St. Creston, BC 250.310.0001 Real Food Café 223 - 10 Ave. North, Creston www.realfoodcafe.ca 250.428.8882

17

Ricky’s All Day Grill Junction Hwy 3 & 3A, Creston 16 www.gotorickys.com 250.428.8826 Tim’s Fish & Chips 1108 Northwest Blvd., Creston 23 250.428.4008

Breakfast perfected.

Dinner done right. (and everything in between!)

1809 HIGHWAY 3A 250.428.8826 creston.gotorickys.com 16 16

www.CrestonValleyBC.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

Down to earth.

Wholesome. Goodness.

Our name says it all e Style Cafe Hom

250-428-5011

Hwy 3 Kitchener BC Just 10 minutes east of Creston

Open 7 days a week 7am - 8pm Daily

EXPERIENCE a fine selection of breads and baked

delicacies all made and baked on the premises without added artificial preservatives.

• • • • • • • •

Daily Lunch Specials Full Bakery Selection Deli Counter Gourmet Sandwiches Roof Top Sundeck Delectable Desserts Artisan Bread Licensed

nt, Origin da al n e

ce in ,S

freshly made every day

with locally available produce Hearty Portions • Great Prices • Local Organic Beef & Cheese Traditional British Fish & Chips • Really Good Homemade Desserts Licensed • Non-smoking Patio

Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2pm Dinner Mon-Sat 4:30-8pm Real Food Cafe • Creston 223-10 Ave North (across from the Firehall) 250.428.8882 realfoodcafe.ca

International Cuisine Specialty Coffees & Tea Vegetarian, Gluten-Free & Traditional Favourites

8 189

Loc al, In de p

113-10th Ave. N Creston • 250-428-2661

Creative Dining

OPEN DAILY FULL MENU • COLD BEER 123 9 Ave. South, Creston

Just south of the grain elevators

250-428-4241

Award Winning • Local Favourite Licensed Restaurant • Wifi • Takeout Beautiful Large Garden Patio Reserve for Private Parties up to 50

1417 Canyon St, Creston • 250-428-5619 www.abreakintimecaffe.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

17

Valleyview Motel clean, quiet and affordable cabin-like units overlooking the valley

250-428-2336 Toll free 1-800-758-9334 valleyview@telus.net www.valleyviewmotel.info

Coffee House Eat • Drink • B for Buffalo • Locally Roasted Coffee • Specialty Coffee • Icy Cold Drinks

• Grilled Sandwiches • Homemade Soups & Salads • Delicious Homemade Treats • Happy Trails Ice Cream Parlour

Open 7 days a week • Wireless Internet • Art & Live Music Venue

1215 Canyon Street • Downtown Creston • 250-428-5730

Pheasants Run Bed & Breakfast your home away from home

• Clean, Modern Rooms ($75)* • Full Kitchen Suites ($95)* • Downtown Location • Free Breakfast with Stay • Pub & Liquor Store On Site • New Conference Centre

Gorgeous panoramic view Large, comfortable, modern executive suites Satellite TV, Wireless Internet Private patios, Tranquil setting

1506 1st Ave. NW • 250-428-0045

Skimmerhorn “The Place to Stay” • • •

• • • • • •

Executive Suites King Size Beds Full Kitchens Chain quality, Seasonal Heated Pool PLUS MORE...

Air Conditioning at a family price!

Wireless Horseshoes 2711 Hwy 3E Creston LCD TVs 250-428-4009 BBQ Pits 1-800-661-1998 Playground RIDER FRIENDLY

www.skimmerhor ninn.com

Close to everything but the noise.

250-428-2257

220 15th Ave North, Creston • 1/2 Block off Hwy 3 (Canyon St)

www.citycentremotel.ca

For Reservations Only, Call Toll Free 1-877-506-2211

OPEN FOR DINNER Tues-Sun 4-9pm LUNCH Tues-Sat 11:30am-2pm Closed Mondays

Open mic, karaoke, free internet

Award Winnin g Thai C uisin

e

Located in The Hacienda Inn

800 Northwest Blvd, Creston

250-428-7779

18

& Tony’s Bar www.CrestonValleyBC.com

*starting rates

250.428.2225 • 1418 Canyon St. Creston • www.crestonhotel.com

INN

• •

(Seats 90)

www.kootenaythai.com Formerly Montri’s Thai Restaurant in Vancouver

MAGNUSON HOTEL CRESTON

CONTACT US 531-16TH AVENUE SOUTH CRESTON, BC V0B 1G5 PHONE: (250) 428-4141 FAX: (250) 428-4703 EMAIL: INFO@CRESTONLIBRARY.COM WWW.CRESTONLIBRARY.COM

HOURS OF OPERATION

The Magnuson Hotel Creston is the largest and only full service accommodation providing quality dining, lodging, recreation and lounge facilities with breathtaking views of the mountains Outdoor Pool

Business Center

Bar

Internet Access -

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

10:00 - 5:30 10:00 - 5:00 10:00 - 5:30 10:00 - 7:00 10:00 - 4:00

CLOSED SUNDAY & MONDAY

Complimentary

Lounge Small Pets Allowed

24-Hour Front Desk

Restaurant

Wheel Chair Access

1.855.944.2224 250-428-2224 800 NW Blvd Creston, BC

The Fun Starts Here...

Continental Breakfast • Ample secure parking • Outdoor access rooms • Ricky’s dining with hearty homestyle meals • Lounge

1809 Hwy 3A Creston, BC V0B1G8

New Executive Suite (1 bedroom)

250-254-1111

Creston Ramada www.CrestonValleyBC.com

19

No End to Learning College of the Rockies

For over 30 years, the College of the Rockies has been delivering quality education opportunities to Creston Valley residents, and to visitors, too, thanks to activities like a summer arts program. In the summer, a series of courses on a variety of arts topics are taught by working artists.

Located in the downtown core on an old mill site donated to the Town of Creston by the former Crestbrook Forest Industries, COTR’s Creston campus offers full-time programs like resident care aide, adult basic education, licensed practical nursing and

hairdressing, some in rotation with other COTR campuses in the East Kootenay region. Shorter courses, such as activity assistant and practical herbalist, provide opportunities for educational upgrading.

And the local campus has been at the vanguard of online education, with more than 170 general interest courses available through the Internet.

“The College of the Rockies works with the community to provide quality educational and general interest programs,” says manager Kerry Hobbs.

“In an ever-changing world, we endeavour to listen to the wants and needs of our community for program direction.”

The campus is also home to Know and Grow Farm, which includes gardens and a community greenhouse, where seniors, the elementary school children and young families get their hands dirty as they develop their green thumbs. The farm will be part of a training course for horticulture technicians, starting this year.

For more information, visit www. cotr.bc.ca, phone 250-428-5332 or e-mail creston@cotr.bc.ca.

• Custom & Pre-Built • Greeting Cards We carry a wide selection of fresh produce and meats.

Enjoy our full service deli and bakery.

Our pharmacy can assist you with your health care needs.

TIGZ Over 130 Types of Tea!

• Loose Leaf Tea • Tea Gifts • Teapots • Bulk Tea • Tea to Go! Shop Online • www.tigzdesigns.com • tigzdesigns@telus.net 1013 Canyon Street, Creston • 250.402.8716

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

3-1000 Northwest Boulevard, Creston • 250-428-2555

Creston Valley’s only

1000 Northwest Blvd, Creston

on-premise Wine Maker and Brewer

Creston Valley Winecrafters Tues - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 9am - 3pm Sun/Mon - Closed

20

• Oak barrel aging • Carbonation for coolers, beer & sparkling wines • Full line of wine, beer, cooler & specialty kits • Country Wine from YOUR frozen fruit

250.428.8969

3116 HWY 3 • Creston, BC cvwinecrafters@shaw.ca

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

Closed Tuesdays during July, Aug & Sept

250-428-0221

• • • • •

Grocery Retailer Pharmacy Liquor Store Insurance Agency Men’s and Women’s Clothing • Pastry & Coffee Shop • Dollar Store

• Medical Clinic • Restaurant • Hair Stylist and Tanning Centre • Pet Grooming and Supplies • Chiropractic Office • Physiotherapy Office

Plenty of FREE Parking!

• Pelvic Physiotherapy • Registered Massage Therapy • Acupuncture ... and MORE!

64

Pheasants Run Bed & Breakfast 1506 - 1 Ave NW Creston, BC 250.428.0045

18

2

Pilot Bay Resort & Charter Services 16961 Pilot Bay Rd. Kootenay Bay, BC 250.227.9441

57

3

Ramada 1809 Highway 3A, Creston, BC 250.254.1111

19

71

Skimmerhorn Inn 2711 Hwy 3 Creston, BC 250.428.4009

18

25

Valley View Motel 216 Valleyview Dr. Creston, BC 1.800.758.9334 250.428.2336

18

15

50

Tent Sites

57

# of Pull Through

Bayshore Resort 13165 Hwy 3A Boswell, BC 250.354.4370 250.223.8270 Canyon Community Association - Canyon Park 4727 48th Street, Canyon BC 250.428.3356 Kozy RV Park 3003 Hwy 3 Creston, BC 250.428.4143 Mountain Park Resort 4020 Hwy 3E Erickson, BC 1.877.428.2954 250.428.2954

45

7

35

Hookup

RV Parks & Campgrounds

Kitchen

TV

A/C

Smoking Rooms

Senior / Corp Rates

Weekly / Monthly

25

Groceries

Kokanee Springs Resort (Lodge) 16082 Woolgar Rd. Crawford Bay, BC 1.800.979.7999 • 250.227.9226

Marina

51

Lake / Beach

19

Fruit Stand

Magnuson Hotel 800 Northwest Blvd. Creston, BC 1.800.567.2215 250.428.2224

Internet

22

Cable / Satellite

19

Pets

Downtowner Motor Inn 1218 Canyon St. Creston, BC 1.800.665.9904 250.428.2238

Showers

25

Pay Phone

18

Laundry

Creston Hotel and Suites 1418 Canyon St. Creston, BC 250.428.2225

Fire Pits

23

Pool

18

Playground

City Centre Motel 220 - 15 Ave. North Creston, BC 1.877.506.2211 250.428.2257

Sani Dump

6

# of Sites

57

See Ad on Page

Bayshore Resort 13165 Hwy 3A Boswell, BC 250.354.4370 250.223.8270

Ensuite

# of Units

Lake / Beach

View

Pets Welcome

Internet

Satellite

Cable

Golf Packages

Weekly / Monthly

Off Season Rates

Restaurant / Lounge

Family Oriented

See Ad on Page

Bed & Breakfast

Accommodations

Hotel / Motel

Places to Stay (Make yourself at home.)

23 52

25

Pair-A-Dice RV Park & Campground 1322 Northwest Blvd. Creston, BC 1.866.223.3423 250.428.2347

52

44

10

Scotties RV Park 1409 Erickson St. Creston, BC 1.800.982.4256 250.428.4256

52

44

6

13

www.CrestonValleyBC.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

21

Sit, Splash or Swing A Walk in the Park

west In 1948, the flats der un e er w of Creston er

fourteen feet of wat

The first steam ship on Kootenay Lake was built in N orway

beside the The cabin y ston highwa

Salmo-Cre rdan’s Cabin lled Jo is ca

There’s a crypt in the floor of the Creston Museum, and a ghost legend to go with it

We can tell you why 219 Devon St • Creston creston.museum.bc.ca 250-428-9262 • Picnic Area • Model Railway • Gift Shop

22

May 11-Jun 7: Mon-Sat, 10-3:30 Jun 8-August 24: Daily 10-5 August 25-Sep 21 Mon-Sat 10-3:30

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

THE CRESTON

MUSEUM

•Millennium Park (300 block of 16th Avenue South). The park, created by volunteers, opened in the summer of 2004. It features walkways, one-of-a-kind wooden benches and an amphitheatre, which is often used for musical and theatrical productions in the summer.

One of the park’s most striking features is the Japanese garden, which was developed thanks to a donation from Creston’s Japanese sister city, Kaminoho.

Millennium Park may be rented for weddings or special

When is the last time you had so much

fun shopping?

raised funds for local charities by plusreducing and reusing donated items?

Gleaners

807 Canyon Street • 250-428-4166

Tues & Fri 9:30am-4pm • Every Thurs 4pm-7pm

Gleaners Too

113 - 8 Ave North • 250-428-4106

Tues & Fri 9am-4pm • Every Thurs 4pm-7pm

Food Bank

807 Canyon Street • 250-428-4107

(behind main store) • Tues & Fri 9am-1pm

Gate Drop Off Hours

ERS GLEAN

(both locations) Monday to Friday 6:30 am - 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

ladies’ clothing • shoes • crafts • linens • men’s clothing • toys • jewellery • kitchen items • games • puzzles • housew

Creston h a Daylight Ssn’t observed aving since 191 s Time 8

• collectables • books • CDs • DVDs • small and large appliances • furniture • infant clothing • miscellaneous goods

project between the two local Rotary clubs — which provides an excellent way for the kids to cool off while Mom and Dad kick back and relax.

•Burns/Farstad Park (312 19th Avenue North). This is the site of the Creston and District Community Complex. The park has a new indoor swimming pool, a playground, two baseball diamonds, the Alex Nilsson Field for soccer, horseshoe pits, a skateboarding park, basketball hoops, volleyball nets, curling and ice rinks (in season).

ares • work wear • boots • jackets • ornaments • pictures • wall art • mirrors • hardware

Residents and visitors alike often take advantage of Creston’s many parks, suitable for a quick game of catch with the kids, a peaceful place to read or even enjoy a romantic picnic.

•Centennial Park (Birch Street, entrance at Ninth Avenue South).

This well-shaded park is popular with families, for obvious reasons: it has a playground, picnic sites, a gazebo, a baseball diamond, a basketball hoop, a water fountain and washrooms. An exciting feature is the Creston Rotary Splash Playground — a joint

A Walk in the Park functions on the grounds or in the amphitheatre; contact the Town of Creston for details.

•Burns Park (Elm Street and 25th Avenue South). This park has a playground, picnic tables and washrooms.

•Kinsmen Park (Birch Street and 25th Avenue South). This park has tennis courts, a baseball diamond and a running track.

•Schikurski Park (Regina Street and 14th Avenue North). Walking trails are a major feature of this park.

•Lister Park (16th Street and Huscroft Road). This rural park has a covered outdoor dining

area, rental kitchen facilities, a tennis court, a basketball hoop, a playground and a baseball diamond.

•Canyon Park (48th Street and Samuelson Road). The park features 30 picnic sites, a baseball diamond, a horse arena, a horse racing track, horseshoe pits, a playground, a pavilion, a rental kitchen and pay showers.

•Canada’s Smallest Park (Canyon Street Walkthrough).

This one is home to minature shrubs and small plants — definitely something to write home about!

A young visitor cools off at the Creston Rotary Splash Park.

LORNE ECKERSLEY

COMMUNITY

Inspiring Healthy Living Through Recreation 20 Acre Park Nestled in the Skimmerhorns Camping • Pavilion • Canada Day Celebrations Fitness Trail • Ball Diamond • Horse Arena 4727 48th Street, Canyon

Visit us online at www.CanyonBC.ca

Look for “Chippy” - the Boat on Our Roof!

rm Fresh Guide on P a F ag ur e3 o ee

?????

S

2

HOURS Advertising Inquiries for the 2015/2016 Publication

Contact Anita • 250.428.2266 sales@crestonvalleyadvance.ca

Wednesday to Sunday 11AM to 9PM Closed Monday & Tuesday

250-428-4008 • 1108 Northwest Blvd.

Cod • Haddock • Pollock • Halibut (when available) Poutine • Mushy Peas • Coleslaw Gluten Free/Wheat Free available upon request

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

23

On the Green

Golf Courses “Fore” All Visitors to the Creston Valley who are interested in spending a day on the links are in luck — 17 golf courses are located within two hours of Creston. Two, the Creston Golf Club in Lister and the Canyon Heights Golf Course in Canyon, are minutes away.

The 18-hole, par-72 Creston Golf Club was the home of B.C.’s 1992 juvenile, 1998 junior, 2002 senior amateur, 2004 ladies’ amateur and 2006 high school championships. Spectacular views of the Kootenay River and surrounding mountains can be seen from the course, which recently added new sand to the bunkers.

“There is something special about the layout of the Creston Golf Club that makes it a memorable experience,” said club professional Brian O’Keefe.

“It could be the wonderful scenic views that surround the area or a view from a few elevated tee boxes. It may be the challenge of the smooth rolling

Open Mid-March

SPECTACULAR SCENERY CHALLENGING GOLF BOOK TODAY! 250.428.5515 1.888.928.2582

Restaurant Open Daily • Non-Members Welcome Licensed Casual Dining, Relaxed Atmosphere Outdoor dining on our patio!

250-428-3383

1800 Mallory Rd, Creston BC www.CrestonGolf.com 24 24

www.CrestonValleyBC.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

greens that our visitors speak so highly of or it could be the fun atmosphere that we try to encourage to all patrons.”

Golfers around the region are well aware that they can get in on the scenery and fun a little earlier than other Kootenay golf courses, with the Creston course usually being the first to open in the spring.

“It seems that we get two to three weeks of early spring golf before any other golf course gets their doors open,” says O’Keefe. “In the spring, golfers can’t wait to get started on their golfing fun that they have been without for a number of months.”

If you want to get in a game, but don’t have a lot of time, the five-hole Canyon Heights Golf Course in Canyon is your best bet. The course also features an 18-hole putting range, located at the foot of the magnificent Skimmerhorns, part of the Purcell mountain range.

“It’s in a gorgeous corner of the valley,” says owner Dave Perrin. “It is fantastically beautiful.”

Due to the Creston Valley’s mild climate, golf season starts in mid-March and usually runs until the end of October. And because the courses are located in pristine natural surroundings, golfers can often enjoy a glimpse of wildlife sharing the course.

An hour north on Highway 3A, golfers will be delighted to find the 18-hole Kokanee Springs Golf Resort in Crawford Bay, which is situated beside the lodge, cabins and villas. The par-71 course, designed in 1968 by Norman Woods, is “characterized by its long driving fairways, immense rolling greens, immaculate course upkeep, and ability to interest and challenge golfers at all levels,” says www.kokaneesprings.com.

Twenty minutes farther is the nine-hole Riondel Golf Course, a few minutes off Highway 3A on Riondel Road. Volunteers who worked or had family working in the nearby and now-defunct Bluebell Mine started it as a three-hole course in 1961, and it gradually expanded, now offering challenging greens, wideopen fairways and a small clubhouse.

Outside the valley, courses in Balfour, Kaslo, Nelson, Salmo, Champion Lakes, Trail-Rossland and Cranbrook, as well as Bonners Ferry and Priest Lake in Idaho, ensure variety for all skill levels.

Stay

™

RESORT & COURSE AMENITIES • Bunkers Grill Restaurant • Outdoor hot tub • Meeting room • Games room • Internet access • 24 hour front desk • Local beach area • Trail network • Exercise facilities

(Located at Crawford Bay School)

| LEGENDARY

Experience One of Canada’s Finest Championship 18-hole Golf Courses – Kokanee Springs Resort in Crawford Bay, BC This Norman Woods original in Crawford Bay, BC is considered by many to be the flagship of Kootenay golf courses. Residing in a magnificent mountain setting and encompassing 750 acres with over a mile of lakefront on Kootenay Lake, as well as natural wetlands and soaring forests. Every hole at Kokanee is framed by spectacular panoramic views of the Kokanee Glacier and surrounding area, characterized by its long driving fairways, immense rolling greens, immaculate course upkeep, and ability to interest and challenge golfers at all levels.

• Championship Golf course • Pro Shop • CPGA professionals • Kokanee Springs

Golf School

TEES YARDS 6,604 RATING 71.2 SLOPE 130

6,261 69.6 126

5,922 67.5 117

L L 5,922 5,471 74.4 72.1 139 124

L 5,228 70.6 120

• Driving range • Practice facility • On-course beverage cart • Snack bar at

1st & 10th tees

Kokanee Springs Resort 16082 Woolgar Road

Crawford Bay, BC

1-800-979-7999 www.kokaneesprings.comwww.CrestonValleyBC.com

25

Creston Museum

Bringing Life to History With more than half of its 10,000 artifacts on display, the Creston Museum and Archives is the place to go to learn all there is to know about the Creston Valley’s history — from forestry to agriculture to transportation.

“Many of our visitors are surprised at how big the museum is, and how much there is to see,” says manager Tammy Hardwick.

“There are a lot of corners, and something new to see around every one of them.”

The museum, which opens May 11 and runs through midSeptember, has two main buildings, both built in the 1960s by master stonemason Rudolph Schultz. Other buildings on the property include a century-old schoolhouse from Kingsgate (near Yahk), a trapper’s cabin and a shed that shelters farm equipment, including a 1920s Ford and Caterpillar.

The Creston Museum is also home to the Seventh Siding Trackers, a model railway club

that has created a miniature version of the Creston Valley in the living room of a former apartment on the museum grounds.

The publicly funded non-profit facility plays an active role in the community, hosting several events during its season (MaySeptember). The first is the museum’s opening day, which also marks the opening of a few new exhibits.

“The museum’s washroom is about to become the most engaging washroom in town, with a brand-new mini-exhibit called ‘Unmentionables’,” says Hardwick. “Yes, that means it will include all sorts of things that don’t get mentioned in polite society, but don’t worry — it will be discreet!”

The first exhibit visitors see when they enter the museum is a general store, which will have a new section on the community’s post offices added.

“In this day of email and text messages, ubiquitous mobile

Creston Veterinary Hospital

Farm & House Call Service 24 Hour Emergency by Phone

Dr. Robert McLeod • Dr. Emma Davis Dr. John Pfeffer Ph: 250-428-9494 • 1605 Dogwood St • Creston, BC

26

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

phones and FaceTime, it’s easy to forget that, not all that long ago, the only way to receive news of friends and family in other communities and other countries was through letters,” says Hardwick.

The Women’s History Hall of Fame, introduced last year as part of a new exhibit on the roles of women in the community, is growing and expanding.

“We’ve chosen three broad time frames — pioneer women, women of the 1950s and women of today — and explored the changing — and, in some ways, unchanging — roles of women from one period to another,” says Hardwick. “A big part of the exhibit is made up of items contributed by members of the community — items that represent the women whom those people feel have made a difference in the community.”

Volunteers will be busy running a few regular events, including Kids’ Day on June 14, featuring

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE.

CRESTON VISITOR CENTRE 121 NW Blvd., Highway 3, Creston, BC 1.866.528.4342

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

Bringing Life to History vintage games such as hopscotch and marbles.

“With things to do indoors and out, ranging from old-fashioned games on the lawn to scavenger hunts and storytelling in the museum, it’s a great opportunity for youngsters to explore local history and have fun doing it,” says Hardwick.

And then there’s the perennial favourite, the Afternoon Tea on Aug. 9, at which guests enjoy tea, lemonade and dainty treats on the museum’s patio. This year’s theme is the First World War, with August marking the 100th anniversary of its outbreak. The tea marks the beginning of over four years of programs presented by the Royal Canadian Legion’s Creston branch to recognize the contribution of the Creston Valley and its citizens to the war effort. With the audience’s help, volunteers will recreate the arrival of news of the war and witness its effect on the community.

“Events give our visitors a chance to live or relive history for an afternoon, and they give people opportunities to share their stories,” says Hardwick.

“Museums should be places

BRIAN LAWRENCE

The Creston Museum’s annual tea is a welcome excuse to dress up and enjoy a sunny day on the museum’s shaded patio.

where people can gather and enjoy an hour, an afternoon or a day.

Our static exhibits let the people do that in a quiet, peaceful way, and our events let visitors enjoy in a more hands-on way.”

These events allow museum employees, tour guides and volunteers to glean new information to pass on to future visitors.

“We collect the artifacts that illustrate local history and the stories that go with them, and we pass those stories on to others,” says Hardwick. “It’s ongoing — we’re always collecting both artifacts and stories. In fact, the best days we have are the ones when people come in and start reminiscing.”

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

27

Wildlife Area

Preserving our Unique Nature There may be no better internationally-known feature in the Kootenays than the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA). In fact, Rand McNally voted the CVWMA and the Wildlife Interpretation Centre as a Best of the Road Editors’ Top Pick in the 2009 Rand McNally Road Atlas.

Located 11 kilometres west of Creston, CVWMA is a Ramsar site, an internationally significant wetland. It is also recognized as a nationally important bird area because it provides important habitat for migrating and nesting

birds — which makes it the perfect location for much of the second annual Creston Valley Bird Fest, which runs May 9-11.

The Wildlife Interpretation Centre at 1760 West Creston Road is open from May to September, but boardwalks and trails throughout the marshes welcome visitors yearround. The centre offers something for everyone during its season, which runs from May to October, including guided canoe and walking tours, youth programs and educational displays. A science and nature gift shop in the centre

Wildlife Centre

11 km west of Creston off Hwy 3

has an excellent selection of books, natural history and educational resources, nature related gifts, souvenirs and refreshments.

“Visitors enjoy the opportunity to experience a dynamic wetland environment firsthand, either through our naturalist-led interpretive programs or selfguided recreation options,” says acting education director Andrea Chapman. “Right upon leaving the car, visitors are greeted by a living, breathing wetland, then welcomed into the Wildlife Interpretation Centre by knowledgeable staff.

Birding expeditions Professional presentations Workshops Art tours

Centre open May - October Programs and tours May - August

May 9 - 11, 2014

• Guided Canoe & Walking Tours • Hiking & Biking Trails • Wildlife Viewing • Educational Displays • Science Lab • Gift Shop 250.402.6908 askus@crestonwildlife.ca

www.crestonwildlife.ca 28

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

©Bruce Paterson

Info: www.crestonvalleybirds.ca • Watch for 2015 events!

Preserving our Unique Nature

BRIAN LAWRENCE

The possibilities for exploration really are endless.”

An impressive feature of the 32 kilometres of trails is the three-story viewing tower along the Marsh Trail Loop, a popular destination for schoolchildren, birdwatchers, photographers and nature enthusiasts to view wildlife and enjoy the breathtaking views of the wetland. A second tower is located north of the Wildlife Interpretation Centre, by following trails that cross under Highway 3.

It is home to over 300 bird species, 50 mammal species, 30 fish, reptile and amphibian species, and thousands of invertebrate and plant species.

The valley is a migration corridor for tundra swans, greater whitefronted geese and other waterfowl, and is the largest regional locale

for wintering birds of prey in the interior of the province. In all of British Columbia, the CVWMA is second only to the B.C. coast as a flyway route for numbers of migrating waterfowl that follow it twice yearly.

Warm shallow waters encourage luxuriant growth of the most important aquatic plants, such as sage, clasping leaf and other pondweeds, duck potato, duckweed, muskgrass and many more.

The richness and diversity of life forms would not be present on the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area without habitat management. Because of careful control of water levels, vegetation and other habitat features since 1968, there are now more species and larger breeding populations of

We Make Your House a Home!

birds and other wildlife at CVWMA than in previous years.

Wetlands are important because they sustain as much life as many tropical rain forests, play a critical role in maintaining the global environment and provide a natural flood barrier that slows down the runoff of spring melt and rainstorms. Additionally, extensive wetlands in agricultural regions play a large role in water purification by filtering the water of lakes, rivers and streams, reducing pollution. Marsh plants remove excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorous.

“The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area acts as a water purifier, flood reducer, wildlife home, learning resource and outdoor hub in our beautiful valley,” says Chapman.

Eat IN Take OUT Drive THRU

For appliances, electronics, beds and mattresses, fitness equipment, home and garden equipment, plus your Sears catalogue store and MORE!

1510 Cook Street, Creston, BC • 250-428-5301 Tues to Fri 930am-530pm • Sat 930am-500pm

1804 Canyon Street Highway 3 250-428-9800 www.CrestonValleyBC.com

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Food & Wine Perfect Pairings

Wine lovers and foodies delight in pairing food with appropriate libations, and what better way to celebrate the bounty that grows in the Creston Valley? With three wineries now open to visitors, and dozens of venues to pick up locally produced food, the area has become a gourmet — and gourmand — heaven.

For a perfect weekend meal, first visit the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market or drop in to a fruit stand or farm gate vendor to pick up fruit and veggies in season. A stop at Famous Fritz

Meats and Deli and Kootenay Meadows cheese might be in order, too. Think grilled sausages and a hearty red wine!

Or a cheese plate to go with just about any local wine you happen to enjoy.

Need some inspiration first?

Talk to your host at the winery, or check out the menu at Skimmerhorn Winery’s bistro, where there are plenty of ideas to whet the palate and stimulate the appetite. The bistro recommends Autumn Tryst or Marechal Foch to pair

Meet Your Milk Maker

with its red wine braised beef with herb roasted potatoes. Or perhaps you will be tempted by the Moroccan spiced slowcooked chicken dish, designed to go with Gewürztraminer or Devil’s Chair.

Looking for a place to enjoy a picnic with your freshly purchased bounty? Check out the pergola at Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery, where guests are welcome to bring their own food to eat along with a glass or bottle of wine purchased in the tasting rooms. Glasses

• U-pick & ready picked blueberries, strawberries, raspberries & more!

• Unique hydroponic strawberry pavilion • Delicious lunches, fruit smoothies, baking and preserves • Ice cream, candy shop and Belgian berry waffles Great family experience!

Summer Hours (May to September) Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm Spring, Fall & Winter Hours - Please call Blueberry Patch products now available at Tasty Pastry Shop in Creston next to Overwaitea

www.blueberrypatch.ca 2782-20th St Lister • Hwy 21. S and follow signs 250-428-4647

Got Milk... and Cheese!

Visit our certified organic, grass-based family farm and expanded farm retail shop Farm Fresh Milk and cream in glass bottles Handcrafted Kootenay Alpine Cheese Pasture raised ground beef

THE HEALTHIER CHOICE! NO FILLERS, NO BINDERS, NO SUGAR, NO MSG ADDED HORMONE-FREE BEEF & BUFFALO

www.kootenaymeadows.com Summer (May-Thanksgiving): Thurs, Fri, Sat 10-5 Winter: Saturdays only 10-5

meadows kootenay meadows

otenay

“good food from the soil up”

30

“good food from the soil up”

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

3071 - 16 St Creston BC

Naturally Omega 3 enriched & Cholesterol reduced • Gluten Free Deli Meats • Everything proudly made on premises

(beside Lister Park)

250.428.9655

TUES - FRI 9-6 • SAT 9-5 • 1420 NW BLVD, HWY 3. CRESTON • PH: 250-428-9055

Perfect Pairings are supplied! Snacks are also available for purchase.

Asparagus is a notoriously challenging vegetable to pair with wine. But a little creativity in the way it’s served can be gratifying, and worth the effort, too, with Sutcliffe Farms being the largest asparagus producer in B.C. We recommend grilling the tasty spears after tossing them with olive oil, salt and pepper, laying them atop a couple of slices of hearty Creston Valley Bakery’s artisan bread, then slathering the works in an easy cheese sauce.

To a basic white sauce, add your favourite cheese — we are equally happy with Alpindon or Nostrala — stir until it’s almost melted and quick as Bob (or Fred) is your uncle, you are ready

to enjoy with any wine you prefer.

The addition of curry in the sauce makes it a wonderful match with Gewürztraminer. Want to make it especially suitable with a red wine? Kick it up a notch with a slice or two of crispy fried double smoked Famous Fritz bacon or one of their fabulous sausages.

Restaurant owners are thrilled to offer local products, and the Real Food Cafe and A Break in Time Caffé both have menus with tasty Creston Valley produce and meat.

Anthony Kwan, proprietor of Kootenay Thai Restaurant, is a big fan of Creston Valley wines, so much so that he’s created a special menu that pairs BaillieGrohman wines with some of his favourite Thai dishes. Four

different samples of wine and seven dishes are sure to excite those who enjoy Asian food.

The following acts as Kwan’s general guide to wine and food pairing: Light whites: Ehrenfelser, Bacchus, Siegerrebe, Riesling, Muscat, Chenin Blanc, Chasselas, Auxerrois, unwooded Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.

Try with Asian style prawns or fish grilled on skewers, pork kabobs, or marinated grilled vegetables.

Medium whites: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Semillon and unwooded Chardonnay. Try with chicken satay, fish with a Latin kick or calamari.

Rich whites: Oaked Sauvignon Blanc, Meritage blends, oaked Chardonnay and reserve (oaked)

Sirdar Vineyard, Wynndel, British Columbia

Tasting Room open May 15 to October 15

W

ynnwood Cellars’ vision is to create distinctive wines that reflect the terroir of this unique site above Duck Lake in the

Creston Valley of the Upper Columbia Basin. These wines will be wines of the “first shores” as this site, according to geologists, was the original west coast of North America. Above our southwest sloping vineyard one can see remnants left by ancient oceans and glaciers. This mineral rich soil gives our wines complexity and an ethos of antiquity.

5566 Highway 3A • 2 km north of Wynndel Store • 250-866-5155 www.CrestonValleyBC.com

31

Farm Fresh Guide (Your guide to local food and Farmers’ Market products.)

Let’s Grow • Let’s Share • Let’s Eat Fruits, Vegetables & Garden Blueberry Hill Farm U-pick & we-pick blueberries. Vegetables and tree nuts in season.

Betty Armitage • 911 32 Ave S, Creston 250-428-8455 • 250-402-9812

Blueberry Patch Country Market

Grown & Produced Locally Beltane Nursery Bedding plants & nursery stock. Cherries, apricots & peaches in season. Evan Davies • 2915 Hwy 3, Creston 250-428-2062 • beltane.nursery@shawcable.com

Brunham Farm Greenhouse Bedding plants, cactus plants, perennials. Open April 15 - June 30.

Isabel Brunham • 3212 Beam Rd, Creston 250-428-5756 •abrunham@telus.net

FM

Morris Flowers Garden Centre

Bedding plants, ornamental & fruit trees, shrubs, berries, foliage plants, nursery stock & garden accessories. Hothouse tomatoes, vegetables in season. Corn, blueberries, and tree fruits.

Lloyd Morris • 1403 Erickson Rd • 250-428-5262

FM

Paper Garden

Baked goods; including gluten free. 100% pure beeswax candles, all natural & smell wonderful, slow burning & air purifying.

Lisa Forcade & Terry Vanderwolf • 250-428-9046 • www.papergarden.ca

FM

Purple House Farm

FGS

Naturally grown heirloom tomatoes for all your fresh eating and canning needs. Early August - frost (est. mid Oct.) Farm Gate and Farmer’s Market booth sales.

Kevin & Cassandra Viers • 250-402-9751 • kevinviers@gmail.com

Tabletree Juice

FM

Produced, picked, prepared and packed in Creston by the farmer with no preservatives! Never from concentrate. World award winning processors of juices and sauces. Producers & retailers of local cherries and fruit through farm sales & local Farmer’s Market.

Gary & Susan Snow • 3020 Erickson Rd. • 250-428-2470

Farmer’s Market Every Saturday May - September 9am - 1pm Behind the Chamber of Commerce • Cook Street

October - December 9am - 1pm Morris Flowers & Garden Centre Indoors • 1403 Erickson St www.crestonvalleyfarmersmarket.ca

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www.CrestonValleyBC.com

FM

Lunches, berry pies, smoothies, candy, ice cream & gift shop. U-pick and ready picked strawberries - June to October, blueberries - late July to early Sept. Raspberries - mid-July • 2782-20th St. Lister 250.428.4647 • www.blueberrypatch.ca • See ad page 30

Castle Meadows Ltd. FM

FGS

U-Pick/We Pick, Seven varieties of wine grapes. Grape clusters, crushed or juiced, farm gate sales. Taking orders for fall!

Jim McLeod • 2182 Corn Creek Rd. 250-428-8841 • themcleods@westcreston.ca

Cherrybrook Farms 100% natural dried cherries, cherry juice, ice cream, model train supplies, family tree memberships, local produce, Dutch licorice, loose leaf teas. See ad page 34.

2931 Hwy 3 • 250-428-3070 • www.cherrybrookfarms.ca

Faramon Farms FM

Cherries, peaches, and vegetables available by phone orders and at Farmer’s Markets. 15+ apple varieties starting in the fall, available at the farm. • 250.402.3056 • New location! 3111 Highway 3

Featherstone Farm Permaculture organic/biodynamic 160 acre mountainside farm.

Norwegian Fjord horses, dairy goats, heirloom birds, angora bunnies and bees. Vegetable, herb, and fruit gardens, wildcrafting medicinal plants. Internships available • Jana Siminiuk-Doyle & Mike Doyle 1550 Granary Rd, Creston • 250-402-9934 • featherstone@westcreston.ca

JR Kids Orchard & Greenhouse FM

Bedding, pond & exotic plants. Fruits & berries. Specializing in tomatoes. Pasture raised eggs, pork & poultry. Farm gate sales.

Joy Tomlinson • 2826 Erickson Rd • 250-428-5438 • 250-402-8475

www.crestonfoodaction.ca

Fruits, Vegetables & Garden

Golden Flax Farms

Leyh Orchard 13 varieties of apples. Apricots, peaches, pears, cherries, prune plums.

Bill Leyh • 2717 Erickson Rd, Creston • 250-428-7324

Margo’s Farm Specializing in reduced-pesticide use. Cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, pears.

Jim & Margo Beaudry • 2813 Hyw 3, Creston 250-428-9782 • jbeau8@telus.net

Marianne’s Greenhouse FM Bedding plants. Freshly picked berries & vegetables in season.

Farm gate sales.

Marianne Knopfler • 3621 Muzzy Rd, Canyon

FM

Mo & Mikey Farms

Garlic, soft fruits & vegetables. Phone sales.

Maureen Byrne • 4281 Canyon-Lister Rd, Canyon 250-428-4530 • mikemaurfarm@gmail.com

OM Orchards Lapin cherries; Gala, Jonagold, Elstar & Spartan apples, prune plums.

Farm gate sales by appointment.

Reghan Ottenson • 250-402-8372

The Pickle Patch

FM

Pickle cannery - crunchy, tasty pickles of all varieties: dilled, sweet, spiced, pickled eggs & relishes. Fresh eggs. Farm gate sales.

Charlene Rast • 973 Reclamation Rd, Creston • See ad page 43 250-428-8980 • picklepatch@westcreston.ca

Romano’s Blueberries Blueberries. Virginia & Cliff Romano • 2603 Sunset Blvd, Creston 250-428-2194

Root and Vine Acres Veggies, fruit, berries & herbs. Pasture raised pork, lamb, goat, and poultry. Free range chicken & duck eggs.

Jessica Piccinin •2826 Erickson Road, Creston 250-402-8475 • rootandvine@hotmail.com

Sanders Produce

Eggs, Meats, Grain & Honey

FM

U-pick strawberries, we-pick raspberries, apples, peas, beans, squash, sweet corn, garlic, pickling cucumbers, potatoes, wheat & flour.

Phone sales and Farmer’s Market Sales Roger Sanders 250-428-7351 • cell: 250-428-6788 Channel Road, Wynndel • 4902 Canyon-Lister Rd, Canyon

Naturally-grown golden flax seed; flax straw.

Judy & Don Bala • 250-428-2837 • 250-402-8178 • 2673 24 St, Lister Dean & Nadine Bala • 250-402-9839 • hjbala@ymail.com

FM

King Creek Farm

Fresh unpasteurized honey. “Homestead” and “Lavender” honey.

Jim & Valerie Comer, Joel & Jen Comer • 732 Wilson Rd, Creston kingcreekfarm@yahoo.ca • www.kingcreekfarm.ca • 250-977-5362

Kootenay Meadows Farm

FGS

Certified organic, grass based, family farm. Handcrafted alpine cheese, fresh glass bottled milk, organic beef • See ad page 30 Farm Retail Shop: Thurs, Fri, Sat 10-5 250-428-9655 • www.kootenaymeadows.com

Kootenay Natural Meats Grass-finished certified Angus beef, heritage pork, chickens, turkeys & grass finished lamb. Wendy & Dale McNamar • 1205 15 Ave S 250-428-4034 • www.kootenaynaturalmeats.com

R&S Lawrence Farm Spelt, peas, hard red winter wheat, soft white winter wheat, red fife wheat, lentils & oats. Member of Kootenay Grain CSA. Roy & Sherry Lawrence • 325 Swan Road, West Creston 250-428-7556 • www.kootenaygraincsa.ca

Lydia’s Lamb Katahdin lamb (hairsheep) halves or whole. Farm visitors welcome.

Lydia & Hans Bissig • 2372 20 St, Creston 250-428-3365 • bissigl@hotmail.com

R&S Meyer Farms Chicken & beef. Sides, quarters & ground beef available. Hay of all types in small bales, delivery available.

Randy & Sheila Meyer • 2912 28 St, Creston • 250-428-7013

Swan Valley Honey (2012) Honey, pollination, pollen, and comb honey.

Doug & Nora Crumback • 220 East Placsko Road 250-866-6861 • www.swanvalleyhoney.ca

Tarzwell Farms

FM

Beef: quarters, halves, whole, $100 packages. Ground beef available.

Abbattoir. Tom Tarzwell • 250-428-4316 • tarzwell@shaw.ca

Pumpkins, hay.

Ginger & Ian Knudsen • 875 Hyw 3, Creston • 250-428-4506

Sutcliffe Farms

FM

FGS

Asparagus approximately May 1 - June 15 All other veggies - Farm Gate & Farmer’s Market sales Doug Sutcliffe • 250-428-2734 • 1252 Indian Rd.

Webber’s Mountainside Cherries Farm-gate sales of Lapin cherries. Hand-dipped chocolate dried cherries in season, dried apples & all-natural chocolate bars with fruit.

Michele & Wade Webber • 5293 Bossio Rd, Wynndel 250-866-5573

Willowbrook Farm Mixed vegetables, onions & squash. Case lot sales available in season.

Merv Sloss • 734 35 Avenue North, Creston • 250-428-3507

Legend

Sun Beam Farms Certified Organic (certified by accredited third party) Natural (uncertified) Conventional (conventional farming practices)

FM

Farmers’ Market Sales Kootenay Mountain Grown Certified Good Agricultural Practices Integrated Pest Management Environmental Farm Plan

FGS Farm Gate Sales / Visitors Welcome

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

33

Perfect Pairings Pinot Gris. Try with grilled turkey breast, coho salmon or tandoori chicken.

Rosé: Try with Italian sausages — or almost anything.

Light reds: Unoaked or lightly oaked Gamay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Try with pork chops, game hens, lamb popsicles, mushrooms or burgers.

Rich reds: Oaked Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage blends, Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel. Try with steak, ribs, pork tenderloin with Cajun rub or butterflied leg of lamb.

Skimmerhorn Winery winemaker Mark Rattray, who spends most of the year in his native New Zealand, is a food enthusiast whose hobbies include cheese making. He shares his

own views about food pairing with Skimmerhorn wines: Ortega: Although not as high in acid as a Riesling, it is still better suited to fish and more delicately flavoured foods where it will not swamp or be swamped. With its citrus flavours, it will complement lime- and lemon-infused dishes.

Pinot Gris: Quite low in acidity, it is best suited to richer dishes where butter based sauces prevail; the one will enrich the other. Well suited to fish and white meats only — with red meats at a stretch — and blue cheese.

Gewurztraminer is very similar to Gris but able to handle spicier dishes, notably Asian, but really quite an all-purpose wine from aperitif with nibbles to salads

Estate Winery 1140 -27 Ave South, Creston, BC

Tasting Room open 11am - 5pm Wednesday - Sunday • May 14 - Sept 1 Wine tours by appointment 250-428-8768 www.bailliegrohman.com

Like us on Facebook: BaillieGrohman Follow us on Twitter: @bailliegrohman

W I N E R Y

&

and the main event, although definitely not recommended with red meat.

Autumn Tryst (a white blend) is an aromatic sweeter white but not sweet enough to be a dessert wine. It is a great match with fresh stone fruits and a cheese platter, including blue cheeses.

Marechal Foch is an intriguing earthy red with a full but very soft mouth-feel and a touch of acidity, an excellent match with game and other red meats, tomato based casseroles and pasta dishes. Try also with cheese, but not blue.

Pinot Noir is a classic wine for wild game but also a great match with pasta and Camembert and brie cheeses. For red wine lovers, its weight and softness means it will go with nearly everything!

V I N E Y A R D

Open April 16 to December 21

Wineshop and FREE tasting bar 11am – 5pm Open daily July & August • Wednesday to Sunday Spring & Fall Summer Bistro • Open Wednesday to Sunday 11am – 3pm June 18 to September 27 • Reservations highly recommended Tours Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30pm, June 28 to September 27

CLOSED Sunday, September 29 1218 27th Ave S. • Creston, BC

250.428.4911 www.skimmerhorn.ca

“FRUIT GROWS... WE NURTURE... YOU ENJOY!” A Unique Family Experience

Local Produce, Dutch Licorice, Train supplies, Loose leaf teas and more!

2931 Highway 3

Creston, BC V0B 1G1 250-428-3070 www.cherrybrookfarms.ca familytree@cherrybrookfarms.ca

• 100% NATURAL DRIED CHERRIES • CHERRY JUICE HYDROPONIC LETTUCE • FAMILY TREE MEMBERSHIP

34

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

YOU RE JUST THE KIND OF PERSON WE D LIKE TO HAVE OVER FOR DINNER. But why just stay for dinner? Stay for the food, stay for incredible vistas, the satisfying sounds of the simple life and the stories of folks who’ve found the finer points of freedom and are happy to share.

Discover what you’re missing: www.CrestonValleyBC.com

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

35

Alive & Growing

From Asparagus to Zucchini Agritourism may be a growing area of tourism, but it’s hardly new to visitors to the Creston Valley. In fact, parents have been loading the kids into the car and driving to Creston to pick up fruit and vegetables for longer than most of us can remember.

There’s something special about getting one’s food straight from the source.

Fitting into the larger sector of cultural tourism, agritourism offers a variety of unique experiences, from learning about the history of agriculture to sampling made-on-theproperty products to picking strawberries right off the plant.

With skyrocketing interest in food quality and security, more and more visitors to the Creston Valley are taking the time to learn about where their food comes from and to get hands-on experience.

Visitors might want to start their agritourism experience with a stop at the Creston Museum, where the valley’s rich agricultural history is honoured.

Invest a few hours to learn about orchards or beer brewing or winemaking. Take some time to learn about making cheese, raising bison or growing blueberries. Talk to the maker of your candies, the baker of your breads or the cook who creates your jams and jellies. Wander through a local market garden or shop at the Saturday Creston Valley Farmers’ Market next 36 www.CrestonValleyBC.com

LORNE ECKERSLEY

Kootenay Meadows milk and cheese are produced at a Lister dairy farm.

to the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce. Bite into a juicy cherry, nibble a piece of cheese or sip an award-winning wine or beer. Just ask the friendly staff at Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce — they’ll be happy to answer questions and provide directions.

Visitors to the Creston Valley experience an up-close-andpersonal look at orchards as they change through the seasons.

A variety of fruit crops means that blossom time generally begins long before the May long weekend’s Creston Valley Blossom Festival — and lasts

long after. But the thrill of seeing trees in full bloom in spring or, a few short months later, hanging heavy with apples, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots or pears never seems to fade.

One of the earliest crops is freshly picked asparagus, and for that, a visit to Sutcliffe Farms on the Creston flats is a must.

With about 100 acres devoted to growing asparagus, it is Western Canada’s largest asparagus farm, and 1,200-1,800 pounds per acre are picked each year.

“Some say frozen asparagus is almost as tasty as it is when it’s fresh,” owner Doug Sutcliffe

From Asparagus to Zucchini says. “I say eating no asparagus is better than eating the frozen stuff. But that’s just me, I guess.”

Creston still has the Spartan, McIntosh and Delicious apples and other varieties that made it a destination point over the decades. But changing market conditions have encouraged local growers to switch to cherries, particularly to the late-season varieties like Lapins, Sweethearts and Staccatos. With buyers around the world, including Asia and Europe, Creston’s orchards and several packing facilities are a hive of activity each summer as the race begins to get top quality fruit to its destination in pristine condition. Some orchardists are adding value to their cherry crop by drying the fruit or making juice.

A mix of the traditional (cherries are all hand-picked, often by travelling workers from Eastern Canada or Mexico) and the modern (rainfalls at ripening time are quickly followed by helicopters flying low over the orchards to blow water drops from the fruit, and a couple of orchards feature trees that are covered by white nylon “tents”), the harvest employs hundreds of local and visiting workers, and injects millions of dollars into the local economy.

Visitors can enjoy making their fresh produce purchases directly from growers or from the fruit stands that line roads in and around the Creston Valley, home to most of the area’s fruit production. One local orchard, Cherrybrook Farms, even offers customers the opportunity to lease a tree, which assures leaseholders a quantity of cherries from a well-tended tree.

LORNE ECKERSLEY

Lying down on the job is encouraged — in fact, required — when picking asparagus at Sutcliffe Farms.

A climate that features mild winters and warm summers, and some of the country’s most fertile soil are contributors to a diverse, thriving agricultural industry.

Grain, beef, dairy and even bison operations dot the Creston Valley flats and the wide valley is an enticing lure, especially to prairie residents, many of whom have chosen to make this area home.

Of course, there’s more to agritourism than we can

mention here, but think of B&B accommodations nestled into orchards, the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefits of a local diet, enjoying a conversation with a farmer or grower, or making a visit to a fruit and vegetable stand where you can wander out back where trees are dripping with produce.

You will soon understand why Creston Valley residents don’t want to live anywhere else in the world. www.CrestonValleyBC.com 37

Fresh, Fabulous Food Enjoy a Local Lunch

Planning a picnic? How about putting it together with all locally made products? Don’t plan the menu just yet. Take a drive out and meet the folks who work hard to provide quality food products, and enjoy the scenery as you move around the Creston Valley.

Start with a visit to Famous Fritz Meats and Deli, where Thomas Fritz, a European-trained meat cutter and sausage maker, produces delicious European sausages, smokies, deli meat and much more, all on-site. There are fresh baked goodies, too!

Many of the shop’s products are cholesterol reduced and enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Fritz uses only the finest ingredients according to old family recipes.

Enjoy the wide variety of all-natural beef, bison and pork, much of it raised in the Creston Valley.

“Our customers love our quality and the fact that nothing gets added to our products that isn’t in the original family recipes — raw spices and meat,” says Fritz. “There are no fillers, no binders, no sugar or MSG added to our products, and they are gluten free, which is hard to find these days.”

Your next stop might be for organic cheese from Kootenay Meadows in Lister, right in the heart of farm country. There you will find three types of alpinestyle cheeses made on the organic dairy farm of Denise and Wayne Harris and family. They 38

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

are also served at the Real Food Cafe, which uses as many local products as possible, including beef, pork and cherries in its cooking. Learn why the Kootenays have fallen in love with the Kootenay Meadows organic milk products, too — everything from skim milk to heavy cream.

How about some wine to go with your purchases? Located in Erickson, the Skimmerhorn Winery and Vineyard now has a half-dozen vintages behind it and the accolades continue to roll in. Wines made from Pinot Gris, Ortega, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and Marechal Foch grapes have proven to be popular with critics and in the marketplace.

Owners Marleen and Al Hoag will be happy to show off the many medals and trophies their wines have already accumulated in a few short years, in large part the result of skilled winemaker Mark Rattray, who comes to Creston in the fall from his home in New Zealand. The wines can be taken home or enjoyed at the winery’s bistro, which features a patio overlooking the Skimmerhorn mountain range. In 2013, the winery released Creston’s first port-style wine, and Old Koot has quickly become a favourite.

Right next door, Baillie-Grohman Winery produced its first vintage in 2009. Another Kiwi, Dan Barker, is in charge of making the wines.

Sip from a selection that includes Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer,

Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, from the winery owned by Petra Flaa and Bob Johnson.

Just west of Wynndel on Highway 3A, Wynnwood Cellars opened its doors to customers in 2012. Made from grapes grown on a spectacular vineyard further west, on a hillside that slopes down to Duck Lake, Wynnwood wines promise to be distinct and of high quality.

The vineyard is located on a rare Creston Valley slope that includes limestone, the same mineral that is found in the Bordeaux region of France. The vines benefit from the late afternoon and early evening sun reflecting off the lake, adding to the heat units available to allow grapes to ripen to their full potential. Drop in to the winery and tasting room for a sample and the chance to chat with winemaker and vineyard manager Dave Basaraba.

A non-alcoholic drink option can be found in the form of Tabletree black cherry, apple or plum juice, where a pound of fruit results in a lip-smacking 8.5-ounce bottle of locally grown goodness. The juice, made onsite at the orchard owned by Gary and Susan Snow and is available at L.W. Truscott Farms, and was developed as a means to use fruit that can’t be sold fresh.

“Because the fresh market expects such a perfect cherry, we needed to come up with an alternate process for these cull

Enjoy a Local Lunch cherries that are going to waste,” says Susan.

Tabletree now also produces a line of culinary sauces that are reductions of black cherry, plum and apple juice. They are perfect for cooking and baking, adding intense, fresh and all natural flavours.

Tabletree became a worldrenowned success when the value-added cherry product was named the best pure juice in the world at the 2012 World Juice Awards. In 2013, the apple juice was runner-up for another World Juice Award.

William Tell arrived in Creston last year. Or at least juices and ciders using his name did. William Tell Juice Company old-fashioned sparkling apple and pear ciders have proven to be popular as non-alcoholic beverage choices.

Fresh-tasting and reasonably priced, these bubblies turn any occasion into a celebration. The company also makes Mad Trapper old-fashioned apple cider, too, and promises the release of other new products in 2014.

Fruits and vegetables can be found all around the Creston Valley; just watch for the signs.

Local cherries — fresh and dried — other produce and Creston Valley Jam Company products can be found at Cherrybrook Farms on Highway 3 in Erickson.

Then make a final stop at Creston Valley Bakery where owner Yuri Jmaeff and his team turn out a dizzying array of baked goods, including a different artisan bread each day.

The artisan breads are a healthy choice, made with whole grain flour, some with sourdough

BRIAN LAWRENCE

Hands are the only technology required for picking during cherry harvest.

starters. All are created with Jmaeff’s commitment to use the finest ingredients and timehonoured traditions. In 2010, he introduced loaves of 100 per cent whole wheat flour made from wheat grown at Sutcliffe Farms.

“I think I have the only bakery in Canada that is growing its own wheat,” Jmaeff says with a smile.

Buffalo Trails, a favourite Canyon Street shop, has on its menu — you guessed it — bison, locally raised and a healthy meat alternative.

For beer fans, most licensed restaurants offer a selection of Labatt products, including made in Creston brews like Kokanee.

Drop into Tigz Designs on Canyon Street for a great selection of gift baskets, many of them featuring the local products mentioned here. It is also the home of Tigz Tea Hut, where more than 130 varieties of loose leaf teas are sold, as is tea-to-go.

The Creston Valley Farm Fresh Guide features more than 40 food producers and related organizations with farmgate or market garden sales. Produced by the Creston Valley Food Action Coalition, an organization that promotes the access to and consumption of locally grown foods, it can be found on pages 32 and 33. www.CrestonValleyBC.com

39

From Farm to Table

Creston Valley Farmers’ Market From a modest beginning 10 years ago, the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market has grown stronger and bigger, with booths offering fruit, vegetables, honey, baking, jam — everything you might expect to find at a farmers’ market — and more, from locally-written novels to woodcarving to artwork.

And that variety is one of many reasons customers love it.

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www.CrestonValleyBC.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

“The more products, the more of a draw to a wider range of customers and better experience for them and vendors alike,” says manager Martha Boland.

“Plus fresh fruit and produce are seasonal, and artisan crafts and prepared foods, such as baking, teas or canning, continue to be a draw when the staples are low or sold out.”

BRIAN LAWRENCE

Those customers are plentiful, with attendance at the weekly Saturday market topping 1,200 during the summer months. And the average of about 45 weekly vendors is a far cry from the average 28 a few years ago.

In 2012, farmers’ market managers and volunteers worked with the British Columbia Association of Farmers’ Markets to detail the social and economic benefits of the market — and it was estimated that the market contributes $1.72 million annually to the Creston Valley economy.

The market is co-ordinated by the Creston Valley Food Action Coalition committee, which took over from the Creston Rotary Club — it having taken over from volunteers — in 2010. Since last year, it has run Saturdays from May through September in a permanent location behind the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce, and runs from October through December at Morris Flowers Garden Centre, giving it a far longer season than most B.C. markets.

“Volunteers make all the difference for the market, a nonprofit program,” says Boland.

“We have a variety of volunteers helping with set-up help and manning the info booth to assisting in higher-level planning and implementation — not to mention our committees and board are all volunteers. We could not continue to grow and support this community without them.”

1 Province, 2 States, 1 Loop International Selkirk Loop

In 1999, the International Selkirk Loop was formed to promote international touring opportunities. The loop entices thousands of visitors and local residents to enjoy the scenery and towns in two states and a province, and to celebrate the close ties between neighbours on both sides of the border.

Marvel at the awesome beauty around every corner of the International Selkirk Loop, a 450-kilometre (280-mile) scenic drive encircling the spectacular Selkirk mountains in northeast Washington, northern Idaho and southeast British Columbia. Play on the loop’s crystal clear rivers and lakes, or traverse its mountain trails to view snow-capped peaks and the extraordinary variety of wildlife. Explore charming communities with fascinating history, fun festivals and picturesque settings.

Nearly the entire loop route follows rivers and lakeshores — creating great winding rides for motorcyclists — on roads that were historically used for transportation by First Nations tribes, explorer David Thompson, gold seekers on the Wild Horse Trail and early settlers. Today, the loop’s lakes, rivers and trails are a vast uncrowded playground with a myriad of opportunities for yearround recreation, scenic beauty and unique cultures.

The loop is one of only 32 AllAmerican Road National Scenic Byways in the U.S., and is one

of the top 10 scenic drives in the Northern Rockies. Rand McNally Road Atlas cited the ISL as one of its top five best roads.

Explore the International Selkirk Loop and discover the

wonderful surprises that await you around every corner! For more information and driving, cycling and birding maps, visit www.selkirkloop.org. www.CrestonValleyBC.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

41 41

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43

Canvas, Page & Stage Artistic Expression Abounds

Creston Valley residents hardly bat an eye when they learn a newcomer is an artist. The area has become a cultural magnet to artists skilled in a wide variety of disciplines.

“The strong presence of arts in the valley can be attributed to a committed group of artists who devote energy and resources to their craft, and to a community that values this expression and economic activity,” says Community Arts Council of Creston president Audrey Orosz. “From the petroglyphs on Kootenay Lake to modern abstract work, artists have always strived to record, inform and inspire. The arts are important because whether we are dancing or singing, painting or sewing, artists are creating a portrait of the ideas and beliefs of our culture.”

If there is a common thread to the many attributes of the Creston Valley, it is the diverse creativity of its residents. It is especially evident among the area’s hundreds of artists and craftspeople.

Two of those, Sandy Kunze and Bruce Johnston, have turned a small building behind the Wynndel Community Hall into the Wynndel Arts Centre, now a regular home to workshops and classes.

Both art lovers and those simply curious can drop by to see the creations of dozens of artists in businesses and galleries from Yahk to Kootenay Bay. More than two dozen galleries welcome visitors to see paintings 44

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

BRIAN LAWRENCE

A scene from Almost Golden, a locally-written play Footlighters Theatre Society will perform in a Theatre BC festival at the end of May.

of every description, pottery and ceramics, beadwork, fabric art, candle making, ironwork, blown and stained glass, and even straw brooms.

This summer, Artwalk runs from June 28-Sept. 1, with artists showing their work in businesses and their own galleries. Brochures and information are available at the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce.

A huge bronze casting of the legendary sasquatch, created by Canyon artist Karl Lansing, can be seen at Columbia Brewery on Erickson Street. Appropriately, the eight-foot high creature is making off with a case of Kokanee beer.

Movie fans will enjoy the

chance to see first run films at the Tivoli Theatre, a cinema with an old-time feel — but with an upgraded sound system and the ability to show 3D films.

The Friends of the Cinema presents a monthly series of films and documentaries at Prince Charles Theatre. Proceeds from Friends of the Cinema showings go to the Friends of the Library and the Creston Community Auditorium Society.

Top-notch live entertainment is brought in from out of town by the Creston Concert Society, which organizes an annual subscription series of visiting professional entertainment in the Prince Charles Theatre, a 330-

Artistic Expression Abounds seat venue attached to Prince Charles Secondary School.

Audiences have enjoyed over five dozen Footlighters Theatre Society productions — comedies to thrillers, musicals to plays, concerts to Shakespeare — since its creation in 1995. Following Theatre BC’s Kootenay Zone competition hosted in Creston the last week of May, the 20th season kicks off at the Prince Charles Theatre in July with a comedy, the melodrama Dogsbreath Devereaux, The Dastardly Doctor. In December, Footlighters will present a locally-written Cinderella, before finishing the season with Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in April 2015.

For more than 20 years, audiences have enjoyed hearing

the Blossom Valley Singers, now under the direction of Anita Stushnoff. The group presents two concerts each year, one in the spring (accompanied by a tea) and one in December.

“The annual spring tea is a lighthearted entertainment featuring delectable desserts, comedy moments, interesting choral pieces and guest entertainers,” says Stushnoff. “The annual Christmas choral concert is a sparkling production with dazzling stage sets, big choral numbers, favourite Christmas carols, sweet lyrical moments with the children’s choir, the bright sounds of trumpets, and an array of featured instrumentalists.”

For something more intimate, the Snoring Sasquatch arts house, run by owners Paul and

Shelli Hutcheson, regularly hosts concerts and performances by local and touring musicians.

Art of the written sort is everywhere, too. Many visitors will be familiar with the poignant and humorous series of books by bestselling author/veterinarian Dr. Dave Perrin. From her home near Boswell, writer/teacher Luanne Armstrong writes fiction and non-fiction, much of it with a focus on her life in the Kootenays.

Local environmentalist Tanna Patterson-Z is the author of Butterflies in Bucamaranga, which tells the story of a Creston man who was kidnapped while working in Columbia. Works by other local writers are also available at Creston bookstores and at Gray Creek store.

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47

Much More than Books Creston Valley Public Library

One of the Creston Valley’s best-used and most beloved institutions, the Creston Valley Public Library at 531 16th Ave. S. is one of the community’s focal points.

“With over 50,000 books, the latest newspapers and magazines, free public access computers, 24/7 Wi-Fi access, community meeting space, and regular workshops and programming for all ages, the library is the cultural and intellectual hub of the community,” says chief librarian Aaron Francis. “Creston is an amazingly diverse and active community — our meeting room alone has over 60 bookings a month!”

The library’s focus extends beyond books, with an extensive collection of movies and TV series on DVD, as well as a facility to create audio-visual presentations and even Skype privately. With 16 public Internet stations available, including five new iPads, visitors can surf the Internet, create and print documents, and connect with friends and family on demand.

Low-cost scanning, printing and faxing is also available.

“Every Saturday morning, we offer drop-in computer help sessions, and our friendly staff are always available to assist you,” says Francis. “Record a CD or produce your own radio show in our one-of-a-kind audiovisual room, or transfer your old VHS and audio cassettes to CD/DVD in a flash. We even host our very own Minecraft server for the gamers out there!”

48

www.CrestonValleyBC.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

BRIAN LAWRENCE

The technological features of the Creston Valley Public Library are a big draw for tourists, all of whom are welcome to use public computers and Wi-Fi, and are also able to sign out books if they have a BC OneCard.

“BC OneCard provides out of town visitors with access to our collections free of charge, just as if you lived here,” says Francis. “All you need is a valid public library card from any library in B.C. You can even return books you borrowed here to your home library.”

The library also features a permanent art collection in addition to month-long displays of works by local artists.

“More than just a library, we are also a venue for local artists to display their works, with a donation made to the library for each item sold,” says Francis.

Traditional library events

haven’t been forgotten, with Babytime running every Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Family Storytime on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

And there’s more!

“The Living Book speaker series is a monthly forum for community members to share their unique knowledge and experience with the community,” says Francis.

“Through a partnership with the National Film Board of Canada, we offer free documentary film screenings in our meeting room, and opera lovers can enjoy our Pseudo-Night at the Opera, held monthly.

“We carry all of the latest works by local and Kootenay-based authors, and check out our local history collection for more information about Creston and area.”

For more information, call 250-428-4141 or visit www. crestonlibrary.com.

ki suk kyukyit (Greetings)

Lower Kootenay Band is one of six communities in British Columbia and in the United States of America that make up the Ktunaxa Nation.

Traditionally known as Yaqan Nuʔkiy, the community has approximately 200 Ktunaxa members. The Ktunaxa language is isolate, meaning that it is one of a kind and unrelated to any other language in the world.

Located just off of Highway 21, visitors are encouraged to participate in the annual traditional powwow during the May long weekend. Singing, dancing, feasting, renewing old friendships and making new ones are highlights of this event. People have been known to travel from afar to attend this unique blend of cultural and present-day activities.

Chief Jason Louie and the Lower Kootenay Band are committed to building stronger relationships with the residents and local governments of the Creston Valley.

Background archive photos courtesy of Creston Museum and Historical Society top - Teepees in West Creston bottom- Chief Luke, Louie Ernest, Sophie Luke on horseback in the Blossom Fest parade Colour photo Brian Lawrence

Taxa (that is all) www.CrestonValleyBC.com

49

Hiking, Biking & Hunting The Great Outdoors

Many locals will admit that hiking in the Creston Valley is one of their favourite pastimes — one that everyone should experience. Not only does it promote good health, but it’s also a great social activity.

Difficulty levels vary, but it’s easy to find an outdoor experience suitable for almost everyone.

“I like taking to the trails here because they offer a wide variety of landscapes, wildlife and serenity, as well as various levels of ease or difficulty,” says naturalist Ed McMackin, who writes an outdoors column in the Creston Valley Advance. “People will find a trail here to suit any level of ability and time available.

“There are trails from level to steep, and from short to

long. Some are best for viewing wildlife while others are interesting for their historical value. There are many trails away from the noise of traffic, which can be enjoyed without driving long distances to reach them. There are organized hikes so people don’t have to hike alone, making hiking a social and safe experience.”

A couple of books — Exploring the Creston Valley by Tanna Patterson-Z, available at Black Bear Books, and Hiking Around Creston by John and Jean Davis, both available at Kingfisher Used Books — are comprehensive guides to Creston Valley hiking, complete with maps, photos and sketches.

ARNOLD LABRENTZ

For the patient observer, incredible sights await while enjoying the outdoors.

50

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

Here are a few favourites: •Balancing Rock Trail. Ten minutes west of Creston, this is one of many trails on Mount Creston. It takes about 30 minutes to climb the winding trail, parts of which are quite steep. Balancing Rock (hikers will understand the name when they see it) sits atop a ledge overlooking the Creston Valley and Purcell mountain range. A small pullout on West Creston Road, near its intersection with Highway 3, serves as a parking area.

From Balancing Rock, the trail leads west into the woods where hikers experience marshes filled with giant-leafed skunk cabbage and cool, fern-covered forest floors.

Where the trail forks on a wooden bridge, heading left takes hikers on a very steep hike a few kilometres farther up Mount Creston to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Creston Valley from the mountainside. The trail to the right winds its way along the Fern Forest Trail down the other side of the ridge and into the former Summit Creek Park campgroud.

Valley Wildlife •Creston Management Area. The trails surrounding the CVWMA are open year-round, even when the Wildlife Interpretation Centre is closed. From Highway 3 west of Creston, turn onto West Creston Road and drive to the parking lot on the left. The trails are wellmarked and easy to find on maps posted in the area. (For more on the CVWMA, see page 28.)

The Great Outdoors •Lady’s Slipper Trail. This trail is a delight from spring through fall, with brilliant shows of wildflowers, including orchids, dotting the path on Arrow Mountain (a.k.a. Goat Mountain to the locals), which provides a backdrop to Creston’s townsite. Best of all, the easily accessible trail starts out only a few minutes’ drive northwest from town. From Creston, follow Highway 3A north, then turn right onto Lakeview-Arrow Creek Road.

Follow this road to Foster Road, then turn left onto the BC Forest Service road and follow it for about seven kilometres until it ends at a parking lot.

•Mount Thompson. To access the top of the mountains overlooking Creston to the east, head east on Highway 3, then turn right onto Canyon-Lister Road.

After crossing the bridge, turn left on Whimster Road and follow it to a forestry road (suitable only for high-clearance or four-by-four vehicles), which winds to the top of Mount Thompson. After parking, hikers may wander through alpine meadows on the ridge, or enjoy a picnic with a panoramic view of the Selkirk mountains to the west and south, and the Purcell mountains to the east.

•Lockhart Creek. This trail is located about 45 minutes north of Creston on Highway 3A at Lockhart Beach Provincial Park.

The first seven kilometres of the trail — maintained by the BC Forest Service and the Lockhart Creek Heritage Committee — are suitable for beginning hikers, while advanced outdoors enthusiasts can continue to the 2,134-metre summit. The park offers treed

ARNOLD LABRENTZ

An unusual bit of scenery atop Mount Thompson.

campsites, and picnic tables and a beach are located across the highway near the trailhead.

•Pilot Bay Lighthouse Trail.

Near the Kootenay Bay Ferry Landing, just over an hour north of Creston on Highway 3A, turn onto Pilot Bay Road. After 4.5 kilometres, a sign reading “Lighthouse Trail” will alert drivers to pull well off the road, or park a short distance away at a circular turnaround. At the end of the 15-minute walk along the trail is the Pilot Bay Lighthouse, which operated from June 13, 1904, to June 20, 1993, and is now maintained by the Friends of West Kootenay Parks.

•Ripple Ridge. Get a taste of the alpine on this popular twohour hike that starts with a halfhour drive west on Highway 3 to the summit at Kootenay Pass.

Drive to Stagleap Provincial Park and Bridal Lake, then hike south for 2.5 kilometres if you want a true mountain experience.

•Mountain biking is also popular, and many local bikers enjoy frequenting the numerous logging roads in the area. The more adventurous prefer to take their bikes off-road and onto bumpier trails — a helmet, water bottle and riding buddy are a must!

For bikers who prefer the open road, the Wynndel loop (Highway 3A and Lower Wynndel Road), the Canyon-Lister loop (Highway 21, Canyon Lister Road and Highway 3) and the West Creston loop (Evans Road, West Creston Road, Nick’s Island Road and Highway 3) are popular. An interactive cycling map is online at www. selkirkloop.org.

•Fishing and hunting are www.CrestonValleyBC.com

51

The Great Outdoors also popular pastimes, and the Creston Valley is an excellent place to make these outdoor dreams become reality.

Duck Lake is famous for bass fishing, and Kootenay Lake is teeming with rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and kokanee. And the seemingly endless streams and alpine lakes in the Kootenays certainly make fly fishing a viable option.

Duck Lake is also a popular winter fishing spot, and is almost always frozen by the end of December. This small lake 15 minutes north of Creston is well-known to summertime bass fishers, but makes an excellent spot for families to enjoy this winter activity — and try out some skating for good measure.

The Creston Valley has some of the Kootenays’ best big game hunting, and the marshland on the flats is a prime location for setting up blinds and decoys to hunt waterfowl.

To hunt or fish, a valid licence is required, and it’s best to inquire at Sirdar General Store, Wynndel Foods or the Service BC office on Canyon Street for more details. Wynndel Foods offers all the necessary equipment, as does downtown Creston’s Mawson’s Sports, founded in 1918.

•Be careful and plan ahead.

As with any outdoor recreational sport, using common sense is very important and there are things you should do to make your hiking trip a safe one.

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is a necessity — hiking boots give you more protection than do running shoes. This is especially true if your trek takes you in the mountains and wilderness.

Anytime you’re in the great outdoors, be wary of bears, both grizzly and black. Visiting www. bearaware.ca is the best way to find information on dealing with the creatures.

For information about many other hiking trails and recreation areas throughout the Creston Valley, drop into the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre at 121 Northwest Blvd., where knowledgeable staff will be pleased to provide suggestions, directions and material to send you on your way to a outdoor experience, Creston Valley style.

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To Yahk & Back

Small But Unforgettable A visit to Yahk is the perfect way to relax. The Moyie River burbles softly, the forest smells fresh and — best of all — cellphones don’t work (seriously).

The fact that it’s not a bustling metropolis is what draws thousands of tourists each year.

Its quaintness and small-town friendliness are welcomed by many big-city visitors — and even some rural ones.

Just down the street — actually, Johnson Road — is Two Scoop Steve and the Coffee Cabin, which offers the best ice cream and coffee in Yahk. While sipping

a cup of joe or licking a scoop, a stroll to the Moyie River is a must.

Visitors simply wander behind the shop and follow the signs through the forest.

Or visit the Yahk Soap Company, which offers bath products made with a goat-milk base. But they aren’t the only unique things about the business — the goats on the roof are also a popular attraction.

A nine-hectare provincial park is located at the heart of Yahk, with 26 campsites available from the Victoria Day long weekend through Sept. 30.

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To top it all off, the residents of Yahk really know how to have a good time. The community hosts an annual Winterfest and Summerfest, both of which feature seasonal games and fantastic food, with music jams and concerts in between, at the Yahk-Kingsgate Community Hall, which offers a pavilion in the woods for music acts.

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53

Explore the East Shore Taking the Lake Road

Located about 25 kilometres below the southern tip of Kootenay Lake, Creston is the perfect starting point for a variety of daytrips — which should definitely include a tour north along Highway 3A, which offers far more than breathtaking scenery.

Resorts, beaches, art galleries and artisan shops can easily be found throughout the journey, which takes just over an hour — if you can possibly keep from stopping.

Ten minutes north of Creston on the way to Kootenay Lake is Wynndel, a small community strongly rooted in agriculture.

Once one of Canada’s largest fruit producers, the community now has smaller farms growing strawberries, raspberries and saskatoons.

On Lower Wynndel Road, don’t pass up a visit to Garden Hoe Farms, where owners Bev and Barry Timpany will tour you around, and you will be amazed by the many different scents of fresh herbs and vegetables.

Wynndel is also home to Sutcliffe Farms, operated by Doug Sutcliffe, grandson of Roy Staples, the mastermind behind the dike between Creston and Wynndel, which keeps the spring freshet from flooding the

BRIAN LAWRENCE

Built of enbalming fluid bottles, the Glass House is a unique attraction.

54 www.CrestonValleyBC.com

prime agricultural land on the Wynndel flats. The farm is the largest asparagus producer in the province, turning out about 150,000 pounds each season from April to June.

While passing through Wynndel, one can’t help but notice the Wynnwood sawmill, which was started as Wynndel Box and Lumber sawmill by Monrad Wigen in 1913 to build crates for Wynndel’s then-thriving strawberry business.

Farther north is the hamlet of Sirdar, where visitors can enjoy the old-fashioned feel of the Sirdar General Store, built in 1913, where many of the goods offered are kept behind the counter, giving customers a real taste of the past. The small store is also chockful of artifacts and photos — the store’s proprietor, Shannon Nickisch, earned a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in part for her dedication to preserving the community’s history.

A bit past Sirdar, a visit to the Glass House is a must.

Although the area is filled with unique architecture, the Glass House is the most unusual — its walls were made from over 500,000 empty embalming fluid bottles by David H. Brown upon his retirement from his funeral business. Guided tours of the attraction are available

Taking the Lake Road

BRIAN LAWRENCE

Every twist and turn of Highway 3A reveals scenery that leaves no doubt as to why locals recommend a trip along the lake.

seven days a week from May through October.

Continuing north on Highway 3A brings travellers to the Destiny Bay Store, a convenience store that marks the halfway point of the trip from Wynndel to Kootenay Bay. Travelling still farther north brings visitors to Gray Creek, home of Sacred Journey, a relaxing shop packed with original artwork by local artists as well as quality imports from around the globe — just try to leave without buying something!

For over 100 years, the Gray Creek Store has been the small community’s one-stop shop, with

everything from books to boots and candy to wood stoves. Arthur Lymbery started the store in 1912; the current owner is his son, Tom Lymbery, an octogenarian who is always happy to talk about the community’s history, and last year released a book chronicling its early years, with a sequel due this year.

Gray Creek is also the starting point of a forestry road that connects to Kimberley — although you’ll need a highclearance vehicle to get through and take in the rarely seen alpine scenery.

From Gray Creek, it’s only a hop, skip and a jump to

Crawford Bay, home to more than a dozen artisan shops, including a blacksmith, a broom maker and a glassblower. None of them are in competition — in fact, they enjoy having each other nearby.

“One thing I really enjoy about being here is the camaraderie,” says Janet Wallace, who runs Barefoot Handweaving in a straw-bale building. “I can hear the forge, I can hear the glassblowers working. If I really feel like being inspired, I just go over and watch them getting a buzz on about what they’re doing.”

Visitors — and locals, too — www.CrestonValleyBC.com 55

Taking the Lake Road

BRIAN LAWRENCE

Crawford Bay artisans include Janet Wallace of Barefoot Handweaving and Rob Schweiger of North Woven Broom Co.

also get a kick out of the rare opportunity to see so many artisans hard at work.

“People are just astonished,” Wallace says.

Across the highway at Fireworks Copper and Glass — where everything from jewelry to fridge magnets to light switch covers are made from glass melted on copper — owners Lorna Robin and Helene Carter agree.

“Customers come in a lot and say, ‘I never imagined that was how it was made,” says Robin.

“People like to see something being made and have that connection to buying it,” adds Carter.

Add to the mix pubs, restaurants, Kootenay Lake, hiking and the well-stocked Sunny Woods Farm, a garden centre and produce stand, and you have a recipe for a great rural getaway.

“We have so many amazing things to do that I find people are staying, which is nice,” says Wallace. “There’s enough to do now that people will come for the day.”

56 www.CrestonValleyBC.com

Across Highway 3A and slightly west of Wallace’s shop is the home of North Woven Broom Co., which you may not have heard of, but have likely seen — the brooms have been used as props or set dressing in such films as Bewitched, The Assassination of Jesse James and Shanghai Noon, on TV series including Star Trek: Enterprise, Lonesome Dove and Road to Avonlea, and on Broadway in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof.

The best-known brooms created by owners Rob and Janet Schweiger were promotional items for the Canadian publisher of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

“We’ve gone from people coming in and being surprised to find us out here in the middle of nowhere … to coming in and saying, ‘This is the famous broom shop,’” says Rob. An annual event that draws many visitors to Crawford Bay is the family-oriented Starbelly Jam,

held this year from July 18-20.

Past editions of the music festival have included a wide range of entertainment from acoustic rock to hip-hop to jazz, which creates a weekend that is as entertaining as it is memorable.

“There is one beautiful moment after another,” says founding board member Brigitte Picard.

Ten minutes north of Crawford Bay is the Kootenay Lake ferry landing, which is serviced by the M.V. Osprey 2000 and M.V. Balfour, which were launched in 2000 and 1954, respectively.

Although the Osprey 2000 can carry more than twice the capacity of the Balfour, both vessels are capable of taking aboard semis, logging trucks and RVs. Be sure to arrive in plenty of time in the busy summer months, as waits of several sailings are common. But once you get on, enjoy the trip — the longest free ferry ride in the world — as you prepare for the next adventure!

Sod-roofed lakefront cottages Four course dinners Breakfast buffet Fully licensed By reservation only!

FISHING CHARTERS

PiloTBaYResorT ON KOOTENAY LAKE

Experience Koo Experience Kootenay Lake tenay Lake fish for world clas ing s Gerfor fishing world class ra rd R ainbow and Dolly Varden.

Y ou Rainbow r ch arter inand cludes a clean, heatedGerrard 24' cruiseTrout. r with athroom, high Bull qucharter ality fish ing includes quipment anYour d professional fishing a clean, 24’ cruiser uide. with bathroom, high quality fishing equipment and Pilot Bay Resort fialshing professional so ofguide. fers fi asts

hore Kootena

Resort on beautiful Kootenay Lake

Pilot Bay Resort also offers first class accommodation on Eastshore Kootenay Lake Call us! 250-227-9441

rs y Lake - call or t class accommodations on www.pilotbayvisit our website 250-227-9441 WWW.PILOTBAYRESORT.COM re

sort.com

Sunny Woods Farm

Garden Centre & Produce Market

11935 Highway 3A • Destiny Bay • BC

1-800-818-6633

Open Canada Day to Labour Day

www.destinybay.com

WEAVING • ENAMELLING • POTTERY BLACKSMITHING • BROOMMAKING WOOD CARVING ...and more!

Crawford Bay - Ar

Local Fresh Produce Local Beef and Pork Gardening Supplies Organic Gardening Products Pots • Planters • Fertilizers Pet Supplies

tistic by

Natur e

866-931-8464 artisansofcrawfordbay.com

250-227-9506

15964 Hwy 3A • Crawford Bay, BC

Cottages • Restaurant Camping • Marina Investment Opportunity

Your Kootenay Lake Real Estate Connection

Boswell, B.C.

(250) 223-8270/71 (250) 354-4370 bayshoreresort@hotmail.com www.bayshoreresort.ca

THE GLASS HOUSE A B O S W E L L AT T R A C T I O N

This showplace of Kootenay Lake is located 25 miles North of Creston on Hwy 3A Sanca, BC Ph: 250-223-8372

CENTURY 21 Veitch Realty – Creston 1131 Canyon Street, Creston, BC 1-866-428-9331 Sales@C21Creston.com www.CrestonValleyBC.com

57

Kootenay Lake Ferry (The longest free ferry ride in the world!)

FOOD SERVICES:

Beverages & snacks are available on the MV Osprey 2000 only.

WINTER SCHEDULE: January 1 - June 17, September 10 - December 31 (Pacific Time)

SUMMER SCHEDULE: June 18 - September 9 (Pacific Time)

Anticipate Delays during peak times between 9am - 7pm daily.

KOOTENAY BAY TERMINAL

Mount Buchanan Lookout

KASLO

Purcell Wilderness Conservancy

DID YOU KNOW?

Garland Bay

31

Kootenay Ferry Creston doesn’t

Pebble Beach

RIONDEL

CRAWFORD BAY

BALFOUR FERRY TERMINAL CRESCENT BAY

QUEENS BAY

KOOTENAY BAY FERRY TERMINAL GRAY CREEK

PROCTER HARROP

WILLOW POINT

3

KOOTENAY BAY

BALFOUR

LONGBEACH

observe daylight saving time (nor does Yahk.)

Remember to take this into account if you plan to ride the Kootenay Lake ferry, which operates entirely in the PACIFIC TIME ZONE.

Ainsworth Hot Springs

Kokanee Park

SUNSHINE BAY

3A

West Arm Park

NELSON To Vancouver

BOSWELL

Whitewater Ski & Winter Resort SANCA HALL

KUSKONOOK

Goat River Canyon

SIRDAR

SALMO WYNNDEL

To Cranbrook

KITCHENER

CRESTON

3

ARROW CREEK

3

ERICKSON

ten

Koo LISTER

ay

tt Ri le M ve oy r ie

YAHK

er

Riv

Boundary Lake

YAHK

Li

iver

CANYON

Priest River Falls

3

ie R

6

Thompson Lookout

ALICE SIDING

Moy

To Vancouver

HUSCROFT

RYKERTS

1

To USA

KINGSGATE

Summer

Winter

Osprey 2000

7:10 AM

7:10 AM

Osprey 2000

9:00 AM

9:00 AM

Osprey 2000

10:40 AM

10:40 AM

M.V. Balfour

11:30 AM

Osprey 2000

12:20 PM

M.V. Balfour

1:10 PM

Osprey 2000

2:00 PM

M.V. Balfour

2:50 PM

Osprey 2000

3:40 PM

M.V. Balfour

4:30 PM

Osprey 2000

5:20 PM

M.V. Balfour

6:10 PM

Osprey 2000

7:00 PM

12:20 PM 2:00 PM 3:40 PM 5:20 PM 7:00 PM

Osprey 2000

8:40 PM

8:40 PM

Osprey 2000

10:20 PM

10:20 PM

BALFOUR TERMINAL

PORTO RICO

6

Vessel

Vessel

Summer

Winter

Osprey 2000

6:30 AM

6:30 AM

Osprey 2000

8:10 AM

8:10 AM

Osprey 2000

9:50 AM

9:50 AM

M.V. Balfour

10:40 AM

Osprey 2000

11:30 AM

M.V. Balfour

12:20 PM

Osprey 2000

1:10 PM

M.V. Balfour

2:00 PM

Osprey 2000

2:50 PM

M.V. Balfour

3:40 PM

Osprey 2000

4:30 PM

M.V. Balfour

5:20 PM

11:30 AM 1:10 PM 2:50 PM 4:30 PM

Osprey 2000

6:10 PM

6:10 PM

Osprey 2000

7:50 PM

7:50 PM

Osprey 2000

9:40 PM

9:40 PM

www.th.gov.bc.ca/marine/kootenay_ferry.htm • www.westernpacificmarine.com 58

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

Wynnwood Cellars Mc rtie Mu

R

d

3A Crusher Rd

?

Junction of Hwy 3 & Hwy 3A

3

Helen St

1st Ave NW

Payne Rd

Ave N 8th

121 Northwest Blvd.

250.428.4342

Hilton St

McLaren St

Murdoch St Alder St

tR

d

Cedar St

Library

24th Ave S

Sun

27th Ave N Blvd

Dogwood St Cedar St

Birch St

Erickson St

Maple Pl

Birch St

25th Ave S

14th Ave S

Columbia Brewery

24th Ave N

Elm St

Ash St

24th Ave S

11th Ave S

Ash St

23rd Ave N

22nd Ave N

20th Ave N

16th Ave N

16th Ave S

Dogwood St

RCMP

set

St

Cook St Elm St

Cedar St Birch St

Pine St

Aspen Pl

25th Ave S

et

Centennial Park

yon

16th Ave S

er

7th Ave S

6th Ave S

5th Ave S Ev

Millennium Park

11th Ave S

S

Birch St

Cedar St

9th Ave S

Ave

7th Ave S

3rd Dugan St

Davis St

8th Ave S

6th Ave S

Dogwood St

College of the Rockies

Juniper St

Crawford St

Can

Cook St

Elm St

Cedar St

3

Cook St

22nd Ave S

d

Smallest Park

15th Ave N

14th Ave N

Canyon St

B lv

Pine St

18th Ave S

ay

12th Ave N

11th Ave N

7th Ave N

5th Ave N

4th Ave N 2nd Ave S

ilw

Ra

Canyon St Cook St

?

Creston Valley Pool Hospital & Arena Community Complex

21st Ave N

Lilac St

Vancouver St

t Pi n e S

26th Ave N

Hurl St Hillside St

27th Ave S

12th Ave N

Schikursky Park

18th Ave S

10th Ave N

8th Ave N

Scott St

PCSS Theatre

N

Alder St

12th Ave N

Ave

Murdoch St

Dale St

14th Ave N

11th Ave N

6th

Regina St

21

Hurry Rd

12th Ave N

w vie

r kD

Hawkview Dr Purcell Crescent

r lki

Se

Scott St

11th Ave N

y Pl

Ibbitson St

Hillside St

Arrowsmith Pl

Westridge St

Cavell St

10th Ave S

tena Kootenay River Rd

Va lle y

Blvd hwest Nort Dr

Koo

Creston Museum

11th Ave N

10th Ave N

Devon St

9th Ave N

Hilton St

7th Ave N

Hood R d

Visitor Centre

eN Av th 10

Collins St

20th Ave S

Ash Rd

Connell Rd

Goat River Rd S

Skimmerhorn and Baillie-Grohman Wineries

DISCOVERY REAL ESTATE

OUTSTANDING Agents OUTSTANDING Results

TWO OFFICES SERVING THE CRESTON VALLEY

25

Over Years Serving the Creston Valley

1013 Canyon St. Creston 106 33rd Ave. S. Hwy. 3 Erickson

Toll Free: 1-877-428-2234 OfďŹ ce: 250-428-2234

www.remaxcreston.com

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

59

D

C

B

Balancing Rock Trail

Cedar H i

d

West Creston Rd

CVWMA Interpretation Centre

Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area

To West Kootenay Region

Leach Lake

d hee ug Lo

Abbot Rd

d

B

Duck L ak eR

3A hie R d

at

d

Indian Rd

Uri Rd

3

Wilson Rd

Rd

Pump

w

la

in

W

Westview Rd Monrose Rd

Rd

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d

el R

nnd

Wy

Du ck

Cr

Lachat Rd

Ea st Rd

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Koo t e n ay R iver

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Teetzel Rd

Sp

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Ash Rd

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Plasko Rd

Hilton St

Payne Rd

Helen St Collins St

Crusher Rd

Hilton St

Erickson St

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Canyon St

Rd

Arrow Mountain

4

Beam Rd

CRESTON

reek

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ALICE SIDING

-Arrow Creek Rd

WYNNDEL

3

Rd

Wiebe

North to Duck Lake

Kootenay Riv er R

Rocky Po int Rd

wdan Ne Williams Rd

rR d Fos te

k Rd

Wynndel Rd Lower sR d

Six Mile Slough

R

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in

Sylvester Rd

H a sk

Kni g

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Lepitzki Rd

Masuch Rd

35th Ave N

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Evans Rd

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Nick

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Hood R d

West Creston Rd Dow Rd

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nd

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33rd Ave S

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3

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51st St

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48th St

52nd St

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Thompson Rim Trail

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3

To Kitchener and Yahk Cranbrook via Highway 95

LAKEVIEW ARROW CREEK

121 Northwest Blvd.

250.428.4342

5

Visitor Centre

d

Av e S

ks Sta c

Ave N th 10

ve N

Vincent Rd

kR

d Ave S 33rd Ave S

Daignault Rd 36th Ave S 3 6th A

Nic

h t Rd

www.CrestonValleyBC.com Cardinal Rd 38th Ave N

Rd

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40th Ave S

Elsie-Holmes Rd

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Va Parker Rd

60 C ha Pa

Wagner Rd

Rd Vance Rd

Bossio Rd

nR bso d Ro

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Meher Rd

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Full Map Pg 59 2

16th Av

11th Ave S

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Wild Life

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Balsam Rd

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French

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WEST CRESTON Reclamation Rd

Ha

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Swan

Ditch

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msier Rd Ra

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m

Si Rd

LKB Office

40th St

To USA via Rykerts

Simon Rd

d

hR

ric

Ald

21

Riverview Rd

S

Rd

eR re

7th St

Creston Valley Regional Airport

ry

lo

al

Creston Golf Club M

37th St

d

Rd

8th St

16th St

20th St

llsp We Rd

d lR rthi l Po

4

r uc eR

37th St

d

24th St

4th St

2 8t

t hS

32nd St

16th St

8th St

12th St

LISTER

nt Rd

28th St

44th St

46th St

40th St

ERICKSON

HUSCROFT

14th St

18th St

28th St

24th St

Too

3

d ont R Lam

ze

ver t Ri Goa

30th St

38th St

32

Riley Rd

5t Rd

Crestview Rd Pogany Rd

Connel Rd

d

Lister Rd

d Cr

Fo xt

E

Corn Creek Rd

rR

ve

Adler Rd

Ri

Airport Rd

Lister Rd

Go at

R ykerts

Settleme

Muzzy Rd

West Cresto n Rd

36th St

43rd St

4th St

5

en

Ho bd

Rd

CANYON

44th St

Lloyd Rd

Highlan

Hagey Rd

Sinclair Rd

Sinclair Rd

Phillips Rd Wellspring Rd

McKay Rd

Canyon-Lister Rd

Zapp Rd Huscroft Rd

Canyon-Lister Rd Canyon-Lister Rd

Samuelson Rd Lyons Rd

25th Ave S Canyon-Lister Rd.

27th Ave S

Quinton Rd

Everett Rd Jackson Rd

S Purcell Rd

ve N

Sp

ring

Reclamation Rd

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

61

Rogers Rd

F

E

FARM FRESH RIPENING DATES (We’re growing the good things in life.)

Early Fruits Strawberries Raspberries Blackberries Cherries Blueberries

June 20 - July 10 July 10 - July 31 July 10 - July 31 July 20 - August 25 July - August

Soft Fruits

Apricots Peaches Plums Italian Prunes Grapes

July 20 - August 12 August - Sept. 15 August 15 - Sept. 15 September 10 September 20

Apples

Transparents Wealthy (pies) Sunrise Tydeman Red McIntosh Spartan Delicious

Pears Bartlett September 1 D’Anjou September 30

62

May 1 - June 15 July 15 - September July 25 August 1 August 10 August 10 August 10 August 15 Late September Late September

All dates are approximate depending on weather.

10-DIGIT DIALING- The Creston Valley and surrounding areas are serviced by the 250 area code. When placing a call, all 10 digits of the number must be dialed.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Mileage Conversion

Celcius to Fahrenheit Conversion C° __________ F° 130__________266 120__________248 110 __________230 Boiling point 100__________212 90___________194 80___________176 70___________158 60___________140 50___________122 40___________104 30___________ 86 20___________ 68 10___________ 50 Freezing point 32 0 ___________ -10 __________ 14 -20 __________ -4 -30 __________ -22 -40 __________ -40

Asparagus Carrots Potatoes Tomatoes Peppers Pickling Cukes Table Cukes Corn Squash Pumpkins

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

thinkmetric 1 km = 0.621 miles 10 km = 6.214 miles 50 km = 31.069 miles 100 km = 62.137 miles

July 25 - August 7 August 15 - Sept. 15 August 20 September 1 - 15 September 15 October 1 October 7

Vegetables

®

CRESTON VISITOR CENTRE 121 Northwest Blvd (next to the grain elevators)

1.866.528.4342 250.428.4342

Ambulance/Fire/Police Creston Valley Hospital Poison Control Centre BC Nurse Line (24-hour health information) Crisis Line Report a Forest Fire

911 250.428.2286 1.800.567.8911 1.866.215.4700 1.800.353.2273 1.800.663.5555/ Cell *5555

INFORMATION FOR DRIVERS DriveBC road information Creston Radio BCAA Emergency Road Service ICBC Dial-A-Claim (24-hour)

1.800.550.4997/Cell *4997 CIDO 97.7 FM/ CFKC AM 1340 1.800.CAA.HELP, (1.800.222.4357)/ Cell *222 1.800.910.4222

TOURIST INFORMATION Kootenay Lake Ferry Creston Visitor Centre Tourism BC Greyhound Bus Lines Conservation Officer (fish & wildlife permits)

250.229.4215 250.428.4342/1.866.528.4342 1.800.HELLO.BC (1.800.435.5622) 250.428.2767 250.428.3220

CLOSEST CANADA/US BORDER CROSSINGS

“Duck Lake” © Peter McLennan

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

13km (8 miles) south of Creston Hours: 7am to 11pm RYKERTS BC/ PORTHILL IDAHO (winter time differences* mean winter hours on the BC side are 8am-12am) 48km (30 miles) east of Creston KINGSGATE BC/ EASTPORT IDAHO Hours: 24 hours/7 days a week *Creston Valley is on Mountain Time in winter and Pacific Standard Time in summer.

Idaho is on Pacific Standard Time all year.

alley ton V s e r eC ts of th artis auty e b f the e o .

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Alfoldy Gallery

Original watercolours, paper batik, acrylics and cards by Andy or Elaine Alfoldy. 3917 Hwy 3, Erickson. 5 minutes east of Creston.

250.428.7473 • Open 10:30am - 5:30pm • Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Open Every Day in July and August.

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Hirota Gallery & Nivota Gardens

Mixed media creations: paintings, print & cards by Eileen Hirota; pottery by her brother, Jackson Hirota, as well as guest artists’ works.

Open Thursday - Sunday from 10:30 - 4:30pm 250.402.6717 • 250.254.0039

of Ar tyles s S 5 1 il r

Mellowood Studio & Art Gallery

t

O Ove lics • with lours • Acry ted Stone s t s i rt Pain rco Wate bric • r 15 A

Original Art by Val van der Poel

Watercolors, acrylics, oils, mixed media and more - to fit every taste and pocketbook. Art Lessons and commissions available.

Open Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm • Closed some Thursdays 5570 Cory Rd, Wynndel • 250.866.5772 Shop online at www.mellowood.ca/art

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! ding ed Fa more inclu Paint erce much d ing • v n omm r A C a • f C y o k r r r a le B be er 4 .ca Jewe s Cham temb

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Orde Creek Pottery

Functional wood-fired stoneware pottery. English, German and Japanese Folk Pottery. Open most days, 10 - 4 or by appointment. www.gundastewart.blogspot.ca • Gunda Stewart • 250.428.4803 4999 32nd St., Canyon

Watercolour Artist

aura

Specializing in floral and still life vignettes that celebrate our daily lives. Original paintings, limited edition prints & note cards.

Laura Leeder • 250-402-6599 • www.lauraleeder.com Shop Online: www.etsy.com/shop.lauraleedersart

“Pink

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Cupcake Girl by Emmie Roelofse

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Gallery Open

9am - 5pm Mondays - Fridays Call Ahead on Saturdays & Sundays

250.402.8752 or 250.254.1583 609 A 33rd Avenue South, Erickson

Orde Creek

Val van der Poel

A. Wainionpaa

Eileen Hirota

Elaine Alfoldy

www.CrestonValleyBC.com

63

Tour times: Tour Mid-Maytimes: to Mid-October: Mon. to Fri. 9:30 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm

Mid-May to Fri. 9:30 am, 11 & am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm Tours runtoonMid-October: Weekends &Mon. Statutory Holidays in July August Tours run onour Weekends & Statutory Holidays in July & August Please visit website for summer schedule Please visit ourshoes website for summer Closed-toed must be worn schedule on tour

Closed-toed shoes must be worn on tour

Columbia Brewery Beer Gear Store: Columbia Brewery Beer Gear Open Monday to Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm year round! Store: OpenMonday Weekends July & 9 August Open to Friday am – 4:30 pm year round!

Open Weekends July & August

1220 Erickson St, Creston, BC 250-428-9344 1220 Erickson St, Creston, BC www.kokaneebeergear.com 250-428-9344

www.kokaneebeergear.com 64

www.CrestonValleyBC.com