Creston Valley Advance, November 19, 2015 by Black Press Media Group

RENOS COMING TO EMERGENCY ROOM / PAGE 3 PAIR EARNS LIFESAVING AWARDS / PAGE 12 ®

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Volume 67, No. 47 | Thursday, November 19, 2015 Visit us online at www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca

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NO SOUND — Each year, Adam Robertson Elementary School students and teachers gather for an assembly to mark Remembrance Day. The assembly

is highlighted by a play, written and directed by Tanya Poznikoff and presented by her Grade 7 students. This year was no exception as the entire school population filed into the auditorium in silence on Nov. 10, then remained silent through the play, Sound of Silence. The students honoured a request not to clap their hands, and sat through the heart-rending play and several musical presentations before exiting the room, still silent. For more photos of the play and assembly, visit www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca/ourtown.

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Rev. Paula Ashby could not have had a stranger introduction to life as a United Church minister in Creston. In August, not long after she had accepted “a call” to become the

church’s pastor, she was sitting in a provincial church workshop. Next to her, the B.C. personnel director got a text message on her cellphone and gestured to Ashby to follow her out of the room. “She showed me the message,” she said. “I was just stunned.” Within minutes Ashby was

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speaking to people who were standing on 10th Avenue North, watching smoke, and then flames, pour from Trinity United Church. Ashby grew up as an air force brat, living on NATO bases throughout Europe. As an adult she owned and operated a newspaper in Gibsons. Later, she and her husband

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LOCAL NEWS

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RCMP staff sergeant meets council, outlines patrol plans BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

RCMP Staff Sgt. Darryl Hammond formally introduced himself to Creston town council at the Nov. 10 regular council meeting. Hammond, who has 35 years of service in the police service, assumed command of the Creston detachment in late August. In his first appearance before council, he presented several maps of criminal activity in the area that, he said, will help plan police patrol activity. Hammond will present his first quarterly report to council in January. Council Briefs •Municipal services coordinator Ross Beddoes presented council with proposals to change water conservation measures to align with new Regional District of Central Kootenay policies. Included

Christmas Hampers Providing food and gifts for the people of the Creston Valley and surrounding area

in the changes is an automatic imposition of Stage 1 restrictions from June 1-Sept. 30. •Engineering manager Colin Farynowski commented on a letter from the Lung Association to council outlining concerns about radon gas and its dangers. He said that Creston gets lumped into radon concerns in the Kootenays because there are serious issues to the east and west. Creston has different geology, he said, and radon has not been found to be a significant danger. He does, however, plan to order some testing kits that will be free to those who want to test their homes. •A request that Creston’s street signs also include the names of pioneers will be referred to 2017 budget discussions, as the 2016 process is already underway. •Councillors were informed about a leadership forum to be held in Richmond in February.

None immediately indicated an interest in attending. •Intern Helene Miles reported on plans for a Youth Engagement Strategy committee celebration on Nov. 6 at the Sasquatch. Reports indicate the event was very well attended by youth and local officials. •Finance director Steffan Klassen told council that the town’s budget is on track to be at or under spending projections, with the exception of the wastewater treatment plant, which has experienced significant challenges this year. “This is a good snapshot of where we are at,” Coun. Joe Snopek told Klassen. “You do a good job on it.” •Applications will be made under the 2016 Union of BC Municipalities FireSmart grant program for funds to treat wildfire fuel where Creston properties abut with forested land.

Police week includes car accidents, dog attacks

• Bring an unwrapped gift for a person of any age and gender • Donate non-perishable food items • Donate at Overwaitea checkouts until Dec 15 • Volunteer on Dec 14 & 15 from 8am – 4pm at the Creston & District Community Complex • Make a monetary donation to the Creston Valley Ministerial Association

If you require a hamper, please contact any church by Dec 12.

damage to windows estimated to total $15,000. •Minor injuries were reportCreston RCMP responded to ed after a vehicle lost control on 53 calls for service from Nov. Highway 3 near Kootenay Pass and crashed into a rock bluff. 9-15, Staff Sgt. Darryl •A motorcycle reported stoHammond said on Monday. len in the 4000 block of 41st November 9 Street was found shortly after•Police were called to a ward in a nearby ditch. landlord-tenant dispute in the •A driver was ticketed after 100 block of Seventh Avenue his vehicle collided with anothNorth. er when he reached down to •A bicycle was reported stopick up his cellphone while len in the 3900 block of driving on Northwest Highway 21. Boulevard. •A driver reported a vehicle •No injuries resulted from a passed a semi and an ambusingle vehicle crash on lance unsafely on Highway 3A. Highway 3 near Yahk. •Police attended to an ongo•A tree was reported down ing landlord-tenant dispute in on Highway 3 near Walker’s the 400 block of 16th Avenue Landing. South while the tenant was November 13 evicted. •The driver of a truck who •A minor motor vehicle does not believe the truck was accident was reported in the “over height” can’t explain 2700 block of Highway 3. how it crashed against the railNovember 10 way overpass on Highway 3. •A property dispute in the •A citizen reported seeing a 300 block of 10th Avenue North person exit from a car and drop required police attention. litter on the ground in the 1500 •A dog attacked another block of Cook Street. dog on Moyie Avenue in •Damage to the shacks at Yahk. the base of radio towers on Mount Thompson was reportCLOSED MONDAYS • 250-428-SHOW (7469) Showtimes: 7:30pm ed. Starring: Jennifer Lawrence •A male who entered Canada illegally near the Rykerts border crossing on Highway 21 was arrested. •A minor motor vehicle accident was reported on Highway 3 near Yahk. Friday, November 20 - Thursday, November 26 BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff

Take donations to any local church or to the Creston Valley Advance office, 1018 Canyon St. To volunteer and for more information please call 250-428-4174 Hamper pick up on Tuesday, December 15 upstairs at Creston & District Community Complex from 11am until 4pm

Thank you from the Creston Ministerial Association The Creston Fire Department would like to

CONGRATULATE THE WINNERS

of this year’s

Fire Chief for a Day Contest

Jordan McLaren Adam Robertson Elementary School Hyaa Qazi Adam Robertson Elementary School Cassidy Wood Erickson Elementary School Special Thanks to the Vigna family and the DQ staff for their continued support with this annual event. In recognition of their cooperation and support for public safety initiatives, we would also like to extend our appreciation to: • Mayor Ron Toyota (Town Of Creston) • Staff Sergeant Darryl Hammond (Creston RCMP) • Unit Chief Lindy Ek (BC Ambulance) • The Faculty from Erickson Elementary and Adam Robertson Elementary Schools

November 11 •Charges are pending against a male following a domestic incident on Devon Street. •A deer with a broken leg was caught in a fence on Huscroft Road. •Following a well-being check on a male in the 200 block of 15th Avenue South, police contacted the Interior Health Authority to become involved. •Dogs were reported to be intimidating pedestrians in the 1500 block of 11th Avenue South. •A wallet found on Highway 21 was returned with its contents to the owner. November 12 •Charges are pending against a male following a domestic assault in Wynndel. •No injuries were reported following a single vehicle accident on Lister Road at 24th Street. •A dog attack was reported in the 1200 block of Vancouver Street. •A construction site on Lyons Road was the scene of

THE TIVOLI THEATRE PRESENTS...

Coming Attractions: Spectre, Peanuts Movie, Love The Coopers

SEE POLICE, PAGE 3

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, November 19, 2015

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 3

LocaL news

Police from page 2

•A driver who was driving slowly on Highway 3 with his four-way flashers on reported being tailgated by a driver who repeatedly put his headlights on bright. When the slower vehicle stopped in the 1600 block of Canyon Street, the other driver exited his vehicle and slapped the object of his fury on the face, then fled the scene. Unfortunately, no licence plate number was recorded and police have no suspects. •A vehicle was reported to be in a ditch on Northwest Boulevard. •A search and rescue operation was organized when the driver of a vehicle that went off Highway 3 near Ryan Station Road was not located. Police then learned that he had been picked up by a passing driver. November 14 •A Vancouver Street resident reported receiving a fraudulent letter purporting to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. He did not fall for the threats. •A complaint about slamming doors in an apartment on Northwest Boulevard was received. •A loud party and bonfire were reported in the 1900 block of Erickson Road. November 15 •A truck collided with an elk on Highway 3/95. The elk was thrown across the highway and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Brian Lawrence

REMEMBERING — The annual Remembrance Day ceremony was held at the

cenotaph outside the Royal Canadian Legion on Nov. 11. It began with a parade (below), and included a flyover by the Creston Valley Flying Club (left), the singing of O Canada and God Save the Queen, followed by the laying of wreaths. For more photos of the ceremony, visit www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca/ourtown.

Renovations coming to emergency room Advance Staff

Major renovations are in store for the Creston Valley Hospital’s emergency room, with a tender for construction services released Nov. 12, said the Interior Health Authority (IHA) in a press release. The cost of the project is expected to total about $650,000, made possible by bequeathals from the estates of Jessie Julia Hopper, Don and Dariel Anne Korczynski, and Blanche Oleskiw, currently held by the East Kootenay Foundation for Health (EKFH). “EKFH is proud to have played a role in the stewardship of these

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legacy gifts,” said EKFH executive director Donna Grainger. “These individuals and families have truly left an indelible mark in the quality of health care available at the Creston hospital.” The goal of the redesign, said the IHA press release, is to improve patient privacy and flow, at the same time increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the space. “Both physicians and nurses have been very involved in the planning process and we are very excited to see the project moving forward to the construction stage,” said Creston Valley Hospital site manager Carolyn Hawton.

The renovation will create a new triage and registration room, a central nursing station and a “fasttrack area for minor treatment of less acute patients.” “We are so grateful for the strong community support for health care in our Creston community,” said Town of Creston Mayor Ron Toyota. “It’s the generosity of our people that makes our community a great place to live.” The tender will close this month, with construction expected to begin in January. The project should be complete in the spring of 2016. “The renovations to the Creston emergency department will focus

Our ofﬁce will be

CLOSED

Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28

on improvements that will ensure patient-centred care and enhance the working environment for staff,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “These upgrades are particularly meaningful for Creston community because of the generous donations from the estates of local residents.” “Creston Valley Hospital plays a vital role in providing acute health care to residents in this part of the East Kootenay region,” said IHA board chair Erwin Malzer. “We are very pleased to see this project moving forward and grateful for the donations that made it possible.”

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opinion Line

Thursday, November 19, 2015 Creston Valley Advance

Reflection on gratitude

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All rights reserved. Contents copyright by the Creston Valley Advance. Any reproduction of material contained in this publication in whole or in part is forbidden without the expressed written consent of the Publisher. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. It is agreed that The Creston Valley Advance will not be responsible for errors or omissions and is not liable for any amount exceeding the cost of the space used and then only such portion where the errors actually appeared. We reserve the right to edit or reject any submission or advertisement that is contrary to our Publishing guideline.

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The theme of gratitude comes to mind as I look back on last week, a workweek broken in half by Remembrance Day. On Nov. 9 I got an email reminder of the next morning’s Remembrance Day assembly at Adam Robertson Elementary School. For the past few years I have attended at the invitation of Grade 7 teacher Tanya Poznikoff. Each year she produces a short play that her class presents at the assembly. The productions are consistently outstanding — beautiful to look at, lovely to listen to and are an invitation for the audience to meditate on what it means to families and communities when their members go off to war. Later, I was surprised to see a post on Facebook from former CBC Almanac host Mark Forsythe about attendance at the cenotaph in Fort Langley for the Remembrance Day service. Forsythe visited Creston Valley Public Library earlier this year to promote his latest book, From the West Coast to the Western Front: British Columbians and the Great War. He tends to notice such things and commented that in 1998 there were two people at the cenotaph ceremony. This year, 17 years and the 9-11 horror later, the crowd numbered in the thousands, he said. I had another appointment scheduled on Wednesday so I did not attend the cenotaph ceremony in Creston. Instead, I was out at Shukin Orchards, witnessing the sixth annual effort to send apples and gift items to Shamattawa, an isolated northern Manitoba community. It has become a truly

remarkable project, with organizers Muriel Buhr and Terrie Faulkner working year-round to collect clothing, notions and small gifts to send to the community before Christmas. Buhr’s interest

Lorne Eckersley was piqued years ago when she was invited to the home of friends whose RCMP officer son was visiting. In conversations over dinner he mentioned the challenges faced by the isolated and poverty-stricken community of Shamattawa, where he was posted. Items we take for granted, like fruit, he said, are luxuries in fly-in communities, where battered and bruised apples cost a small fortune at the town’s grocery store. Buhr approached Ken Shukin, whose Shukin Orchard donates tons of fruit to food banks around the province, and the plan was hatched. She has woven together a remarkable team of volunteers, including trucking companies and airlines that transport the half-dozen or so tightly wrapped pallets to Shamattawa at no charge. I was genuinely moved to see the enthusiasm of the seven women, including three teenagers, as they sorted through items to create gift packs for each child in the 1,400-member

reserve. Next week’s Advance will include a story and photos as we work with Buhr and Faulkner to acknowledge the many who help in this most worthy project. The Shamattawa effort is all the more impressive knowing it comes at the same time when much of our attention turns to the local food bank and the hamper fund, both of which fill huge gaps in the lives of the less fortunate of our friends and neighbours. Add to that the recent fundraiser led by Brandy Dyer for the family of the man who lost his life in a sawmill accident, and the efforts by Canyon-Lister Fire Department to aid the family that lost its home to fire last month, and one starts to get a better appreciation of this community’s endless generosity. Finally, if I needed another reminder to feel gratitude at this time of year, I needed only to stare at a picture from Global News in Calgary. In it, my son and another RCMP member, both dressed in the traditional red serge, were casting salutes in front of the Memorial Drive cenotaph after placing wreaths on behalf of their fellow officers. I sent him a message later to tell him how proud I was, the more so because he also took our grandchildren, ages three and six. His response was simple, that it is important to him and his wife that the kids gain an appreciation for the countless women and men who serve their community and country. He grew up in Creston, so of course I wasn’t surprised. Lorne Eckersley is the publisher of the Creston Valley Advance.

Tech enables access to knowledge

Since installing iPads in the children’s area earlier this year, many parents have expressed concerns about their use and availability. Here is one of the comments I received, which succinctly summarizes the main concerns: “Since you have added iPads to the library, we can no longer go to play and learn with our toddler because they are only interested in them. Kids already watch and play on iPads, computers and TV too much at home, and now it has taken over our library. I understand the need for kids to learn about technology but they get enough of that everywhere else.” The planning of the children’s area was completed over the course of more than a year by a committee consisting of longtime volunteers, staff, board members and community members. We also invited input from a variety of local consultants. The topic of introducing computer technology to the area was contentious, and the decision was not taken lightly. I was, and remain, a strong proponent of having computers in the children’s area. The basis of my support is my commitment to the principles of intellectual freedom and equitable access to information. One of the statements in our library policies (available on our website) reads: “It is the responsibility of libraries to guarantee and facilitate access to all expressions of knowledge and intellectual activity, including those which some elements of society may consider

to be unconventional, unpopular or unacceptable. To this end, libraries shall acquire and make available the widest variety of materials.”

The Book Drop Aaron Francis Erecting barriers that inhibit an individual’s ability to access information is contrary to our mandate as a public library and something that we strive to avoid. Barriers in this instance might include placing computers in adult areas where they may not feel comfortable using the computers, using computer furniture that is inappropriate for smaller people, placing computers in restricted areas where access requires staff intervention, and using Internet filters to block content. This might seem like an overly abstract or intellectual response to a very practical problem, but it is important to keep in mind that public libraries are bound to certain values that, in some cases, transcend local community values (however those might be defined). As a librarian, I make a point of visiting libraries whenever I travel to new places. In many communities

— especially larger centres — the issue of computers in children’s areas was debated and decided in favour of computers a decade or more ago. In some communities, it remains a contentious issue. As a parent of a young child who is both a regular library user and has access to various forms of technology at home, I sympathize with parents who see technology in the library as an unwanted distraction. The library’s mandate, however, is to serve all members of the community, many of whom do not have access to up-to-date technology at home. Limiting a child’s exposure to technology and spending time together at the library are not incompatible. However, it does place added onus on the parent to make decisions about their child’s exposure. This responsibility is not unlike that faced by parents at home, or teachers at publically funded schools. It is a function of a changing world, of which the library plays just a small part. I encourage all parents to set limitations for their children. I also hope that all children will be given the opportunity to be inspired by the amazing world of stories and wisdom that our library provides through our storytelling programs, Summer Reading Club, and extensive, free collections of books and resources. Aaron Francis is the chief librarian at Creston Valley Public Library. He is currently reading Sanaaq by Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk.

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, November 19, 2015

www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca 5

opinion Line

Get comfortable with forgetting

Several years ago I facilitated a •Remember, each of us is a unique course for seniors entitled “Lost your person. Society tends to stereotype marbles? Or just your memory?” There “middle-aged”, the “elderly” and may be a few people who still remem- “senior citizens” but we are not all the ber it! The intent of the course was to same. We don’t have to be set in our help us all feel more comfortable about ways, forgetful or absentminded. forgetting, rather Ability and interthan getting all est to not turn off upset and embarat 55! Memory rassed. And we changes do occur, had a lot of laughs, but at different too. Here are a few ages, rates and of the things we intensities — very learned — a mini individual. Christine Munkerud refresher course! •Changing •What is memory? All of our knowl- pace is also very individual, both physiedge from Day 1, records of emotions cally and mentally. We do slow down and feelings, how-to skills, records of but at no specific time. We can still do sensory perceptions — all packed into many of the things we have always the filing cabinet/computer of the left done — it just takes longer. Forgetting brain. can be frustrating, but it doesn’t mean •When we forget, we tend to blame we’re falling apart. We avoid wasted ourselves. It’s really important to keep energy when we accept the slowing ourselves from letting forgetfulness eat down process; it allows us time to stop away at our self-confidence. Laughter, and smell the roses! even when forced, tends to suppress the •Mental powers, like the muscles flow of adrenaline that happens when of the body, need exercising. They can we are embarrassed. be developed and strengthened, or •Lists free our memory, help us orga- they can simply atrophy and die for nize our time, rehearse information, want of use. help us pay attention to what we want •”Senility” is a catchword used to to remember. And using yellow paper label any eccentric behaviour in an older to list things on in easier to see in case person. Since the subconscious mind we misplace it. doesn’t know the difference between •Why we forget: Heads would burst reality and fantasy, reinforcing the idea with useless information if we didn’t of senility will tell the subconscious that forget, so much forgetting is necessary. we really are senile! Doesn’t that make us feel better? •Speed of reaction and recognition

The Voice of Experience

often slows, but older people are often better at problem solving, reasoning and vocabulary than younger ones. •The capacity to learn does not decrease with age, but mood, selfconfidence and desire deeply affect the ability to learn. Older people are more selective in learning than younger people, since we are perhaps more interested in conserving energy and dwelling on what is interesting, useful and pleasurable. Saying, “I can’t learn,” becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Don’t overload, take your time, take breaks, ask questions. •Keep a positive attitude. It helps supply energy for remembering. Let go, relax, take the pressure off. Taking more control over our lives is important at any age, and keeping control is even more important as we grow older. •Self-worth and self-acceptance — accept weaknesses, as well as strengths. Accept yourself as an individual. Self-worth controls outlook on life and affects memory. Be good to yourself. Put things in perspective. Find alternatives. Grow, search, change and laugh! There is so much more, but there’s only so much space in this column, so we’ll call it quits for now. Love life to its fullest and give yourself lots of new memories! Mary Underhill is a stress therapist and grief counsellor. The Voice of Experience is a column co-ordinated by the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors.

Always keeping busy at TAPS

It’s a mouthful: Multigenerational Things are ticking along at the Therapeutic Activation Program for and Intergenerational Connections is Seniors (TAPS) with all programs our yearlong program bringing seniors going. Well, we did have to make and youth together. By meeting and some changes as our dear TAPS big sharing histories and memories and bus, which has served us so well since working together in documenting 2010 but ran out them, it’s proving of steam recently. to be a popular Many decisions and engaging and rescheduling program. As well are underway to as visual arts, continue serving they are working our seniors. Hats on a play and off to the flexible recorded histoand creative ries, and I hear minds at Valley there’s a dance in Community Serthe works. Maureen Cameron vices and TAPS Thanks to Mike staff and volunPoznikoff for disteers as they meet this challenge. The playing one of the projects by the fundraising efforts of the Krafty seniors and Grizzly Bear Out of School Kronys contributed to the purchase of Care youth at Creston Card and our buses and one is even named after Stationery. Students from Wildflower Patt Robicheau, whose leadership and TAPS seniors will be performing inspired their efforts that continue on at Crest View Village and Swan Valley today. Lodge. Funding for this program came This month we completed a previ- through the New Horizons for Seniors ously mentioned 16-week program Program — Employment and Social called Moving Along Together for peo- Development Canada. ple with memory changes and their I dropped in on the Tuesday caregivers. This was funded by a Strummers Group last week, as well as Columbia Basin Trust social grant and the Thursday band and choir, and found was very well received by participants myself seduced by the nostalgic sweetwith strong recommendations as a ness of the music and voices singing the much-needed program. old familiar tunes. Thanks again to

Tips from TAPS

UOTE OF THE WEEK

Joanna Wilson volunteering her musical skills on a regular basis. OK, we’ve had our fun over the summer plotting, planning and staging photo shoots, we’ve pored over the photos reminiscing and imagining the titles, and very soon you will be able to get one (or two or…). Our 2016 TAPS fundraising calendar will soon be available around town: at Kingfisher Used Books, Creston Card and Stationery and Black Bear Books, and of course through us at TAPS. Thanks to the Blossom Valley Singers for inviting us to provide refreshments at their Christmas concert — see you at intermission Dec. 11 and 13. We’re thinking of Ann Hepher and her family and join them in remembering Peter Hepher, who passed away at 94 on Nov. 6. As the 2014 citizen of the year, he was honoured then for the significant contributions he made to our community. He wrote columns for The Voice of Experience in the Advance and was a board member on the CrestonKootenay Foundation which benefits so many of us in the Creston Valley. Thanks, Peter. Your wisdom lives on through your life’s work. Maureen Cameron is the community liaison development co-ordinator for the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors. For more information on TAPS, run by Valley Community Services, call 250-428-5585.

“There is a kindness here that is not just a way of living, it’s a way of being.” — Paula Ashby

Story on page 1

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6 www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca

Clinic visit would waste less time To the Editor: (Re: “Walk-in clinic would lessen ER waits”, Oct. 29) I am in total support of Sheila Watson’s suggestion as to how a walk-in clinic would benefit Creston. It would definitely take away the long wait time for people with minor ailments and allow the doctors there to treat the emergency patients, which is what hospital emergency rooms are supposed to be used for. We had lived in Creston for quite a while, and our kids went to school here. At that time we all had family doctors and dentists — no problem. But we’ve been gone eight years and moved back one year ago, and things have certainly changed. We now both have doctors (my husband only in the last two months because a new doctor arrived)

and were informed Friday that we both have a dentist. We lived in Castlegar, Cranbrook and Nelson prior to moving back here. There was no problem getting a doctor or dentist in these small communities. Nelson, where we recently moved from, is a small, rural, isolated, community like Creston. But, there was no problem getting a doctor or dentist there, and Nelson also has two walk-in clinics to serve the community. We both had to use these walk-in clinics on a few occasions even though we had family doctors. These walk-in clinics certainly were of great benefit and, as Sheila said, they are a first come, first served clinic — but you find out the wait time and then you can leave your name and come back later. It worked out so well for patients, as well as the doctors. My experience with the hospital in Creston, when we first moved here, was not positive at all. I did not yet have a family doctor, so I had to go use the hospital emergency room. About twice a year, I need to have my ears flushed out. My ear canals are a bit twisted and this is the only solution to clear them. The pressure from the

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opinion Line wax buildup causes earaches and headaches. Twice a year, that’s all. So, I went to the hospital and waited three hours to see the doctor. I understood it could be a long wait, and I accepted that. I finally saw a doctor and explained what needed to be done, a procedure that takes a few minutes. She refused to flush my ears. Refused. I waited three hours. She said she’d send me to a specialist. Are you kidding me? I am 61 years old and I think I know what needs to be done. I’ve had this done for years. No, she refused. My only option now was to go to Nelson to a walk-in clinic. That isn’t fair. So, I waited until the next day and went to the hospital again, and there was a different doctor on. I waited two hours this time. This doctor could see what needed to be done, and flushed my ears, releasing the pressure that was causing my earache and headache, and that was that. It took a few minutes and all was well. So, now I had taken up two doctors’ time for a simple procedure that could have been treated at a walk-in clinic. Deborah Munro Creston

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Thursday, November 19, 2015 Creston Valley Advance

CDCC patrons kept up to date thanks to helpful CSRs

One of the behind the scenes happenings that you may not be aware of is the meeting between programming staff and our customer service representatives (CSRs) each time prior to the release

their smiling faces are the first thing you see when you walk in the door. Typically they have a better idea on what is happening overall in the building than perhaps an individual department, and hopefully have most answers, or at least know how to get the answers, when a patron stops at the front. The small town advantage also plays a part as we may get to know you through your use of the facility as well as services, and sometimes can suggest a program or event that might pique your interest. Another advantage might be with a Neil Ostafichuk drop-in class where attendees of the leisure guide. While there is are not documented and an instrucpretty constant communication tor is suddenly sick or stuck at between programming and front home, CSRs often remember who end staff every day, this summit is the regulars are and subsequently the platform to go over all pro- can do some last-minute phoning to grams and special events in the save a trip to town for some folks. There is a lot to know. For examupcoming guide, in this case the winter leisure guide, to be released ple, between general programming, around the end of November. Being aquatics and fitness, we had 176 as we are open a pretty wide span programs offered this fall, which of hours, we have to schedule the did not include any special events, meeting for 6 a.m. to try and child-minding services, birthday squeeze as much info and dialogue parties, public skating or swimin before we have to open the front ming. You can see there is a lot to be desk at 8 a.m. (I always tiptoe in, aware of so if there is an error in a politely say good morning and barcode or program location, CSRs scuttle off to my office as not to cre- are the first to hear about it and, depending on circumstances, are ate a disturbance in the Force.) The importance of our CSRs the first to have to solve it. Customer service isn’t any differbeing well informed can’t be understated; they are our front line and ent at any other business or restaurant; the customer service rep is usually the first point of contact, whether it is a waitress, dental receptionist, lumber store worker, gas station attendant or retail store clerk. They set the first impression, so having the knowledge to be able to answers questions or assist in some manner, in my opinion, is one of the main pillars of customer service. Which, if you Google pillars of ANNUAL GENERAL customer service, you will find there are four MEETING or seven or 12 or six or five depending which Saturday November 28, 2015 website you visit. Jimmy’s Pub • 1418 Canyon St. Suffice it to say, it is an important part of keepCocktails 6 pm ing a roof over the head Supper and meeting to follow of your business. Neil Ostafichuk is the recreation supervisor at New Members Welcome the Creston and District Community Complex.

From the Centre

Creston Valley

Cruisers

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Kuskanook Harbour Society Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, November 25, 2015 • 7pm Downtowner Motor Inn All members should attend F O R I N F O R M AT I O N C A L L 2 5 0 - 8 6 6 - 5 7 2 3

Creston Valley Advance Thursday, November 19, 2015

TV Listings

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WEEKDAY DAYTIME

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10 AM 10:30 11 AM 11:30 12 PM 12:30

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1 PM

NOVEMBER 20 - NOVEMBER 26, 2015

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FRIDAY & MOVIES 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 42 43 44 45 48 49 50

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