Background to the Creston Community Forest

The community of Creston has always placed a high priority on its water supply, Arrow Creek. A significant portion of the Creston economy depends on the watershed for abundant, clean water. Consequently, timber harvesting within the drainage has been a contentious issue since the last industrial logging took place in 1972. The community has been very effective in keeping industrial logging out of Arrow Creek since that time. Other adjacent areas are equally sensitive.

History of The Creston Valley Forest Corporation

On January 2, 1996 the government of BC announced that a Forest Licence to harvest 15,000 cubic meters per year would be made available for a Community Forest in Creston.

Following that announcement a group consisting of the following organizations submitted an application for the Forest Licence:

This group became the Creston Valley Forest Corporation on June 12, 1997 and was awarded the licence on October 1, 1997. We secured a renewable, area-based Probationary Community Forest Agreement on Oct 14, 2008.

A ten person Board of Directors who represents the five shareholders and the community at large governs the Corporation. Its office is presently located at

Suite #5 233 16th Ave North. in Creston.

The Corporation has two direct employees (general manager &administrative clerk) and contracts all other operational work to local contractors.

Board of Directors: Shareholder Directors Appointed By Shareholder Group:
Name Representing Occupation
Ralph Moore Regional District of Central Kootenay Logger/environmentalist
Jim Smith Wildsight Forester
Ron Toyota Town of Creston Mayor
Laura Strom Creston Development Authority Music teacher
CurtisLower Kootenay BandForest Management
Community Directors: Elected By Shareholder Directors From Community – 1 Year Term
NameRepresentingOccupation
Merv Syroteuk Community Director Retired Parks Canada superintendent
Don Root Community Director Consulting Engineer
Gary Sommerfeld Community Director Retired mechanic
Kaare Lindoe Community Director Kitchener water; Retired Electrician
John Chisamore Community Director - Chair Retired teacher - BCTS executive

CVFC ManagerDaniel Grattan RPF

The mission statement for the Corporation is: " To efficiently harvest the allocated volumes while protecting the integrity of other resources and enhancing social and economic benefits of the community."

The goals and objectives of the CVFC are:

  1. To develop an ecosystem-based, ecologically responsible philosophy of forest stewardship that respects all forest values and functions.
  2. To encourage involvement and to inform the public in the management of forest resources.
  3. To provide local employment in harvesting, silviculture, forestry and milling sectors.
  4. To be financially profitable.
  5. To encourage education and training in all aspects of sustainable forestry.
  6. To provide the maintenance of water quality, quantity and flow regime of all streams and lakes within the area of Probationary Community Forest Agreement K3D.
  7. To use existing local facilities for primary breakdown. Local refers to an area from Yahk to Riondel.
  8. To provide a timber supply for existing value-added enterprises and to provide a timber supply as an incentive to promote local, value-added opportunities in the community.
  9. To pursue FSC certification on all timber harvested under PCFA K3D.
  10. To pursue incremental forestry projects as opportunities occur.
  11. To pursue effective, biologically oriented methods dealing with forest health issues.
  12. To be proactive with community wildfire/urban interface issues.
Operations to date Benefits of CVFC