BY NEIL OSTAFICHUK
It’s been a few weeks now but we had the opportunity to watch the entertainment at the Community Complex at the July 1st Canada Day festivities beginning with sisters Megan and Taija Bibby on violin and cello playing an awesome variety of music with a talent the Creston Valley should be proud of. Following that was the main act Velle Weitman Band providing a high class, well orchestrated variety of music from jazz to rock with some original compositions thrown in. Once again, an assemblage of talented Creston Valley musicians entertaining the pre-fireworks crowds.
I could wax poetic about the music for the rest of the column but on a different slant, as we sat there in the parking lot listening to the main act, I experienced a flashback to many years ago and the James Ross Memorial pool in that exact spot where we were sitting. Because it was well over 30 degrees sitting there, it was actually a hot flashback but nonetheless I couldn’t help but think the only recognizable element indicating that a pool might have existed there was the mural on the wall. I also mused about how the lead singer, who was Velle Huscroft at the time, taught our kids (as well as many others) swim lessons some 20 odd years ago in that very spot that she was now crooning a sultry jazz piece.
It’s all part of the continuity we often get to see in a small town setting, particularly through the Community Complex as everyone seems to funnel through here at one time or another. Weddings, graduations, funerals, dances, community events, public meetings, elections, programs or just coming to swim or workout are just a snapshot of what has happened here. We see those who have worked or volunteered here and those that came as children then brought their children and in some cases, their children’s children. Probably most people you meet that have been in the valley for even a short time will have had a memorable experience at the Rec Centre in one form or another.
Speaking of memorable, things I like to see are the ones that impact small children; providing them with an experience and hopefully good memories. We had the opportunity to take our visiting 3 year old grandson to the first of four special events put on by the Creston Fire Department who bring a couple of fire trucks over to the Community Complex out back and basically give an up close and personal look at the trucks and equipment right down to the point of trying to knock over some pylons in the soccer field with a firehose from the pumper. Now that’s the kind of experience that will stick with a youngster or even an adult as they learn some of the intricacies of fire fighting and the apparatus required. It’s like showing a kid how to curl or skate – there is a greater chance they may come back to it as an adult and while it would be great to have more curlers and hockey players coming to the Community Complex, it would be equally as great knowing we have a full compliment of firefighters watching out for us. Come down and meet them in the Community Complex north parking lot Tuesdays beginning at 7 pm on July 25th, August 8th and August 22nd.
