Creston Community Forest

06/05/2026

Public Service Announcement - Trail Closure. Due to the severe windstorm that passed through the Creston Valley last week, the Thompson Rotary Trail is temporarily closed while crews assess and remove numerous downed trees.

We know this trail is a favourite destination for many residents and visitors, and we appreciate your patience as we work to make it safe again. This closure is strictly for public safety and is not intended to limit access to the outdoors.

In the meantime, we encourage trail users to explore other Community Forest trails and the many excellent hiking opportunities available throughout the Creston Valley.

We'll provide updates on trail conditions throughout June on our website and social media channels.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we complete the trail cleanup work.

For details on alternative trails, please visit: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/get-involved

06/05/2026

We've been wanting to share Danette Polzin's captivating story from The Trench Magazine and today is a perfect opportunity for a read over the weekend.
A Forest and A Family: Part of a three-generation clan of loggers, Trench writer Danette Polzin reflects on the forest industry’s proud past and its transforming future. Photo: Haul in the family. A scene from a Hollywood set or everyday life for Kitchener B.C.’s Polzin family? In 1983, the story’s author, at age two, held by one of her grandparents. Her young mother and father are at the far right. The family have been loggers for more than 60 years.
(FEATURE article in the Sep 3, 2025 magazine)

Danette's story reminds us how community and family are the backbone of the forestry industry not only in the Creston Valley but in many communities throughout British Columbia.

For the full article: https://www.thetrenchmag.com/stories/forestry-family

05/26/2026

Future Generations, we are thrilled to work with Wildsight Youth Climate Corps.

05/24/2026

As part of the Creston Community Forest's continued goal to mentor a new generation of foresters, we would like to introduce our two summer students, Tuscany and Elissa.

Having studied at UBC's Natural Resources Conservation program, Tuscany and Elissa will spend the summer in Creston assisting with our forest development, monitoring the Douglas-fir beetle program, over seeing the maintenance of hiking trails and helping to deliver forest education to both elementary and highschool students.

Through hands-on field experience and community engagement, they will gain insight into sustainable forest management while contributing to important local projects.

They have already been part of many projects we continue to work on as part of our forest management, along with other community organizations we dedicate our support.
Welcome to the team Tuscany and Elissa!

05/23/2026

A great community project to support.
We are pleased to help out.

05/18/2026

We walked the same trail as they did in 1930. Our 'Artist Walk with a Forester' on the Thompson Pack Trail was a success today. It was fascinating for us to hear how artists see and experience our forests.
Together, we discussed and walked the same trail built by foresters who travelled this rugged path to spend months stationed at the Mt. Thompson fire lookout. Using only hand saws, picks, and axes, they created the path we walked today.

We stopped and took in the scent of the forest, the sounds of Sullivan Creek, and the filtering of the light through the forest canopy.

Photos were taken of the tiniest of details to the largest of camera capacity.

Among the forest education and bear aware workshop, laughter and insight was shared.

The trail we hiked today is one of 8 trails, 43kms of recreational trails, we manage. To view all of our trails, please view our website: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/get-involved

We would like to send out a big Thank You to Dee Howard, Creston Coexistence Coordinator, Creston Coexistence Solutions for a hands on bear spray workshop that prepared us for bear encounters as well as what we can do to hike safely in our local forests.

Thank You to our forest manager, Daniel Gratton, for not only the insight of the tiniest of plants but for sharing his knowledge of the many different species of trees that grow in this area, the history of the trail and for his time on a long weekend to explore the forest with a group of artists.

Thank you to each of the artists, the three that drove from Kutenai Art Therapy Institute in Nelson early this morning, and the friends and family that joined them.

This hike was part of the 2026 Community Project - Healing Forests: in honour of what forests give us.

The Creston Community Forest, in partnership with the Tilted Brick Gallery, invites artists across the Kootenays to submit work for “Healing Forests: in honour of what forests give us,” a juried exhibition opening in September 2026.

The exhibition explores the many ways forests shape our lives: ecologically, economically, culturally, emotionally, and recreationally.

We are accepting art submissions for this juried exhibit and awarding cash prizes for the top three.
For all details and deadlines, please visit our website: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/artprojecthealingforests

Happy May long weekend everyone!

05/10/2026

'Artist Walk with a Forester' sign-up is now open. We invite artists to join us and our Forest Manager along with Dee Howard (Co-existence Coordinator), with an interactive bear spray workshop at the beginning of hike, Sunday May 17th at 10am.

This hike will be capped at 20 people but a wait list will be available.
To book your spot on the list: https://mailchi.mp/93f04707ce57/artist-walk

The Creston Community Forest & Tilted Brick Gallery announce a 2026 Juried Exhibition
About the Project:
The Creston Community Forest, in partnership with the Tilted Brick Gallery, invites artists across the Kootenays to submit work for “Healing Forests: in honour of what forests give us,” a juried exhibition opening in September 2026.



The exhibition explores the many ways forests shape our lives: ecologically, economically, culturally, emotionally, and recreationally. Artists age 16+ and working in any medium are encouraged to participate.



This exhibition celebrates that work and invites artistic reflection on the value of forests in daily life.
1st Prize: $500 2nd Prize: $300 3rd Prize: $200

05/03/2026

This Saturday the 2nd, we were proud to take part in the seasonal opening of the Creston Valley Farmers' Market, where we hosted our Open House.

It was a great opportunity to connect with residents, answer questions, and share more about the work we do. We were pleased to give away Creston Community Forest t-shirts, ball caps, forest industry items, and National Forest Week coloring books for the kids.

This was our most well-attended Open House to date, and we truly appreciated the interest from the community through thoughtful questions and meaningful conversations. Forest Manager Daniel Gratton (RPF) and Forest Technician Erich Endersby (TFT) were on hand to walk visitors through our management areas using large maps, explain Douglas-fir beetle treatments, and provide insight into our ongoing work.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, to the families and kids who joined us, and to our Board Directors for their support. Creston, we thank you.

05/02/2026

This is a little reminder to come on out and join us at our Open House today. We are part of the Creston Valley Farmers' Market for the day from 9am - 1pm. You will find our Forest Manager at our booth set up to answer any questions you may have about our 2026 year.

🎉 We can't wait to see you all for our Grand Opening Market Day - this Saturday May 2nd! Stay tuned for a very exciting Market Contest which will be announced tomorrow 🎉

04/28/2026

🔥 In late 2022, on the heels of several significant wildfire seasons, Forest Professionals BC (FPBC) and the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) convened the Wildland Fire Joint Panel (WFJP) to respond to the need for improved guidance for professionals working in the wildland fire space.

With a broad objective to enhance and grow the expertise of forest professionals in wildland fire, the panel provides strategic guidance and recommendations at the request of, and directly provided to, FPBC and BCWS. At its outset, recommendations revolved around identifying key projects for the term of funding.

Seven project areas were identified, sequenced to build upon foundational work of Project 1, which focused on clearly defining the reserved and regulated work of each organization and developing professional practice areas for Forest Professionals BC.

Where past and current work have focused on defining professional work and increasing our understanding of where the competency of practice is at, upcoming projects will focus on actioning these tools.

📖 Read more in 'The Wildland Fire Joint Panel: An Introduction,' the latest installment of The Practice column in the spring 2026 edition of BC Forest Professional magazine:https://www.fpbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-BCFP-Spring.pdf



(Image: Alexis Stowards, BIT, Nenqay (Lands) stewardship manager of Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government, with Byron Gagne, crew leader of Northern Fire WoRx, safely and responsibly putting good fire out on the land in the Declared Title Area within the caretaker area of Xeni Gwet’in (spring 2025). Photo credit: Nolan Guichon.)