About Us
Our Mandate
The Creston Museum is a community-history museum located in Creston BC. We tell the story of Creston and the surrounding communities: the people, the industries, the events and organisations that have made the Creston Valley what it is today.
The Historical Society undertakes the following:
Our Mission
The Creston Museum uses the past to connect people to the community today, address its challenges, and make it a better place to live, learn, and explore.
Our Values
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Respect: |
The Creston Museum is recognised and respected by the local and visiting public, community leaders, and museum professionals for our role in the community and for the quality of our programs. We respect all cultures, and especially the local Ktunaxa culture and traditions, and portray them in respectful, appropriate, and collaborative ways. We show respect for the needs of underserved communities, and earn their respect as a place that welcomes them |
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Engagement: |
The Creston Museum is engaged in our community; we support the work of community leadership and organisations and meet the needs of individuals through our mandate of local history. We ensure the full engagement of the whole community at all levels of our operations, proactively engaging diverse perspectives and supporting new audiences in participating fully at all levels. |
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Interactivity: |
The Creston Museum is a place where people can interact with and share local history, the community story, and their own histories. We seek interaction between our programs and the community’s current issues and needs; provide other organisations with opportunities to showcase their heritage; go far beyond mere “hands-on” to provide opportunities to create and collaborate. |
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Inclusivity: |
The Creston Museum reflects all aspects of the local story, past and present, and is welcoming and accessible to all individuals and organisations. We create a museum space where Yaqan Nukiy people feel welcome rather than exhibited. We acknowledge and support the heritage and culture of the entire community, not just that which we have collected. We take concrete steps to involve current and future stakeholders and to ensure everyone feels welcome and engaged. |
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Leadership: |
The Creston Museum is a focal point for the arts/culture/heritage sector, providing leadership for others within that sector, and serving as a link between the sector and others sectors in the community. Our programs and activities take a leadership role in issues facing the community; set an example of welcome and collaboration; and serve as a model for other organisations. |
Our Staff
Tammy
Tammy Bradford is our long-time Manager. She's responsible for all day-to-day operations, from collections management to administration, planning, and grantwriting.
Alyson
Alyson Small, our Research Curator, is responsible for the behind-the-scenes work of preparing exhibits and programs. You’ll also see her working with visitors and tackling a multitude of other tasks.
alyson@crestonmuseum.ca
Jarrett
Our Services
Archives
- Newspaper archives
- Photo and document collections
- Research services
Museum
- Extensive exhibits
- School programs
- Year-round on-site and off-site public programming
- Seasonal events
- Community event support
Other
- Gift shop
- Picnic area
- Online resources
- Rental spaces for meetings, reunions, parties, etc
Our History
Affiliations
- Member, Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Community of Creston Arts Council
- Member, BC Museums Association
- Member, Archives Association of BC
History
When the Historical Society was established in 1971, its primary function was to manage a small archival collection, provide information on local historic buildings, and house a very small collection of artifacts. In 1979, when the nearby Yahk Pioneer Park Museum declared bankruptcy and attempted to sell its collection at auction, the Historical Society obtained a court injunction to stop the sale and bought the collection. A stone house was purchased in 1980, extensive renovation work was carried out, and the Creston Museum opened its doors to the public on September 12, 1982. A storage building was built in 1986, and an open-fronted shed was built in 1995 to display and protect the larger objects in the collection. The Archives, formerly housed in a room at Town Hall, was moved into the storage building in 1994, and a climate-controlled, fire-proof vault was added in 2001.
Until 1996, the Historical Society depended on a community bingo hall and various other fundraising methods for its financial support. When the bingo hall closed, the Historical Society successfully went to referendum and obtained core funding through taxation. This enabled the Historical Society to hire a manager, the first full-time employee in an organisation that was previously run entirely by volunteers.
Visit our Governance section for more information.