Jim Elford, President

I moved to the Creston Valley over 42 years ago to become a partner in a local insurance brokerage. Prior to moving to Creston I was a Chief Underwriter with an International Insurance Company. After 30 years in the brokerage the business was sold and I retired.

While in business I served on the Boards or Advisory Boards of four multinational corporations, was a volunteer firefighter for 21 years and an Auxiliary RCMP Constable for 10 years. In 1997 I was deeply honored to receive the Citizen of the Year award.

My wife Teresa and I have been married over 50 years with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Carol Freeman-Ryll, Vice President

I have lived in Canada for over 50 years. My late husband and myself decided upon the
Creston valley as our retirement home. Turns out, an excellent idea!
After working with youth and families and later on as an outdoor wilderness guide using
llamas in Ontario and Alberta, the farming focus of the valley was a welcome back to the
days of my life in England living on a farm.
I have travelled extensively but now choose to live within this community and give back
through volunteer work to the people who supported me during a sad period of my life
here. I have been involved with several charities here since retirement.
I have an avid interest in dogs ( rescue dogs in particular) and enjoy my home and garden and enjoy sharing such with friends.

Lon Main, Secretary

Through his support for Pioneer Villa since the mid-90s, Lon Main was actually on the foundation board before it even existed. He has seen this organization evolve from a senior’s foundation to a health foundation, to a community foundation, he has been there every step of the way. Lon is a founding father and created & backbone of the Creston-Kootenay Foundation. He was instrumental in creating & developing our policies and bylaws. He has been our historian, and policy expert and for many years and chaired our granting committee. Lon oversaw some tough debates with kindness and humility. Expect to spot Lon in the community, as always, a strong ambassador and advocate for the Creston Valley Community Foundation.

Ted Hutchinson, Treasurer

My wife Avis and I moved to Creston in 2009 in search of a better climate than Northern Alberta could provide as well as a smaller community in which to enjoy our retirement. We have been very happy with our decision and have enjoyed our time here very much.

My career was spent in retail operations, the last 14 years with Staples where I enjoyed filling a number of roles from Store Manager to District Manager to Director of Sales and Operations for Western Canada (Regional VP). Some claim that retail is all about detail, but my experience has been that it's really all about people.

I have been fortunate to find an organization such as the Creston Valley Community Foundation where I can add my experience to those of the other Board Members in a collaborative effort to further the Foundation's cause.

Jason Truscott, Director

Community service resonates with Jason Truscott. For the last 110 years, members of his family have lived, worked and contributed to building community in the Creston Valley. In that time, he says, “Truscotts have also received so much from the valley it’s almost impossible to find a way to pay it back.”

Jason spent 10 years in Vancouver, 7 in London and additional time in the Kootenays in his career, and looks forward to further building the CKF endowment.

“I want to help ensure we’re distributing funds according to our donors’ wishes and coming up with new ideas,” he says. “What I do in my career (Financial Advisor) is to be a broker of sorts, build bridges from services to people, people to services.”

Susanne Satzer, Director

After living in Vancouver, Richmond and Harrison Hot Springs, my husband
and I moved to Creston in 2019 and quickly realized we had found the
place we wanted call home for the rest of our lives. Volunteering and
working for 3 years as a Board Member of the Seed Bank supported my
integration into the community.
Throughout my career as a journalist, communication officer, travel book
author, and for 10 years now as a tour director leading tours across
Canada, I have had the privilege of meeting people from diverse
backgrounds with open minds and unique perspectives.
These experiences reinforced my belief that meaningful support in any way
must be as diverse as the people it serves. That is what draws me to the
Foundation. Its ability to facilitate a wide variety of causes through both
designated and field-of-interest funds ensures that generosity can respond
to many different needs and opportunities. I am excited to contribute to an
organization that helps strengthen the vitality of our community.