Creston is a town in the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. By road, Creston is roughly equidistant between Cranbrook ( to the east) and Castlegar ( to the west) along the Crowsnest Highway. The town is approximately north of the Porthill-Rykerts Border Crossing on the Canada–US border. Time zone and Kootenay descriptive Settlements on the east shore of Kootenay Lake and along BC Highway 3 from Creston to Yahk are among the few areas of Canada that do not observe daylight saving time, remaining on Mountain Standard Time year-round. Forming a natural boundary, the lake and the Kootenay Pass on the Salmo–Creston highway divide the Pacific Time Zone from the mountain one. When daylight saving ends, the time change migrates from Yahk to the Kootenay Bay ferry landing. Consequently, Creston in the warmer months is on Castlegar time and in the colder months on Cranbrook time. East Kootenay The 1860 survey defined the Purcell Mountains as the east–west divide, which geographically places Creston in East Kootenay, but Crawford Bay in West Kootenay. Since the highway to Salmo did not open until 1963, Creston developed cultural links eastward. Minor sports, both hockey and baseball, belonged to East Kootenay leagues. West Kootenay An 1899 advertisement described the Creston Townsite Co. as West Kootenay Valley. Since the highest passes of the Purcells are north-northeast, Creston might be considered in the west. Regional politics are centred at Nelson, which is in West Kootenay. Central Kootenay The Creston Review, first published in 1908, took a neutral stance. However, for several years, a front-page banner stated: "All roads in East Kootenay and West Kootenay lead to Creston." Prior to the creation of the Regional District of Central Kootenay in 1965, Central Kootenay did not exist as a geographic concept. Most locals still do not accept the idea. Those on the fence regard Creston as a sort of transition between east and west, or from a time zone perspective, as being west in summer and east in winter. First Nations and European early visitors The Lower Kootenay Band of the Ktunaxa Nation has occupied the region from time immemorial. Tribal members would paddle their canoes across the flooded flats, harvesting wild rice, one of the staples of their diet. The people called the Creston area Yaqan Nukiy, meaning "where the rock stands." Europeans referred to this area as the Goat River district. Established in 1865,