Re: How's life in Creston Valley, BC?
I grew up in Cranbrook which is about an hour from Creston. The Creston valley is beautiful - fruit is grown there, and the climate is more temperate even than one hour away. It is a small town, lots of retirees.
If my husband and I could find work there, the Kootenays are an absolutely gorgeous place to live, and raise a family. If you like to ski, Kimberley is only 1.5 hours away, and the skiing is fabulous. The Kootenays are now being "discovered" by the rest of the province. The Rocky Mountains are majestic - some say that the Cranbrook area will become the next "Okanagan". There is a MAJOR golf development going in there, and housing development alongside.
I believe prices are still reasonable in the Creston area. Haven't looked.
Good luck!