Catching up with the Revelstoke chamber

Businesses in the small alpine town of Revelstoke, B.C., have the support of a well-informed chamber of commerce

by Marie Milner — October 22, 2015

Grizzly Plaza is a landmark in Revelstoke, B.C. — Kirsten Armleder photo

In the spring of 2015, the chamber of commerce in Revelstoke, B.C., teamed up with Community Futures and the city’s economic development office to commission a business retention and expansion study through Selkirk College. The study’s results have now been analyzed and were presented to the chamber in October.

“We’re excited about that because the study identified a few things that we can work on, and now we can get started,” said Judy Goodman, executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber recently did a labour market survey as well, from which it gained information to help it address Revelstoke’s unique seasonal work availability. Affordable housing is in short supply in the mountain community, and that poses a challenge for new arrivals to Revelstoke. A new, 12-unit affordable housing development will soon be ready for occupancy, but Goodman said that more are needed and are on the City’s radar.

Effective strategies

Recruitment is an economic development strategy that’s increasingly used by the Revelstoke chamber. To support the success of existing businesses, Goodman and the chamber board are working to attract the types of enterprises that will complement the businesses already in Revelstoke.

“We listen to our members to learn what they want and what will be good for them, and (when appropriate), communicate that back to the City or the Province,” said Goodman. “It’s advocacy at every level, and it’s important.”

Goodman said that the next advocacy project that she’ll be engaged in is talking to the Province about improving the highway signage at the entrances to Revelstoke. Since a proposed highway-side mall has been approved, there is a more urgent need for better highway signage and improved access and egress between the highway and the city.

Revelstoke needs improved access to and from the busy Trans-Canada Highway.

“The existing gateways are inadequate for the volume of traffic that we now get,” Goodman said. “With the development of businesses along the highway, we need to improve access for the employees and the public. With better signage from the Province, some of the improvements could be implemented quite easily.”

Stepped-up technology support

Goodman anticipates that by the end of November, high-speed Internet will be available throughout Revelstoke, thanks to fibre optics brought to the city by Telus. That infrastructure addition will make it possible for technology-based entrepreneurs to live and work in Revelstoke and enjoy the “stoked” lifestyle.

Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce, Visitor Centre and Tourism Revelstoke offices

The chamber manages the community’s business and visitor information centre and it works closely with Community Futures, the City of Revelstoke, the Revelstoke Accommodation Association, Destination BC and Kootenay Rockies Tourism. A branch of the chamber functions as Tourism Revelstoke, the community’s Destination Marketing Organization, under Meghan Tabor.

“The chamber is pretty much flat-out busy all the time,” said Goodman. “We don’t have shoulder seasons, and I don’t think we’re unique among chambers in that regard.”