Leadership in Revelstoke

Kootenay Business magazine had a conversation with David Raven about his background, his work as mayor of Revelstoke, B.C., and his priorities for 2014.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Trail and raised in Nakusp.

What was your first job and how old were you when you started working?

I was 12 and worked in a grocery store in Nakusp, where I learned the value of customer service and a friendly attitude.

Where did you receive your post-secondary education?

I obtained a degree in forestry at UBC in Vancouver.

What brought you to Revelstoke?

I came here in 1978 for a job with the forest service and moved here permanently in 1988. It was a work promotion, and I wanted to raise my family in a small town.

What kind of challenge brings out the best in you?

I do well in emergency situations where I have to think quickly and work around the complexity of those situations. I’m quite analytical too, and that is helpful in an emergency.

If your city were a person, what would you say is its dominant personality characteristic?

Revelstoke is a vibrant, athletic, engaged, friendly, family-oriented community. It’s quite culturally diverse and its people tend to work together.

What do you especially love about this community?

If you come to live here, you come for the healthy, active lifestyle. It’s a beautiful place to raise my three children. They’re growing up understanding the role of community, that you get out of it what you put into it, and the importance of contribution to the community.

Where might we find you on a Saturday night?

With my partner and my children.

As mayor, what would you like your legacy to be in your city?

I’m going into my sixth year as mayor. If I can leave a healthy community, having addressed the fiscal challenges that I inherited, that will be my legacy.

Can you tell me how you’ve begun to achieve this?

We’ve supported healthy nutritional programs and activity programs for all ages. We have a social development position on city staff, which is unique. We have an active sports and recreation program through the community centre, arena, curling rink, swimming pool and our huge ski area. Long-term financial health comes from a balanced economy, and ours is a resource-based economy that’s transitioning with a tourism component.