Revelstoke: an open and welcoming community

David Raven, mayor of Revelstoke, shares the community’s excitement and future goals

Mayor David Raven looks forward to a bright future for Revelstoke. — Glynis Fediuk photo

After retiring from provincial government duties, David Raven decided to pursue civic government with the intent of serving his community of Revelstoke. He is now the town’s mayor and is clearly engaged in helping keep Revelstoke on a positive track.

It’s been a strong winter for tourism, said Raven. Revelstoke Mountain Resort has shown healthy numbers while good snowmobiling, cross-country ski races, hockey tournaments and curling bonspiels have also had a presence in Revelstoke’s winter sports. Additionally, there has been an upward trend in summer visitors thanks to lifestyle activities that include exceptional mountain biking. Revelstoke has expanded its system of mountain bike trails over the past years, and could be considered a world-class destination for the sport.

“We’re enjoying having the new visitors come into the community,” said Raven. “Many of them are adding to the vibrancy and cultural diversity, so that part is always healthy. Any business activity, of course, is welcome in balance with the other businesses that we have. Our traditional jobs are with the railroad and with the forest industry and many of our government jobs are with the national park and transportation sectors. It’s a balance that we find healthy. (Adventure tourism) is fairly new and it’s exciting, but at the same time we have to appreciate the contributions of the traditional industries that are still here.”

An improved visitor centre will be opening in Revelstoke, possibly for the winter season. The new facility will be open year round and will also house the chamber of commerce, a business development bank branch and Revelstoke’s economic development offices. Among the advantages is the fact that the building will be located in the downtown core and will be able to provide a better level of services than in the past. Revelstoke is certainly looking forward to a bright future.

“We’re just going through the integrated community sustainability plan now, which will set very firm goals for the city to work with,” said Raven. “Basically, we’re working for a balanced economy and to maintain the cultural and social aspects (along with the) recreational and healthy-living components. We want a safe healthy community within the context of an open and welcoming community.”