Rossland’s movers and shakers

Here are some of the passionate Rosslanders who are making their community a better place in which to live, visit and invest

Rossland's merchants work to keep the city's downtown area pretty and inviting. — Photo courtesy Tourism Rossland

It takes only a few people to lift a community from average to exceptional—as long as those few have a lot of passion. Rossland, B.C., is fortunate enough to have many of these engaged citizens, and here are some of them:

Downtown Rossland, B.C., turns into a snowy playground during Winter Carnival. — Photo courtesy Tourism Rossland

1. Deanne Steven, the executive director of Tourism Rossland, supports, inspires and leads a very healthy tourism industry in Rossland.
2. Christine Andison, director of planning and development at Red Mountain Resort, was a major force driving the development of Red’s new Legacy Training Centre and its snowmaking machinery. The centre is a hot new destination for international ski competitions.
3. Bruce Wolk is building Red Arrow Station, a new and unusual camping venue on Red Mountain Road.
4. Les Carter, a tireless volunteer with Friends of the Rossland Range, had a significant role in securing a Canada 150 grant to renovate the day-use cabins up at the Strawberry Pass summit in the next two years. When many people thought the project was impossible, Carter persevered and succeeded.
5. Libby Martin, a board member at the Rossland Museum, worked hard to secure a Canada 150 grant of $175,000 toward phase one of the museum’s renewal project. The cost of phase one will be $400,000 and that figure has almost been reached.
6. Lisa Henderson is a drama teacher in School District No. 20. She has poured her time and training into the Gold Fever Follies for many years and is deeply involved in community projects including Golden City Days and the Rossland Winter Carnival Variety Show. 
7. Don Freschi is a successful serial entrepreneur and the general manager of Community Futures Development Corporation of Greater Trail. CFDC is the force behind the Junior Dragons’ Den initiative, which is capturing the enthusiasm of young entrepreneurs in the Columbia Basin.
8. Eva Cameron and Rachael Roussin are key volunteers leading a move to restore the Jubilee Park and Centennial Park wetlands in Rossland.
9. Richie Mann, Graham Jones and a group of hikers, cyclists, horsemen and historians have founded the Dewdney Trail Heritage Society, with the goal of restoring the historic trail.
10. Kathy Moore became Rossland’s new mayor in November 2014. She and her council are doing a great job of handling the challenges of public office.