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FEBRUARY 2018
News briefs Carousel of Nations shares multicultural music, food and more Joe Matheson channels Hank Williams at RPAC February 2017 events Rogers Pass permit system violations a cause for concern Justin Trudeau and family vacation in Revelstoke The downsides of hydro dams Revelstoke Osteopathy & Wellness opens new location So you want to be a ski guide? Profile: Revelstoke photographer Vincent Schnabl Profile: Welwinds Therapeutic Spa & Yoga Illegal vacation rentals are hurting community housing New city budget format reveals long-term plans
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Influencer: Comedian Katie Burrell’s show debuts in February Skiers and boarders compete at Freeride World Qualifier at RMR Checking in on the Revelstoke DJ scene Builders push for better permit wait times in 2018 Home Style: Five winter home must-haves Home Style: A look inside the new Mackenzie Village development #revelstokemountaineer Instagram
Cover photo: Revelstoke photography Vincent Schnabl captures the crowd hiking to the summit of Mount Mackenzie at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
The Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine is a free monthly magazine featuring the best of Revelstoke outdoor life, food, style, visitor experiences, lifestyles, entertainment, home style, and healthy living.
Creative Director Aaron Orlando
Each month we distribute 3,000 free copies to over 200 public venues across Revelstoke, including accommodations, shops, restaurants, cafes, community centres, bars, and everywhere people meet. We are an independent, locally owned publication dedicated to showcasing our amazing mountain town and the great people who create the stoke. For more information, including details on advertising rates, please call, or visit our parallel online publication at www.revelstokemountaineer.com and click on the advertising tab.
Graphic Design Chris Payne
Mailing Address: PO BOX 112, 606 Railway Avenue, Revelstoke, B.C. V0E 2S0 Phone: 250-814-8710 Email: info@revelstokemountaineer.com
Contributors (L to R) Emily Kemp is a Revelstoke-based freelance journalist and frequent contributor to Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine and revelstokemountaineer.com
Imogen Whale is a Revelstoke-based writer. When she’s taking a break from the keyboard, you can find her riding her horse down at the Selkirk Saddle Club.
Matt Timmins is an Ontario-born photographer with a background in photojournalism. He moved to the Rockies in 2008, and made the move to Revelstoke three years later. His love for travel and the outdoors have kept him on the move the last couple of years, but he always finds his way back to Revelstoke. You can see his work at matthewtimminsphoto.com
Bryce Borlick Bryce Borlick is a local traveler, professional recreationalist, and a big small-thinker who can be found lost in the mountains in search of nothing in particular.
Heather Hood aspires to never be too serious, see the wonderment in every day life and take advantage of any opportunity to rhyme. She can always find an occasion to drink bubbly and has a great passion for wine. Emily Stone is a British ski bum and aspiring freelance adventure writer. Now on her third winter season, she can be found ripping through the glades at RMR or sinking pints of Mt. Begbie in the Last Drop. Melissa Jameson is the civic affairs reporter for Revelstoke Mountianeer Magazine and revelstokemountaineer.com. Contact Melissa with your news tips and story ideas at melissa@revelstokemountaineer.com, Claudia Bambi is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Revelstoke. Her illustrations are designed to transport you to an imaginary world of wonderment. Heidi Hopkins grew up in Rossland, B.C. and has called Revelstoke home for the past five years. After working as a wildland firefighter for seven years, she made the natural transition to … Interior Design through Ryerson University. She can be found skiing, biking, wearing a kimono or growing her business HOPKINS Interior Design.
Alex Cooper is a ski bum who spent the last eight years as a reporter and editor with the Revelstoke Review. He is currently riding his bike through the Andes in South America. You can follow his adventures on Instagram @lxdisaster or at alexcooperexplores.com. Cori Sorowka is a passionate world traveller and cook who’s recently pursued a career as a nutritionist. Her dedication to discovery and learning about different cultures and food has taken her to all corners of the globe and by last count the only continent she has yet to step foot on is Antarctica. Sarah j Spurr moved west five-and-a-half years ago from Kawartha Lakes, Ontario. My own world expands when I tread further, exploring new physical challenges alongside creative outlets. Here, I’m interested in connecting with others to showcase how they allow their own special blend of originality to flow. Living in the thick of this mountain environment what are you creating? Where does it stem from? Your story is soul food for the rest of us. Nicole Trigg is a journalist, communications contractor and yoga teacher based in the Columbia Valley. In her free time, she’s out in nature putting her ever-growing collection of outdoor gear to use.
Laura Hodge is a writer originally from the UK. A keen snowboarder and yoga enthusiast, Laura’s favourite things include powder days, long hikes and slowly working her way through the menus of Revelstoke’s many coffee shops. 2
NEWS BRIEFS
Too soon to tell if variable speed limits are working to reduce collisions B.C. Ministry of Transportation says it’s working to improve highway safety through Three Valley Gap Mountaineer News Briefs by Melissa Jameson B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation says it’s too soon to tell if the digital variable speed limit signs installed along the Trans-Canada Highway west of Revelstoke are improving road safety and reducing collisions. The Variable Speed Limit system (VSL) pilot program began in 2016. A transportation ministry spokesperson said the ministry currently does not have enough collision data to report on the overall benefits of the system. However, the spokesperson said the ministry
has seen “good compliance” when the VSL signs are displaying a lower speed. The goal of the variable speed limits is to improve driver safety during unfavourable weather conditions and reduce serious crashes in areas where weather patterns are prone to change quickly. Transportation ministry staff monitor road and weather conditions and adjust the speed limit on a real-time basis. The spokesperson said the ministry plans to install and test a new rock fall fence system at a select area of
The variable speed corridor west of Revelstoke. Photo: Melissa Jameson Three Valley Gap that can stand up to avalanches without compromising the effectiveness of four recently installed remote avalanche control systems. If successful, the system could then be expanded to other rock fall areas in the Three Valley Gap. A timeline for constructing a test section of the proposed fencing is not yet available as the fencing is currently in the preliminary design phase. The spokesperson said the ministry needs to address technical issues before it will be in a better position to determine construction timelines. Once fencing is installed, it will be monitored over time to see how it performs with regards to rock fall and snow avalanche activity.
The ministry recently spent $2.3 million on nine Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS) at Three Valley Gap. The system sets off smaller avalanches to reduce the chance of larger, uncontrolled avalanches. The RACS allow technicians to conduct avalanche control remotely, 24 hours a day. The ministry said this means the length of closures lengths in the area will be reduced by about 50%. This winter season, MVI incidents on the stretch have resulted in two fatalities and many more serious injuries and closures. As reported in the Mountaineer, a Revelstoke resident’s vehicle was pummelled by falling debris at Three Valley Gap late last fall.
Last Straw Campaign targets plastic straws; plastic bag ban initiative in the works Some businesses are supporting the effort, switching to environmentally friendly options A number of Revelstoke businesses are jumping on board with one woman’s efforts to eliminate the use of plastic straws. Tegan Dean got the idea to start the Revelstoke Last Straw campaign while eating at the Taco Club one night. She
noticed a group of men sitting at a table having drinks. Each time they ordered a drink it came with a new plastic straw. Dean began to do research online and found out other towns in Canada had created a ‘last straw’ campaign. Dean printed up posters to advertise
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the Revelstoke Last Straw campaign. She approached the Taco Club owners, who agreed to support the campaign. The Last Straw is now using paper straws and is only giving them out to people who request them. Dose Coffee has also eliminated the use of plastic straws and is now using bamboo straws and has re-usable bamboo cutlery people can purchase. Dean said the Modern Bakeshop & Cafe had already eliminated the use of plastic straws and Mountain Meals has glass straws available for purchase. The Regent Inn is planning to order biodegradable straws. “A lot of them are getting on board,” said Dean. Kate Borucz, executive director of the North Columbia Environmental Society, said the group is supportive of Dean’s efforts to eliminate the use of single-use plastic straws. Borucz said often people do not get to choose whether or not they want a straw. “A good example is a bartender [automatically] putting a plastic straw in drinks,” she said.
NEWS BRIEFS
Borucz said the NCES is working to raise awareness around single use plastics. The group is planning to approach businesses to take single use plastics out of their business plan. This would include eliminating the use of plastic straws as well as other single-use plastics, including shopping bags. Borucz said single-use plastic products are often a matter of convenience. She said most plastic products can be replaced with reusable, recyclable or biodegradable options. The NCES is planning to help businesses do a cost analysis to see the difference in pricing if they switch to more environmentally friendly products. The environmental society plans to approach Revelstoke city council to begin a discussion on eliminating single-use plastics completely. Borucz said, if their campaign is successful, it will likely take more than a year to phase out single-use plastics in the community.
Revelstoke sees 21.1% increase in single-family residential property values Largest increase in the Kootenay Columbia zone Revelstoke experienced the largest increase in single-family residential assessment in the Kootenay Columbia Zone. The average single family residential assessment in Revelstoke in 2017 jumped by 21.1 % over the same period in 2016, far ahead of the second-place Village of Midway, which increased by 14.2%. The average Revelstoke increase for all residential property types, including condos and other categories, was 18.62% The Kootenay Columbia region saw an overall increase in property values. BC Assessment Deputy Assesor Ramaish Shah said the majority of residential homeowners within the area can expect an increase in property values compared to 2016. He said some markets have moved more than others, noting
Revelstoke has seen a strong demand for housing in the past year. “Some areas have seen a decrease in demand as well, and this is reflected in the current assessed values,” said Shah The average assessed value of a Revelstoke single family residential home jumped from $360,000 as of July 1, 2016 to $436,000 as of July 1, 2017. BC Assessment is the provincial organization responsible for assessing property values in B.C. The organization released their annual assessment report on Jan. 2, just ahead of distribution of property assessment notices. Assessed property values are not directly related to an increase in property taxes. Residential homeowners can be assured their property taxes will not increase by 21.1%. Homeowners can visit
Housing values are on the rise in Revelstoke. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer
www.bcassessment.ca to find out the assessed value of their property increased by more or less than the 21.1% average increase. Homeowners whose assessed property values increased more than the average can expect to pay more property tax. Those with an assessed property value of less than the 21.1% average can expect to pay less in taxes. Taxes for a residential property assessed at the $436,000 average will amount to $3,464. This is a combined amount of $2,101 in municipal taxes and $1,362 in school, regional district and other taxes. The municipal tax rate is set at $4.78 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the school and other taxing authorities rate is set at $2.85 per $1,000. Revelstoke Mountaineer real estate columnist Emily Beaumont said third-quarter real estate statistics for
2017 show the average sale price for a single-family home at $458,000. This up from 2007 when Revelstoke experienced a significant increase in real estate prices directly linked to the development of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The average sale price for a single family home at that time was $440,000. In the interim years, property values dipped, but have now risen above the prices of the early RMR resort-hype era. Beaumont said there is an increased demand for housing under $400,000 and at fair market value. As of November 2017, inventory of houses valued at under $400,000 were sparse; there were only 43 single-family homes in total on the market.
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REVELSTOKE COMMUNITY CENTRE Carousel of Nations explores Revelstoke’s culture. Photo: Keri Knapp
Carousel of Nations celebrates Revelstoke’s diverse cultures
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Featuring
Performances by Dallas Arcand and Kokoma By Revelstoke Multicultural Society The Revelstoke Multicultural Society’s annual Carousel of Nations is shaping up to be a spectacular event this year. The free event celebrates Revelstoke’s diverse multicultural community with food, — entertainment, and interactive cultural displays. “The Revelstoke Multicultural Society is extremely pleased to be the catalyst to this event every year. To see the community support year in and year out for the last nine years is something that confirms our belief and mandate that Revelstoke is an open and welcoming community,” said Briana Sadler, Revelstoke Multicultural Society vice chair and Carousel of Nations entertainment coordinator. The theme of this year’s event is languages, focusing on the different ways communication occurs across cultures. “We decided to explore the theme of languages this year because we are fascinated with how we communicate our culture. We communicate through dance, history, food, art — we know that the Carousel of Nations brings this aspect of our community to the fore front,” said Sadler. Headlining this year’s entertainment are world champion Aboriginal Hoop Dancer Dallas Arcand and Kokoma, a Vancouver-based African heritage dance and drum ensemble. The Kokoma ensemble has spent the past 12 years performing throughout Canada and the U.S. Dallas is a three-time world champion hoop dancer who astounded the world with is hoop dancing at the 2010 Olympic Games opening ceremonies. Arcand joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he visited Revelstoke this past summer. “Dallas Arcand is the top Hoop Dancer in the world, we are just pleased he can fit us into his busy schedule! After us, he’s heading on a plane to South Korea for the 2018 winter Olympics!” said Sadler. Local performers are also featured as part of the event, with the Revelstoke Highlanders Pipe Band opening the event. New this year are acoustic performances located throughout the event. Acoustic performers confirmed are The Tappalchian String Band (Denis Serevino of the Revelstoke Coffee House) and Anna Fin, who will perform Russian folk songs. Local radio DJ Shaun Aquiline will once again act as emcee. Local food vendors will offer up an array of culturally diverse dishes. This year attendees can expect to find French, Chinese, Indian, Polish, Japanese, Aboriginal, and Vietnamese dishes. Food sampler tickets are $3 per plate. Food Coordinator Melissa Hemphill said the event is a great opportunity to showcase cultural traditions through food. The event also includes a number of interactive displays from various community groups, Looking Back in the Library – History Talks presentations, kids craft table and the very popular Kids Around the World activities. A Carousel of Nations takes place on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 3:30–7 p.m. at the Revelstoke Community Centre. 6
DALLAS ARCAND
KOKOMA
ABORIGINAL HOOP DANCING
AFRICAN HERITAGE ENSEMBLE
Food Vendors Sampler tickets $3/ea
French Groupe Culturel de Francophones de Revelstoke Chinese Kevin’s Kitchen Indian Paramjit’s Kitchen Polish Restless Nutrition Japanese Sakura Kitchen Aboriginal Revelstoke Aboriginal Friendship Society Vietnamese Minh Tuyet’s Vietnamese Bistro Chinese Queeny Chen
Performers 3:30 3:45 4:00 5:00 6:15
Revelstoke Highlanders Pipe Band Aboriginal Welcome Kokoma Dallas Arcand Kokoma
Acoustic sets throughout the event from The Tappalachian String Band + more.
KIDS AROUND THE WORLD 4:45-6:30 in the Senior’s Centre
INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS North Columbia Environmental Society Revelstoke Museum & Archives Revelstoke Railway Museum Revelstoke Pottery Guild Me to We Revelstoke Settlement Services Kids Crafts – The Kids Table
LOOKING BACK IN THE LIBRARY
HISTORY TALKS Dallas Arcand Revelstoke Museum & Archives Revelstoke Railway Museum Rosemary Tracy
SPONSORS
ENTERTAINMENT
Joe Matheson brings the legendary Hank Williams to life Legendary country music performances are proving popular in Revelstoke By Melissa Jameson If it was supposed to be a secret then the cat’s out of the bag: Revelstoke loves country music. Fans of the genre will have a chance to travel back to the golden age of country music when performer Joe Matheson takes on the persona of the legendary Hank Williams. Hank Williams Live —1952 takes the audience on a journey to the last concert performed by the “king of country music.” “The last year of his life everything went wrong for Hank, but for three or four months near the end of the year he had a burst of energy. He was recording, touring, on the radio. People were saying he was just like the old Hank. A couple of months later he died. I don’t know if he was making a comeback or if he was just making one last gasp and then his motor gave out,” said Matheson. Matheson, a former journalist who has been working as an actor for 30 years, began working on the script for Hank Williams Live — 1952 while performing a show called Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave at the Calgary Stampede in 2007. Matheson describes Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave as a dark, negative look at Hank Williams. He wanted to portray Hank in a different light, focusing on his larger than life characteristics. “I thought this guy was the ultimate performer. He was Elvis before there was Elvis. Women loved him. He was almost a stand-up comedian. He would get into it with the audience and go back and forth with them. Anytime I see a
documentary it’s always about what a jerk he was, that he was always drunk. That just wasn’t my view of him. Someone said to me, ‘Why don’t you write your own show?’” Matheson did and first performed the show at McPhillips Station Casino in 2007. After a five-year run Matheson and the rest of the band decided to call it quits. Two years later Matheson received a phone call from a friend in Halifax who runs a theatre there. The friend wanted to know if Matheson would consider bringing back Hank Williams Live to help out with a fundraiser. “It’s neat because after taking a break it’s fresh again and fun. I think everybody [in the band] missed hanging out. I think it was a good sign,” said Matheson. Miriam Manley, executive director of the Revelstoke Arts Council said they have noticed a real interest in legendary country-themed shows. Shows such as the Louisiana Hay Ride and Ring of Fire — Johnny Cash musical proved to be incredibly popular. This year the RAC chose to bring in Hank Williams Live — 1952, after it came highly recommended from a friend of chair Carol Palladino. “We’re trying to play on what the audience enjoys and wants. It’s a genre people love,” said Manley. Matheson grew up in Saskatchewan listening to country music, but confesses he wasn’t really a fan of Hank Williams then. It wasn’t until he began to work on the script for Hank Williams Live that he began to realize he already knew three-quarters of Hank’s musical reper-
Joe Matheson channels Hank Williams on Feb. 28 at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. Photo: handout toire. He says that it was likely through osmosis as Matheson’s dad was a fan of Hank Williams. Matheson jokes that although his dad was a fan of Hank, he didn’t teach his son to play guitar and he certainly didn’t sit on the front porch playing guitar and singing. “There was a magazine article that said that. I don’t know where the guy got that from. My dad didn’t play guitar at all and he was a terrible singer, but very enthusiastic. He loved to dance. The great
thing about Hank’s music is basically it’s dance music. It was for the dance hall. As far as Hank was concerned if you couldn’t dance to it, get rid of it.” Hank Williams Live —1952 takes place on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by visiting revelstokeartscouncil.com or calling 250-814-9325. Tickets are also available at the Revelstoke Visitors Centre.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 3PM
RE/MAX Revelstoke Family Series. Since 1992, The “Nearly World-Famous” DuffleBag Theatre has traveled the globe with their original adaptations of fairy tales and classic stories.
TICKETS: ADULTS $10, KIDS $5 Available at the Visitor Centre & online at www.revelstokeartscouncil.com
Robin Hood
by Dufflebag Theatre 7
February 2018
EVENTS
Visit revelstokemountaineer.com/calendar for more details and to submit your own event for FREE for inclusion online and in our monthly print calendar.
Weekly Events Mondays
Community board games night @ Revelstoke Alliance Church 6:30 p.m.–9 p.m. Every second Monday join in an evening of table top games including:card games, board games, dice games, tile games, RPG, strategy, co-operative, and creative games. Valley Social (Industry Night) @ The Last Drop Pub 9 p.m.—11:45 p.m. Revelstoke’s hottest industry night takes place every Monday at the Last Drop Pub.
Tuesdays
Meditation @ Balu Yoga 7 a.m.–7:30 a.m. Join instructor Anna Finn for free meditation every Tuesday morning. Knitting Club @ Revelstoke Library 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m. All crafters welcome! Crochet, cross-stitch, knit, embroider. Extra wool and needles for beginners. Revelstoke Community Band Rehearsal @ Columbia Park Elementary 7 p.m.–9 p.m. The Revelstoke Community Band meets every second Tuesday evening. New members are always welcome. Bring your instrument and desire to play music in a relaxed and fun setting. Trivia Night by PubStumpers @ Last Drop Pub 7:30 p.m. PubStumpers is a whirlwind of trivia, presented in numerous forms, which stimulates the mind and challenges players’ knowledge on a vast array of topics. Hip Hop Tuesdays @ Traverse 9 p.m. All hip hop all night every Tuesday at Traverse. Free cover and free pool.
Wednesdays
Locals Night @ The Cabin 6 p.m. Locals can enjoy bowling for $3 a game every Wednesday night. Spanish Conversation @ Revelstoke Library 6:30 p.m.–8p.m. Practice your Spanish conversation skills. Open Mic Night @ The Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. The Last Drop welcomes all jammers and singers. Come out and join in with a friendly relaxed atmosphere from 10 p.m. Brown Bag History @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives 8
Five Alarm Funk perform at Traverse on Feb. 28. Photo: Maggie MacPherson
12:15 p.m.—1 p.m. Every other Wednesday listen to museum curator Cathy English present about Revelstoke history topics.
Thursdays
Winter Market @ Revelstoke Community Centre 1 p.m.—5 p.m. The Winter Market features farm and craft vendors from Revelstoke and beyond. It is held every second Thursday afternoon at the Revelstoke Community Centre. Karaoke Night @ River City Pub 9:30 p.m.—11:45 p.m. Sing your heart out every Thursday night at the River City Pub. Free of charge.
Fridays
Drop-in Curling @ Revelstoke Curling Club 7 p.m. Drop-in curling takes place at the Revelstoke Curling Club every Friday night.
February Events Friday, February 2 Anything Goes art auction @ Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre 7 p.m. Support the Visual Arts Centre by attending their annual fundraiser and bidding on a selection of 12x12 works of art made by local artists. Tickets $15 at the centre or Art First. Revelstoke Grizzlies Home Game @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Robbie C @ Traverse 9 p.m.–2 a.m. DJ Robbie C has built a name for himself having played a number of notable electronic music festivals including Motion Notion, FozzyFest, Vibrant and Shambhala. The Slam Dogs @ Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. The Slam Dogs play classic rock at the Last Drop Pub. Saturday, February 3 Banked Slalom@ Revelstoke Mountain Resort All-day Test yourself against competitors in the second RMR Banked Slalom presented by Trapper Snowboards. $60 entry fee. Carousel of Nations 4p.m.—7p.m. The Revelstoke Multicultural Society presents its annual Carousel of Nations. Enjoy multicultural food, entertainment and more!
Revelstoke Grizzlies Home Game @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Revelstoke Grizzlies. The Slam Dogs @ Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. The Slam Dogs play classic rock at the Last Drop Pub. Sunday, February 4 Banked Slalom@ Revelstoke Mountain Resort All-day Test yourself against competitors in the second RMR Banked Slalom presented by Trapper Snowboards. $60 entry fee. Tuesday, February 6 Revelstoke Grizzlies Home Game @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Wednesday, February 7 Headlamp Heroes @ Mt. Macpherson Ski Trails 6:30 p.m. The Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club hosts the Headlamp Heroes Wednesday Night Race Series. $2 entry, trail fee extra for non-passholders. Visit revelstokenordic.org for more information. Thursday, February 8 Matt Blais @ The Last Drop Pub 4 p.m. Indie rocker Matt Blais performs at The Last Drop. Friday, February 9 Revelstoke Grizzlies Home Game @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Columbia River Basin:Reconciling the Past for a Better Future (7 part series) @ St Francis of Assisi Church 6:30p.m.–8p.m. A discussion on the Columbia Basin through history. This week’s topic is Latest Human History: Dam Building in the Upper Columbia River (19602014) Mat the Alien @ Traverse 9 p.m. DJ Mat the Alien performs at Traverse. Tiger Moon @ The Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. Romp-stompin’ folk band Tiger Moon play at the Last Drop Pub.
EVENTS
Matt Blais performs at the Last Drop Pub Feb. 8. Photo: Tyler Branston
Saturday, February 10 Youth Day @ Revelstoke Snowmobile Club All-day The third annual Youth Day includes snowmobile safety instructors, Avalanche Canada, Revelstoke Search and Rescue, Revelstoke Snow Patrol, and the RCMP. Youth 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For more information contact kburkeinrevy@gmail.com. Team Scream at @ Mt Macpherson Ski Area 11 a.m. Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club hosts Team Scream, a tropical-themed Nordic ski race. For details visit revelstokenordic.org.
Dufflebag Theatre tells the classic tale of Robin Hood on Feb. 24 at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. Photo: Sam Gaetz
Thursday, February 15 WiL @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre 7 p.m Contemporary roots artist WiL performs at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. Tickets at revelstokeartscouncil.com. Friday, February 16 Revelstoke Grizzlies Home Game @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m.—10 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
Skatepark fundraiser @ Traverse 7 p.m. Raffles, silent auction, tons of prizes, and live music performances. All proceeds go to the CVSA for the new skatepark. Admission by donation.
Saturday, February 17 February Rail Jam @ Revelstoke Mountain Resort 5:30 p.m. Features will be set up on the Last Spike next to the Turtle Creek tubing lanes for an open format jam. $10 entry. Helmets are mandatory and a $20 bib deposit is required in addition to entry.
Revelstoke Grizzlies Home Game @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
Revelstoke Grizzlies Home Game @ Revelstoke Forum 7 p.m.—10 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
Windigo @ The Last Drop Pub 10 p.m. Calgary-based Windigo play indie-rock, psychedelia, jazz, funk and grunge.
Sunday, February 18 Hank Williams Live – 1952 @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre 7:30 p.m. Joe Matheson has been dubbed “the quintessential voice of Hank Williams.” This fully scripted theatre piece is Joe’s personal tribute to the King of Country Music. Tickets $30.
Monday, February 12 Banff Mountain Festival World Tour @ Roxy Theatre 6 p.m. The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce presents the 2017/18 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Tickets $20 available at the Revelstoke Visitor Centre. Tuesday, February 13 Banff Mountain Festival World Tour @ Roxy Theatre 6 p.m. The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce presents the 2017/18 Banff Mountain Film Festival Wednesday, February 14 Free Weddings & Vow Renewals @ Revelstoke Mountain Resort 12 p.m.–2p.m. Renew your vows or get married at the Mackenzie Outpost at the top of the gondola. A Justice of the Peace will be set up. If you’re tying the knot make sure to stop by the Courthouse and grab your marriage license first. Banff Mountain Festival World Tour @ Roxy Theatre 6 p.m. The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce presents the 2017/18 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Tickets $20 available at the Revelstoke Visitor Centre.
Thursday, February 22 Mostly Wanted: Dry, Cold, Canadian Winter Tour @ The Last Drop Pub 8 p.m. Mostly Wanted perform the best hits of the ‘90s, 2000s and original songs. Friday, February 23 Columbia River Basin:Reconciling the Past for a Better Future (7 part series) @ St Francis of Assisi Church 6:30p.m.–8p.m. A discussion on the Columbia Basin through history. This week’s topic will focus on future recommendations and priorities for reconciliation in the Columbia River Basin. The Nova Scotiables @ Traverse 9 p.m. High energy maritime revue band bring an unconventional approach to traditional, original and contemporary maritime music. Saturday, February 24 Heritage Day: Heritage stands the test of time @ Revelstoke Museum & Archives All day Celebrate Heritage Week in BC. There is an all day
The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour makes its way to Revelstoke Feb. 12. This year’s signature image is of Larry Shiu climbing Cascade Mountain in Banff National Park. Photo: John Price. downtown scavenger hunt and children’s activities taking place. There will be a downtown heritage walking tour starting at the museum at 10 a.m. and a heritage slide show at 3 p.m. Robin Hood by Dufflebag Theatre @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre 3 p.m. While the King is away, the people of England suffer under the oppressive rule of his tax-happy brother, Prince John. Only a straight arrow like Robin Hood, the best archer in the land, can save England! 3 p.m. Adults $10, kids $5. Relative Jazz @ Regent Inn (Selkirk Room). 7 p.m. The Revelstoke Jazz Club presents local favourites Relative Jazz. John Baker, Wendy Lucas, Bob Fournier, and SteveEarle play their takes on jazz favourites from past and present. Admission by donation. The Nova Scotiables @ Traverse 9 p.m. High energy Maritime revue band bring an unconventional approach to traditional, original and contemporary maritime music. Wednesday, February 28 Headlamp Heroes @ Mt. Macpherson Ski Trails 6:30 p.m. The Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club hosts the Headlamp Heroes Wednesday Night Race Series. $2 entry, trail fee extra for non-pass holders. Visit revelstokenordic.org for more information. Movies in the Mountains presents The Other Side of Hope @ Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. 7:30 p.m. A failing restaurant owner hires a young Syrian refugee he finds sleeping in the inner yard of the restaurant, in this Silver Bear– winning dramedy from acclaimed Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki. Rated PG-13. Tickets $8. Five Alarm Funk@ Traverse 9p.m.—2a.m. Five Alarm Funk is an eight-piece funk band out of Vancouver known for their hard-hitting performances. 9
OUTDOOR LIFE
Rogers Pass winter permit violations cause concern for the future of the system Skiers and snowboarders who head into the Rogers Pass backcountry without complying with the Winter Permit System aren’t just jeopardizing access to one of North America’s most iconic ski touring areas, but an avalanche control program that’s protecting the lives of thousands of people every day By Nicole Trigg On the afternoon of December 13, 2017, a Parks Canada avalanche staff member discovered ski tracks in Macdonald West, one of five sections of Glacier National Park permanently closed to the touring public for avalanche control under the Winter Permit System. Word spread quickly through the local ski touring community. When news of the incursion reached Douglas Sproul, he sounded the alarm with an emotional plea on the Revelstoke Ski Tourers Facebook page that quickly went viral, causing several major news outlets to pick up the story, including CBC and CTV News. “THIS CANNOT HAPPEN EVEN ONCE MORE, NADA, NEVER, GET IT?” he wrote. “We, as the public that are so fortunate to be able to access these areas, MUST come together to ACT NOW.” According to Sproul, his message is simple: touring at Rogers Pass is a complex endeavour and anyone who does it should be able to understand how the Winter Permit System works and why. “I don’t think a lot of people get what’s really going on up there,” he told Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine. “Not only is it a national park with their own regulations, the Canadian Armed Forces are involved, and the military is black and white: there’s no ‘in the middle.’ They can’t be out there lining up their Howitzer — that’s a gun made for war — and have no confidence. It has to be yes or no. Is there anyone up there? No. Period.” 10
To say Rogers Pass during the winter months is a busy place is an understatement. Not only is it the ski touring mecca of B.C. (Parks Canada logged 17,000 skier visits to the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre in 2015–2016), it’s a transportation corridor of vital national importance. Each day in the winter, upwards of 3,000 vehicles travel the pass on the Trans-Canada Highway. Add to that the 24 to 32 trains using the Canadian Pacific Railway line and it’s easy to see why the Department of National Defence is involved in ensuring the travelling public stays safe. Enter Operation Palaci, the longest-running military operation in Canadian history. Operation Palaci is the mobile avalanche control program for Rogers Pass that’s been in effect in Glacier National Park since 1961. It covers a 40-kilometre stretch of highway with 134 different avalanche slide paths. Parks Canada provides the avalanche forecasting intel and the Canadian Armed Forces handle the 105 mm Howitzer field artillery weapon that targets slopes along the highway to routinely bring down controlled avalanches before they naturally occur on a larger scale and wreak havoc on the transportation corridor below. Winter backcountry access in and around Operation Palaci used to be out of the question. But in 1995, Parks Canada began issuing winter permits to give access to skiable terrain that was previously off limits. Today the Winter Permit System divides Glacier National Park into three areas: Winter
A Canadian Forces artillery team triggers an avalanche at Rogers Pass, part of an operation dating back to 1961. Photo: Aaron Orlando/RMM Unrestricted Areas (open any time), Winter Restricted Areas (open or closed depending on whether avalanche control is planned for that area that day), and Winter Prohibited Areas (permanently closed). Any backcountry skier or snowboarder in Rogers Pass who has done their homework knows they need to stay out of the prohibited areas, check the status of any restricted areas on a daily basis, and have a permit to enter any restricted areas that are open. The incident on December 13 is still under investigation, but according to Parks spokesperson Shelly Bird, it wasn’t an isolated incident. So far this winter, there have been 11 parking related Winter Permit Area infractions (people parking in Winter Restricted Area parking lots that were flagged as “closed”) and a second incident where people went into a closed restricted area. During the 2016–2017 winter season, there were 35 infractions, the majority of which were again related to parking, but five were incidents of people entering closed areas that resulted in court appearances. One of those incidents involved a trio of skiers caught skiing in a restricted area closed for avalanche control. Two members of the group had been caught skiing in the same area without a permit two days earlier, and all three were fined. Notwithstanding, the Winter Permit System is generally regarded as a successful program, said Bird. The 2016– 2017 winter season saw 3,839 daily winter permits issued, and 2,218 annual permits (annual pass users typically go more than once). “The majority of backcountry users in Glacier National Park are compliant and are very supportive,” she said. “But in the long term, if non-compliance were to become an issue then we’d definitely have to re-evaluate the system, and what we open and what we would have to keep closed.” In response to the December 13 incident, Bird said consideration was given
to closing the restricted area adjacent to the prohibited area that was illegally accessed to ensure other skiers didn’t accidentally follow the tracks in. “But once new snow fell and covered up those tracks, that was no longer a concern.” Snowpack monitoring as well as avalanche control take place in prohibited and closed restricted areas. The Macdonald West area is permanently off limits because it’s one of the crucial monitoring sites needed for snow study to determine when avalanche control action is required. “There are good reasons these places are permanently closed,” said Sproul. “They need pristine areas that haven’t had ski tracks through them for digging snow pits and doing profiles. And the (Macdonald West) area that actually got poached is notoriously some of the worst skiing at Rogers Pass from a snowpack perspective. It’s just heinous there. It has some of the most dangerous avalanche conditions in Rogers Pass for that reason.” Author of the preeminent guidebook Rogers Pass: Uptracks, Bootpacks, & Bushwhacks, Sproul wants to ensure continued access to what he calls the birthplace of North American mountaineering. He’s hopeful a GPS-enabled app that Parks Canada is developing complete with real-time Winter Permit Area status and maps will help backcountry users keep track of where they are, and he urges Rogers Pass regulars to spread awareness and help educate the public. “When I first got here, it was prior to 1995. You couldn’t ski anything facing the highway and that’s what we face if this system gets shut down,” he said. “It’s incredible the amount of effort and work Parks has put into the Winter Permit System. It’s amazing what they have done.” Maps, how to get permits, and details about the Winter Permit System can all be found at www.pc.gc.ca/skirogerspass.
NEWS
B.C. Family Day date change a negative for Revelstoke tourism businesses Local organizations lobby against date change to align with Alberta’s Family Day By Melissa Jameson B.C.’s provincial government appears set to change B.C. Family Day to align with other provinces by 2019. It’s a plan that isn’t sitting well with the Revelstoke Accommodation Association (RAA) and the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce. Both organizations say changing the date of B.C.’s Family Day will negatively affect Revelstoke’s tourism-based sector. B.C.’s Family Day currently falls on the second Monday in February, while Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick all observe the holiday on the third Monday in February. In a statement to the Mountaineer, Minister of Labour Harry Bains said Premier John Horgan made it clear last fall the plan was to change Family Day to line-up with other provinces by 2019. The Family Day Act was passed in 2012 under premier Christy Clark. The second Monday in February was chosen in order to help promote tourism and to allow B.C. residents to enjoy visiting winter tourist destinations in the province on their own day. Vancouver resident Andrew Johns began an online petition in 2015 pushing to change the date of B.C’s Family Day to align with other provinces. The petition argues not having B.C.’s Family Day on the same day as other provinces hinders the
ability of families to connect, which he said is the intention of the holiday. Johns also argues federal employees still find themselves working during Family Day weekend. Family Day is not a national statutory holiday, meaning even if the date was changed, federal employees would still be required to work. Meghan Tabor, RAA marketing manager, said having B.C.’s Family Day separate from other provinces allows for the number of tourists to be spread out over two weekends. She said aligning B.C.’s Family Day with other provinces’ family days would overrun the community and create a negative experience for tourists. The RAA has signed a petition created by the Tourism Association of BC asking the province to keep Family Day on the second Monday in February. Jana Thompson, executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce, agrees having B.C.’s Family Day on the same day as other provinces will create a hectic weekend for local businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized businesses. Thompson said chambers in most tourism-based communities in B.C. align with Revelstoke’s wish to keep B.C.’s Family Day separate. The Revelstoke chamber, along with chambers in Golden, Fernie, Invermere and other tourism-based communities, has sent letters to Minister Hogan urging him not to change the date of B.C.’s Family Day. Thompson said changing the holiday by a week will not only align it with the rest of Canada, but also with President’s Week in the U.S. “The economic impact to Revelstoke would be massive,” said Thompson. At their 2017 convention, a large majority of Union of British Columbia Municipality mayors and councillors voted in favour of the switch, despite a vocal opposition led by resort town mayors and councillors. Minister Hogan said the province will be looking to engage with British Columbians to ensure there is a smooth transition for the planned date change for Family Day in 2019.
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NEWS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and family dine at Revelstoke’s Chubby Funsters The Revelstoke Mountaineer got a hot tip on a Justin Trudeau family vacation sighting in Revelstoke By Aaron Orlando The Revelstoke Mountaineer got a hot tip on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 6: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was sitting down for dinner with his family and friends at Chubby Funsters restaurant in Grizzly Plaza. Now, if you’re looking to make it as a paparazzi in Revelstoke, I’ll be up front: you’re going to starve. We get lots of mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding and sledding A-listers, but real-world A-list celebs are few and far between. So, a few moments later, I walked into the busy restaurant and made the eyeball confirmation. Trudeau, his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and children were dining with friends at the nice table next to the glowing fireplace. In true Canadian style, half of the diners at the busy restaurant seemed to be trying hard to act as if it was no big deal — you know, just the Prime Minister over at the next table. Most of the other half seemed like American tourists who were likely oblivious to the Prime Minister’s presence, or at least they were more interested in the Atlanta Falcons vs. Los Angeles Rams game on the TVs. The other segment was the Prime Minister’s security detail, doing their best to blend in. I mingled in the waiting area and went with the flow. While waiting, it made me realize my Canadian-ness would mean I’d starve as a paparazzi, even if I lived in LA. Just ten feet away, I could have slapped my flash on my Nikon and got a nice bird’s-eye photo of the family as they tucked into dinner. But that seemed a little gauche. So, I decided to retreat outside and wait for the exit shot. It wasn’t long before the Prime Minister’s security detail was on to me. I moved my car across the Regent Inn parking lot so it would be better positioned to exit with the motorcade. Right
away, one of the security detail walked over to my car to get my license plate. He came over and introduced himself, asking for my name, what I was doing and all that. I explained I was just the local news looking for a photo. A few moments later a courteous woman named Linda came over and introduced herself as the head of the Prime Minister’s security detail. She said she could relay my request for a photo to Trudeau. After a while, she came back with a no. She emphasized that Trudeau was on vacation with his family, and that he didn’t like photos during family time. Again, this made me feel bad, and reconfirmed my realization that I would never make it as a paparazzi. I thanked her for her assistance, but said I’d be around for the exit shot anyway. Outside, I sussed out the scene. The back entrance was shoveled, so I’d have to cover both exits. I found a spot to shelter from the snow under one of the Grizzly Plaza tourism kiosks. Local artist Bruce Thomas was walking home from his studio while I was standing there and asked me what was up. “What are you doing, dealing drugs?” he asked. I explained that I was staking out a shot of Justin Trudeau, who was inside at Chubby Funsters. He started to tell me a story about how one of his friends went to university with him at McGill University. I had to cut him off. It was just then that the motorcade of big, black, tinted-out Suburbans rounded the corner from Victoria and made their way up Mackenzie Avenue. I made my move. In the end, it was a little anticlimactic. I walked towards the front door with the two security detail members who were now following me around. “That’s close enough,” said the big one as I neared the motorcade. Justin Trudeau walked out the front door first, holding his youngest son Hadrien. It wasn’t the awkward paparaz-
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and son Hadrien leave Chubby Funsters on Jan. 6. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer zi scene I envisioned at all. Trudeau walked up to me and shook my hand and posed for the photo. We chatted for about a minute. I asked him about dinner and why he chose to vacation in Revelstoke. I wasn’t recording, but more or less he said dinner was fantastic and that he’s in town for the great mountain. After I got the snaps, I got back into my car and followed the motorcade to where the family is staying. Now that I had the photo, the only point of follow-
basic ski/board
ing the motorcade was to find out where the Trudeau family was staying — some extra details to dish. When we reached the destination, the garage door went up, the motorcade went in to even more waiting security, then the door went down. So, where was he staying? I’ll have to defer to my Canadian-ness and return a favour to courteous security detail chief Linda, so I’ll just say it’s somewhere under a blanket of Revelstoke snow, lit by a warm fireplace glow.
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ENVIRONMENT
Dams: The damage and damage control of large-scale dams By Imogen Whale/North Columbia Environmental Society Revelstoke is synonymous with large dams; Revelstoke, Hugh Keenleyside, and Mica dams have changed the ecology and biodiversity of the area. Changing watercourses is nothing new for humanity. The Roman Empire is responsible for building aqueducts throughout Europe thousands of years ago, but the scale of dams and water control has never been as large as it is today. Locally, dams have become an integral piece of infrastructure in British Columbia. Dams offer inexpensive hydroelectric power, are a significant financial contributor to provincial programs, provide flood protection and areas to recreate. But it’s not all a good thing. That massive dams have long reaching environmental impacts is now taken as fact. This story is dedicated to learning about the ecological changes dams cause and the corrective mitigation techniques being utilized locally. It isn’t taking into account the social structures that are irrevocably changed, such as the flooding of existing communities. Environmentally, a known impact has been the disruption of spawning and migration routes for anadronous (ocean maturing) salmon like the chinook. Damming of the Columbia River has resulted in the loss of 30% of Arrow Lake’s kokanee spawning grounds, as well as spawning grounds of rainbow and bull trout. While the land-locked versions still spawn locally, they are smaller than their ocean faring cousins, who have not swam in the Arrow Lakes for over 75 years, since the construction of the Bonneville Dam on the lower Columbia River. Many are working hard to repatriate salmon to the Columbia. The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Science Advisory Report 2009/075 states the decline in chinook, in part from the construction of hydroelectric dams, and part from overfishing, correlates with and is one reason why there is a population reduction of southern resident orcas in the Northern Pacific Ocean. Orcas’ primary food source is chinook. What happens in the interior mountains affects the distant coast. Fortunately for Revelstoke, the large local reservoirs are set in bedrock foreshores and have glacier fed tributaries, so there is no issue with the siltation of reservoirs and head points (small reservoirs). Regardless of placement, dam and 14
reservoir fragmentation of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and can result in loss of species, their diversity and abundance. So how is damage mitigated? With the large environmental impacts comes the desire to learn more and do better in the future. Companies are investing in mitigating the impacts of their dams and BC Hydro has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade learning about and tailoring their reservoir operations to be as least disruptive as possible to the surrounding ecology. We contacted Giles Shearing, who has an MSc specializing in fisheries and fluvial geomorphology, to ask about what a company like BC Hydro might do to lessen their impact. Shearing is a Revelstoke resident who is passionate about the environment, and is the Principal and Lead Consultant at SEC Consultants. “It’s important to remember that with large dams, rivers are turned into lakes and therefore the ecology changes. There are more than 800,000 small dams worldwide and lots of large dams,” Shearing explains. “Each dam and reservoir have different biotic and abiotic characteristics that requires unique and specific mitigation. My comments are related to dams, not surrounding infrastructure like roads and right of ways for transmission lines.” Shearing notes that hydroelectric companies use a variety of means to try and lessen their environmental impact. “These can include ramping rates. A ramping rate is how quickly water elevations or flow rates can change,” Shearing explains. “There are also minimum flow requirements, which ensure the river has enough water to maintain productivity.” He adds that target flows help reduce the morality of target species of fish, birds and wildlife. With smaller dams, gravel can be added downstream of the dam to ensure successful fish spawning and rearing. “There is no doubt that regional ecology is altered,” Shearing says. “Dams have an impact and there are many people working very hard to understand, minimize and or eliminate these impacts.” For example, reservoirs often struggle with low phytoplankton, an important food for higher trophic levels, a necessity to ensure healthy aquatic systems.
Once thought of as a green solution to energy needs, large-scale hydro dams like Revelstoke Dam are now facing increased criticism for a host of environmental issues they create. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer According to the Royal BC Museum exhibit Living Landscapes, the Arrow Lakes suffer from a lack of seasonal blooms. The lakes are now being fertilized in an attempt to increase biomass, ensuring healthy fish populations. Intriguingly, the consequence of dams have entered into the climate change discussions. “The risks of rivers in the world during and after climate change are not well known,” Shearing elaborates. “Some scientists think dams may have the ability to attenuate the warm-
ing effect of climate change by using their storage capacity to release flows that match historical discharges and/or ensure enough cold water.” The fact remains that dams, how they work, how they affect the world around them and, finally, how companies are trying to alleviate these effects, is a huge subject and requires a far larger scope than this story can allow.
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HEATH & WELLNESS
Newly renovated osteopathy wellness clinic opens on First Street East A local Revelstoke clinic has increased its offerings as residents turn to osteopathy and natural health solutions By Emily Kemp The holistic practice of osteopathy is still relatively unknown — I personally had never heard of it before this article but apparently it’s been around for a long time. Like since 1874 long-time. There are two branches of osteopathy but the more well-known manual practice is growing in Canada. It’s common in eastern Canada with the 1,300-member Ostéopathie Québec pushing for it to become professionally recognized. But it has been growing in B.C. after the Canadian School of Osteopathy opened in Vancouver over a decade ago. There are just under 100 members of Osteopathy B.C. and they are slowly trickling out into regional B.C. “A lot of the small towns are slowly starting to have osteopaths and that shows they are being accepted in the community,” osteopathy practitioner Anouk Jarrige said. She owns Revelstoke Osteopathy & Wellness with her partner William Jarrige and they claim to be one of the most affordable in the province. Which is a good thing for Revelstokians because on the other side of our get-after-it outdoor identity is a host of sports injuries and general body pains that crop up through life. Revelstoke Osteopathy has run in Revelstoke for about three years now and last month they reopened in their new premises on 222 First Street East, a calm mountain-style clinic with wood furnishings and warm lighting. They added Wellness to their name as they now include a more rounded offering bringing registered massage therapist (RMT) Kimberly Hayes onboard and naturopathic doctor Dr. Kim Nidderly, ND (Dr. Kim). Hayes, who has been an RMT here for about three of her six years’ experience, notes that locals take the same enthusiasm to their health as they do the outdoors.
From left: Dr. Kim Niddery, Kimberley Hayes, RMT and osteopathic practitioners Anouk Sanchez and William Jarrige. Photo: Matthew Timmins/Revelstoke Mountaineer “The neatest thing in Revelstoke is their desire to get better, take their own health into their own hands,” Kimberly said. “Which is pretty promising for a community. It gets me excited because when they’re interested in healing it actually happens.” Dr. Kim, who begins at the clinic this year, has a similar impression. “My friend who is an RMT often tells me that she sees people who they’ve allotted their day to see their physio, their RMT, and acupuncturist,” she said. Dr. Kim describes her work as complementary and integrated with conventional medicine. She is a licensed naturopath in B.C. and has prescribing rights so she’s able to determine if antibiotics are needed and won’t hesitate to refer a patient to a doctor or hospital if other medical attention is needed. “We take a holistic view that is utilising more natural remedies first and really take the time with patients,” she said. “It’s not supposed to be alternate, it’s coupled.”
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Keeping the zombie you at bay: the not so secret ingredient for keeping pace with the pros Want to be faster on the uptrack? Focus on the essentials: the right healthy foods. By Cori Sorowka, CHN It’s 4 p.m. Hangry symptoms are beginning to surface, and tunnel vision for a poutine and beer from Revy’s nearest restaurant seems to be the only logical option. A nap sounds pretty good too. This was the state of my boyfriend after a day in the backcountry ski touring. Mumbles in zombie language was the extent of feedback I would get until he consumed anything edible as if he hadn’t eaten for days. Slowly, zombie-man would retreat and signs of the man I knew would return. I rarely see the hangry zombie these days. Not for lack of hard ski days, but due to his conscious effort to periodically refuel himself with one of our most basic needs of human life, nourishing food. This may seem completely obvious, but sometimes in the midst of the exhilarating feeling we get going down that heart-pumping line, or the rush of dropping 20-foot cliffs on Mt. Begbie, our brains create excuses and the feeling of hunger gets pushed aside. At some point, you finally notice the hollowness in your midsection and the only message your brain receives is “Caution: further functioning requires food.” Filling that void with convenient junk food may feel satisfying at the time, but one day, maybe not so far away, your body will reach its limit when it cannot effectively process the junk anymore and it will start shutting down, one function
at a time. During prolonged exercise, without replenishment with nourishing food to maintain blood glucose levels, our muscle and liver glycogen stores get depleted, causing fatigue and reduced performance, increasing our risk for injury (which can be a near death sentence for some of the inhabitants of Revelstoke). A drop in blood glucose can cause light-headedness and a lack of concentration. Sound familiar? I checked in with a couple of our local athletes, Izzy Lynch and Andrew McNab, to see how they keep up energy levels while adventuring on the mountains. Both rely on energy-dense snacks full of complex carbohydrates to munch on, and taking short breaks to avoid stopping for too long and getting cold. Izzy’s freezer is full of homemade granola bars and energy balls and she always has a Thermos full of herbal tea or miso soup to drink when it’s cold out. Andrew’s energy sustaining breakfast before a day of touring sounded so good I couldn’t wait to try it myself! Pancakes made with bananas, nut butter and eggs topped with antioxidant rich berries? Whoever said eating well tasted like unseasoned cardboard obviously never tried these out for a morning meal. Another helpful tip from the pros is the importance of always having some extra emergency food with you in case your adventure ends up being longer than expected, or you’re outputting more energy than you thought. Izzy
Power to the peak with healthy snacks. Photo: Zoya Lynch always has an emergency energy bar or two buried in the bottom of her pack. Try a few of these on your next adventure for more power: • Homemade energy balls (One of many recipes: dates, cacao nibs, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, honey, blackstrap molasses, pinch of sea salt – throw in a food processor and roll into balls, sprinkle with coconut – voila!) • Dark chocolate (70% or more) • Seeds and nuts (not ones labelled “roasted” – these were most likely deepfried. Yuck!) • Coffee, tea, miso soup or bone broth • Raw veggies (carrots, broccoli, cucumber, celery, etc.) or dehydrated veggies like seaweed • Good quality cheese • Boiled eggs • Jerky or pre-cooked nitrite-free bacon/chicken/steak from local sources Revelstoke also has many local shops with snack choices; Le Marche Gourmet, Mountain Goodness, The Modern to name a few. Try making them yourself though, with a little creativity you can save some money and get the good stuff for that extra bout of liveliness! Things to avoid when choosing energy sustaining foods: • Anything processed, refined, packaged or fried – these aren’t doing you any favours • Trans fats and industrial seed oils (corn, cottonseed, soybean, safflower, and canola), industrial animal fat and excessive sugars – CHECK INGREDI-
ENTS • Artificial additives, colours and preservatives Additional recommendations for keeping that awesome energy for adventure days: • Have a nourishing breakfast with protein, good fat and deeply coloured veggies and fruit (eggs, nitrite-free bacon, dark leafy greens, berries, smoothies, avocadoes, even steak!) For an extra boost of goodness, Izzy adds homemade cashew-date milk to her morning coffee … yum! • Eat complex carbs (not refined) within two hours after exercising to replenish your glycogen stores – try whole-grain rice, ancient grains and starchy colourful (not white) veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots or beets • More from the pro, Izzy suggests, “if you’re anticipating a big day, drink lots of water the night before,” this will help keep your body in a state of euhydration Giving your body the food energy to prolong fatigue can make any day a better day. Reaching that fading point never quite seems worth it at the time. It’s not easy avoiding the junk; even our local professionals Izzy and Andrew get those cravings for burgers and fries or potato chips and beer! We’re only human, but every effort counts, so keep those bellies full of nutritious and delicious snacks. Stay healthy Revelstoke and surprise yourself with what you can accomplish with more energy!
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OUTDOORS
For local ski guides like Marty Schaffer of CAPOW!, they aren’t all bluebird days, but then again, some of them are. Photo: Craig McGee
Guiding principles So you want to be a ski guide? By Bryce Borlick It was a beautiful day to die. The sun shined brightly on the south Purcells and spirits were high as a group of five skiers ascended a tree lined ridge, led by their ACMG certified ski guide. Steady northwest winds in recent days had prompted the guide to avoid an adjacent open slope and now, as he noted a trio of skiers beginning their descent of that face, he was happy with his decision. Watching from a safe vantage point, he saw a skier’s worst nightmare unfold: avalanche. The downhill trio was quickly engulfed in the tumbling white mass, taken a couple hundred meters downhill, and sent rocketing over a 20-metre cliff band before eventually coming to halt in the valley below. It was going to be another tough day in the life of a ski guide. What would you do? If you’re wellversed in backcountry travel you may already be thinking of what the next move should be. Think fast — if this fictional scenario were real, lives hanging in the balance could be lost in the time it takes to read this sentence. It’s one of the harsh realities of recreating in big cold mountains that offers no solace for the uninitiated and no mulligans for the unfocused. It’s also the reason why professional ski guides go through incredibly rigorous multi-year training that covers every imaginable aspect of backcountry safety. When you consider the responsibility, commitment, and hardship that come with the job, you 18
quickly realize that guiding ain’t easy. “Accreditation as a ski guide is a threeto five-year process,” explains Dwayne Congdon, mountain guide and Program Coordinator for the Mountain and Ski Guide Program at Thompson Rivers University. “We look for people with good personal experience and training, and related professional experience such as ski patrolling or avalanche work. Less than half of the applicants are accepted.” Successful applicants to TRU’s Ski Guide program already have their Advanced First Aide certification and CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1 training, and they spend their first five days reviewing fundamental alpine skills, such as rope rescue and glacier travel techniques. A couple months later they continue with another seven days of intensive coursework, this time focusing on responsibilities specific to guiding at a heli- or cat-skiing operation. They return again for a final seven days of ski touring to master uphill track-setting, navigation, client care, and other backcountry competencies. Only after a thorough review of each student’s performance do the instructors decide who can proceed to the comprehensive nine-day Apprentice Ski Guide exam. Although there’s little opportunity for students to rest on their laurels, passing the exam and landing an apprenticeship with a commercial operation is a milestone. It’s at this point that the dream of getting paid to ski starts to solidify into
an envious reality. “There’s a bit of glory in the job,” admits ACMG certified guide and Capow! founder Marty Schaffer. “It’s like dating a supermodel. When things are going well, it’s as good as it gets.” But when things don’t go well, that’s when you want nothing less than a fully accredited guide leading the way. Only after one to three years of work in the field can apprentices move on to the
The challenge, the education, the whole experience — it’s fun. I mean, really, why so serious? final stage of training; the Ski Guide Exam. This gruelling, eight-day exam tests every aspect of the candidates’ technical knowledge and backcountry prowess. More importantly, it pushes them well beyond their comfort zone to test their mental fitness and their ability to put together all the pieces under immense pressure.
After such a long matriculation, you’d think it would be all downhill from here, right? Not exactly. A typical day of guiding starts well before dawn and ends more than 14 hours later, often in a cold tent or a cramped hut away from family and loved ones. Then there’s the burden of not only managing natural risks to keep everyone alive and safe, but also managing clients who expect a top-notch experience. Add to that the financial stress of earning an average of $30–$40 thousand dollars over the season and possibly having to make ends meet via a secondary off-season career, and you begin to understand why the training program only accepts the most dedicated. Guides need to be able to dig deep to stay motivated when bluebird dreams turn to grey jay realities. “It’s very demanding. A lot of students initially have the impression that guiding is about having fun skiing, but a very high level of professionalism is required. It’s a huge responsibility,” explains Dwayne. By now you may be thinking that guides must be jaded old veterans, with thousand-yard stares in their steely eyes and brows permanently furrowed from frowning upon tomfoolery. But the expertise gained through the years of training isn’t meant to instill respect and trepidation in clients, rather, it serves as a foundation for good times. When you’re with a guide, you know you’re in good hands and you can just focus on having fun. And for many guides, that in itself is the single biggest payoff. “Guiding brings people into an arena where they truly shine. You see them at their highest highs, literally, and that‘s incredibly fulfilling. That‘s why I do it,” explains Marty. “The challenge, the education, the whole experience — it’s fun. I mean, really, why so serious?”
Follow my adventures Origins and horizons with Vincent Schnabl Photography
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By Sarah j Spurr “1961 — five Bavarian mountaineers, all in their mid-twenties, take a daredevil trip. An adventure trip to Afghanistan. Target: the Hindu Kush. A mountain in which hardly any Bavarian had ever been. It was a pioneering act, a hussar piece, nothing less.” Reading the translation of an article written in German by Stefan Sessler titled, Traunstein, Hindu Kush a Journey to Happiness, I’m filled with thoughts steeped in sepia of a“mountain fairytale from the Arabian nights.” I’m imagining a VW bus packed with five good friends plus gear travelling 7,600 kilometres into Afghanistan. There is a green adventurer’s anorak (all of this very contemporary at the time) worn by a young man named Karl Brenner. With him there is a movie camera he uses to capture images of “mountain peaks, alien landscapes and nomadic caravans.” At age 77, he is reflecting on his visual documentation from a different time “when Afghans still knew peace.” This man and these images belong to a piece of someone else’s origin story. Like some wild innocent seed that got passed between generations. A grandfather gifted their grandson the inherent legacy — go make pictures while happily hunting horizons. I caught up with local photographer Vincent Schnabl over pint at La Baguette to finally ask about where his adventure chronicles began. When I first met Vince, I knew him through mutual friends; he was a bartender at the time, another fresh face discovering all things influential in Revelstoke. On the ski hill it was clear he possessed a certain athletic finesse, the kind that frees a person to huck their bones into back flips with skis 20
on. We connected over social media and from here I learned he was also a bit of a romantic with the camera — he seemed unusually motivated to wake up when everyone else was sleeping to take pictures cast in first light. He’d go out on missions to catch a particular landscape he was curious about at sunrise and would then share these findings with the rest of us. He began to reach out and connect more and more with his photographs and has welcomed friends, acquaintances and strangers to go with him to the places he’d share in his gallery. Like many others who saw this art take hold early on, I have been following along to see where the evolution of his photography might take him. Who is Vincent Schnabl? What are your roots? That’s a long story, but I’ll give you the short version. I’m actually born in Africa, which is a fun fact most people might not know about me. My dad is Austrian and my mom is German. We lived in Germany until I was four years old and then moved to British Columbia in 1996. Aside from travelling, I have lived in Western Canada ever since. Since I was a child I have always been active and on the move. I spent many years competing in track and field as well as ski racing. After suffering an injury that never quite healed the same, I no longer enjoyed competing and was, honestly, a little lost. I moved back home and tried to sort out my life. I had always loved skiing and the mountains growing up so I decided to apply to ski resorts around B.C. and by happy coincidence I ended up here in Revelstoke. It’s definitely nicknamed Revelstuck for a reason, and not just because it snows so much that the highway closes. This
is an outdoor lover’s paradise. I spend most of my free time in the winter skiing, ski touring and summers hiking and climbing, but there are so many sports and activities I still want to get into. I love having all of these options right outside my door. His father is a bricklayer and his mother a goldsmith. When he was born, his parents were living in Namibia while his mother pursued an apprenticeship abroad in the early years of learning her craft. Fast forward to now, Vince has been working on and off under the same masonry trade as his father; however, he’s found himself following that strange pull towards refining his own creative calling. He alludes to how, among many other places, a career in photography could one day even lead him full circle back to Africa.
How long have you been working towards building your portfolio, skill set and style? I would say that I have been shaping my photography for the last four years, ever since I got my first camera. However, within the last year it has grown from something that was just a hobby to more of a semi-professional level with the hope of one day making a living out of it. This to me doesn’t feel like a long time because I think photographers and artists spend a lifetime developing new skills, improving their style and expanding their portfolio. I’m constantly finding new inspirations, editing techniques, watching tutorials, etc. There are so many things to learn and paths you could take, with the rapid increase of technology it’s a non-stop process.
When did your photography practice begin? Was there a certain image or destination that stands out as the “Ah Ha!” moment that started it all? There is definitely a destination that started my passion for photography. In 2014, I moved to Lake Louise for the summer to live and work. Any time I had off was spent hiking and exploring the area with friends. At the time, I only had my cellphone to take photos with, but I always enjoyed documenting my experiences, especially the beautiful landscapes in the Rockies. I liked it so much that one day I made the trip to Calgary and bought my first DSLR with a kit lens. I had a few friends who were already into photography show me how to use it and I’ve been learning ever since.
What were your earliest pieces of gear and how did you maximise these to the fullest before looking for more or investing in any upgrades? My first personal gear would have been the camera on my cell phone. It’s crazy how far technology has come that we have a pretty good camera with us at all times in our pocket. From taking photos with it and editing them with apps I quickly realized I wanted to pursue photography further. My first DSLR was a Nikon D5200 with an 18–55mm kit lens. I used this for most of the time I lived in Lake Louise. It was a perfect camera to learn the basics of shooting in manual mode. I’ve taken photos with this camera that I still enjoy to this day, even with all the upgrades in gear and improvements in editing I have made. From here I have slowly progressed
through the Nikon line of cameras to their more professional grade cameras and lenses. Investing in good glass (lenses), in my opinion, is better than getting a new camera because you can always buy a new camera body when you feel you’ve outgrown it and use the same lenses you already have. I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of wanting and needing the best gear because I thought it would improve my photography, when really you should spend as much time utilizing and learn-
Page 19: Peering out into the galaxy and beyond from atop Sale Mountain. Left: Trekking in the Thame mountains region, Nepal Bottom: Ski touring in the Revelstoke area. Photos by Vincent Schnabl. Above: Vincent Schnabl. Photo: Sarah j Spurr/RMM
ing with what you have. Once I for sure knew I wanted to take this more seriously is when I invested in the more specific gear I have now. You’ve been sharing a timeline of images with us, often stunning large scale landscapes from your travels. Is it a creative motivation that now guides you when choosing a destination or is it the physical challenge in reaching these places? Where has your camera led you recently? I would say it’s both of these things when I choose a destination to visit, but I also just really enjoy travelling and love to see new places. This November I went on a trip to Nepal for five weeks. We did a trek called the Three Passes in the Everest region as well as the hike to basecamp along the way. I had heard this is the area to go for beautiful landscapes, this absolutely influenced my decision to go to here. It was also one of the most challenging treks I’ve done because it was my first time experiencing this much altitude. Where do you see yourself going. This year/beyond? This year I would like to keep pushing myself as much as possible to get out there. It feels like little by little everything is falling into place. I’ve spent a while learning the photography side of things and now I think it’s time to learn more about the business aspect of it. The ultimate dream, of course, is to be able to turn it into my only profession and experience and travel the world while doing so.
FEATURE In July you reached 2,000 followers through your Instagram profile and now you have a dedicated following of over 4,000. How does this social sharing platform fuel your desire to create. How does it work for you? Instagram is an amazing tool for sharing photos with the world. It’s fast, it’s easy and I don’t know many people in my generation who don’t use it. With an astounding amount of over 700 million daily users in 2017, it’s a great way to help get your name out there. There are so many inspiring and amazing people you can follow. It can really be geared towards what you want to see with your profile. I have to admit, it can be pretty addicting and I have certainly been guilty of spending too much time on social media. I try to limit the time I spend on the app now and designate times to focus on it. Whose work do you admire or look up to? I do have many people whose work and what they stand for I admire greatly. Wildlife photographers such as Paul Nicklen, who has dedicated his life to wildlife and ocean conservation, tells beautiful stories through his photos of threatened animals. Adventure lifestyle photographers and movie makers such as Chris Burkard, Jimmy Chin and Cory Richards have also motivated me to get out there and to do more. The beautiful artsy landscapes that Daniel Kordan captures never seize to amaze me.
Any wisdom to share from one picture taker to another? My biggest advice would be to never stop chasing the light (my favourite time to shoot photos is early in the morning) and to always stay true to your style. I was watching an episode of Bob Ross’s the Joy of Painting one day and I remember him saying something along the lines of, “If everyone painted the same way the end result would always be the same and that would be a pretty boring world, wouldn’t it?” I think the same thing when it comes to photography, as long as it makes you happy and you enjoy your photos, I wouldn’t worry too much about what anyone else thinks of them. Last winter he took us skiing in Japan, this year to trek Nepal, and he has his heart set on future endeavours like getting a van of his own and heading for those promising landscapes of the United States. If you ask anyone who knows Vince they’ll say he gets out there to get after it, he’s up for good company and always looking towards the good times. Vince invites you to follow his lens or get in touch if you’d like to join for an adventure, collaborate on a photo project or own a print. Begin your collection — hang on to this month’s cover shot! Vincentschnablphotography.com Instagram @vincentschnabl FB @vinceschnabl
Top: The Gokyo area in the Himalays, Nepal. Bottom: A chalk slap
Photos by Vincent Schnabl
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Welwinds Therapeutic Spa & Yoga offers the hottest yoga classes in town Welwinds is Revelstoke’s home for hot yoga, Naturopathic medicine, massage and more By Emily Stone Whether you wish to let your body effectively recover from those long days on the mountain, or you simply want to get out of the cold and relax in a warm room for a while, then there’s a high chance Welwinds has something to offer you! Conveniently situated on Fourth Street East, just off the junction with Victoria, this yoga studio and therapeutic spa offers healing massage and acupuncture therapies, as well as a huge range of yoga classes led by some of the finest instructors in B.C. Diane Mahoney, owner/founder of Welwinds and a Registered Massage Therapist and Acupuncturist, encourages you to create space in your routine for your own health. She suggests that a good way to start is to get yourself down to the studio for a weekly yoga class, and to indulge in a monthly healing massage or acupuncture therapy treatment. “Massage is excellent for improving muscle function for sport,” she explains. This is especially important at this time of year when the snowsports enthusiasts among us may be recovering from intense days skiing, riding or sledding. Opt for a deep tissue or hot stone massage to free deep-seated tension, or unwind during a relaxing Swedish massage. For an overall wellness boost, try acupuncture – according to Chinese medicine, the insertion of tiny needles into pressure points across the body helps to balance the Qi (pronounced chee) – energy believed to flow through certain pathways in the body.
Acupuncture is also widely supported in Western medicine, since the stimulation of nerves and muscle at given pressure points enhance blood flow and engage the body’s natural pain killers and immune system, bringing the body into its greatest state of health. Diane and her team of therapists – Edwige, a naturopathic doctor, and Gaelle – are all experienced practitioners of the quality treatments that Welwinds has to offer. Make sure you get your booking in using the website or phone number below! Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or total beginner, Welwinds has the perfect class for you. As the only studio in town to offer Hot Yoga, Welwinds is the place to turn for the additional benefits of stretching assisted by heat. Not sure about hot yoga, but wish to try it? Head to one of the Warm Yoga classes for a taste of temperature. Choose from Warm Core Stretch, a core-stabilisation class; the deeply-relaxing and slowpaced Warm Restorative; and Warm Yin with Thai Adjustments. The latter combines yoga with components of Thai massage for an all-round muscle revival! Welwinds also hosts regular Vinyasa classes, Yoga for Skiers and Boarders, a morning Warrior Flow and a Yoga-Pilates fusion class. Release your inner acrobat with Acro Yoga classes on the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 1:30 p.m. Whatever vibe you are riding, there is a yoga class to suit you! Check the schedule online at welwinds.com.
Wish to try yoga floating on the surface of a stunning mountain lake? Another reason to be stoked for summer: Welwinds offers Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) yoga sessions too! You also have the chance to complete your 200 hours yoga teacher training through the studio, should you wish to pursue yoga as a career. If you’re hoping to try out yoga for the first time, are new to town or simply haven’t made it down to Welwinds yet, the studio offers an introductory month of unlimited yoga classes for just $49! Don’t hesitate to make the most of this offer. Following on from this, a month of unlimited classes at the regular price will only cost you $89 – looking after your mind and body really won’t cost you an arm and a leg! Just visiting, or wanting to try a class? You can simply drop by the studio – it will cost you $15, and you can use this advertisement for a $5 discount!
Above: The yoga studio at Welwinds features heated ceiling panels for warm and hot yoga classes. Below: Eva Stribrna treats a client to a massage. Photos: Eric Berger www.welwinds.com 250-837-6084 509 4th Street E Facebook: Welwinds Therapeutic Spa & Yoga
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Illegal vacation rentals are impacting our community! Illegal short-term rentals negatively impact rental housing supply
Story: Revelstoke Mountaineer staff Sponsored by: Revelstoke Accommodation Association Strike up a conversation with anyone who’s tried to find rental housing in Revelstoke recently and the topic of illegal vacation rentals is bound to come up. Rental housing, specifically affordable long-term and employee housing, has become a rarity over the past 10 years. Prior to Revelstoke Mountain Resort opening in 2007, it wasn’t uncommon to rent a two-bedroom apartment in town for less than $600 a month. Today, landlords and homeowners are capitalizing on the popularity of Revelstoke’s status as a resort town, and rent for a two-bedroom can range upwards of $2,500 during the winter months. To top that off, a number of homeowners and landlords have decided to cash in on the benefits of offering their homes as vacation rentals. A larger problem created with an abundance of illegal vacation rentals is the impact it has on market rental housing. It’s something Dan Berg, general manager of Jacobson Ford, is all too familiar with. Berg spent his first 24
month in Revelstoke living in a motel room. After the first month, Berg would up finding a place to rent – but it was a vacation rental. He was paying $600 a week and didn’t know from one week to the next if he’d have to move out. “I had quit my job of 14 years, listed my house for sale in Kamloops and was changing my life to come here,” said Berg, who did find rental housing but at a cost. He’s currently paying more than $2,000 per month for his condo. The housing crunch has also had an effect on keeping employees at Jacobson Ford. Recently, Berg decided to get creative and posted an ad on Facebook offering $1,000 finder’s fee to any landlord who was willing to house a new employee for 90 days. They didn’t receive a single offer of housing. Mike Gravelle, owner of Skookum Cycle and Ski, also knows the hardships of trying to house employees. A year and a half ago Gravelle ended up renting a duplex for his employees. “It was strictly to secure housing,” he said. Clyde Newsome from the Powder Springs Inn is currently housing four of his staff members in would-be revenue generating rooms at an impact of $150
per day per room in order to ensure adequate staffing in housekeeping and service roles. Securing employee housing isn’t the only impact illegal vacation rentals have had. Long-term affordable rent has also been impacted. Community Connections social justice advocate Cathy Girling says there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of rent being charged and a decrease in the number of units available. “The search for a new place to live is getting increasingly harder for renters. We [Community Connections] have noticed that tenants are staying in their units longer (as nothing else is available) despite the fact they are paying more than they can afford, or they are staying in units that are inappropriate in size or in poor condition,” said Girling. With limited options, Girling said often tenants are willing to tolerate poor repairs, eat less or not access medications in order to afford the cost of rent. Individuals and families working service industry jobs are stretched to find housing within their budget, and they pay a high percentage of their income towards rent. Affordable rent is generally considered to be 30% of a household’s
gross income, but Girling says they are hearing of renters who are putting up to 80% of their income towards rent.
Impact on infrastructure and public safety Neighbourhoods in Revelstoke were never intended to be commercial enterprises. Even in mixed-use neighbourhoods, specific properties not zoned for commercial use should not be used as such. Homes being operated as illegal vacation rentals increase the impact on the city’s sewer and water system and creates issues if adequate off-street parking isn’t available. The lack of onsite management is also concerning as neighbours may not know who to contact if there is a noise or other type of complaint. Vacation rentals often advertise for more occupancy than they have bedrooms, raising concerns over regulations about fire exits, inspections, and other safety issues. Illegal vacation rentals are not being subjected to fire and bylaw inspections, so they may not have bannisters, fire exits, etc. which exposes the guests to huge safety risks and the city to liability. Randy Driediger, general
SPONSORED manager of RCU Insurance, says clients are not required to disclose if they have a vacation rental in their home when securing an insurance policy, but that lack of information can create problems if the homeowner needs to put in a claim related to that rental later on.
What is the City of Revelstoke doing? To date, city staff primarily rely on a complaints-based system, although some proactive tracking and notification has occurred. As far as the local accommodation industry is concerned, city efforts fall much short of the mark. Peruse any popular online vacation rental platform and you’ll find about 100 illegal vacation rentals openly advertised. The Revelstoke Accommodation Association has been working with the city for the past five years to develop the bylaw and is frustrated with the lack of enforcement. To top that off, the city is missing out on revenue due to not enforcing and taxing short-term rentals in the community. The property tax alone would be significant as these illegal rentals are residences paying residential taxes when they should be paying commercial. The average value of a home in Revelstoke is estimated at $436,000. Property taxes on a home of that value for 2017 are $3,464, while the value if that same home is registered as a commercial enterprise is $11,527. By that calculation, this means the city is missing out on an additional $8,063 in taxes per home, based on the average-valued home. Other cities in B.C. and Alberta have introduced fines for vacation rentals found to be operating illegally in those communities. In Canmore, it’s legal to operate a vacation rental in commercial and mixed-use areas, but not in a residential area. Fines for violators are $2,500 for the first offence, and $5,000 for each additional offence, which has significantly reduced the amount of illegal vacation rentals. In Revelstoke, even those who have put in considerable expense and effort to become legal and licensed are not always supported by the city. Revelstoke Property Services has operated vacation rentals for the past several years. When the city introduced its vacation rental
bylaw in 2014, the company made the decision to request their clients with vacation rentals go through the process of having them legalized. Eve Northmore, owner of Revelstoke Property Services said the process of legalizing a vacation rental requires a large commitment from property owners. “To set up a full vacation rental can be anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000. You’re adding parking … it can get expensive depending where you’re house is at. Now, you’re in debt,” she said. Northmore said in order to adhere to the city’s bylaw, vacation rental owners are required to have their homes at a certain standard before they’re even able to get to the point of being licensed. Many the vacation rentals managed by Revelstoke Property Services were able to get through the process of being legalized, but a number didn’t, leaving clients frustrated and angry. Part of the problem with the city’s bylaw to help crack down on illegal vacation rentals is the bylaw is currently not enforced at all. “[The way] their licensing bylaw process works, but if you don’t enforce it, it doesn’t work,” said Northmore. “I believe in the system so adamantly and this is why we made the decision [to have their vacation rentals legalized]. It’s painful to tell owners this is what we can and can’t do to your property.”
and understand they are committing to running a business. There is a niche market for vacation rentals in the community, but not at the cost of reducing the pool of long-term rentals and displacing people who are contributing to the economic and social fabric of the community on a yearly, rather than weekly, basis. Overall, even those who aren’t concerned with the plight of illegal vacation rentals should be concerned about its impact on the social well-being of long-
term residents. People who are forced to spend high amounts of their income on rent must spend less on other items such as healthy food, prescriptions, and other medical costs, transportation, clothing, and social activities. “This has a strong impact on people’s lives, creating poor health and well-being. The whole community faces the consequences of this,” said Girling.
What can you do? The current complaint based system for illegal vacation rentals is only effective if people are contacting the city directly. Calling the city at 250-837-2911 or visit revelstoke.ca and click on the “See, Click, Fix” option at the bottom of the page. People having difficulty finding housing, or those being forced to live in accommodations with exorbitant rents or ridiculous crowding should also contact the city, and speak with the mayor and council to express their concerns. “Illegal short-term rentals pull available rental units off the market, making the search for affordable rent even more difficult,” said Girling. Those wanting to operate vacation rentals should familiarize themselves with the bylaws and processes in place,
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LOCAL NEWS Katie Burrell’s Revelstoke-made INFLUENCER satire debuts Feb. 5 By Aaron Orlando Jonathan Swift once wrote: “Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.” Sounds like sour grapes from somebody who died without a single Instagram follower, amirite? The buzz is building for the Feb. 5 premiere of INFLUENCER, a short comedic satire featuring Revelstoke comedian Katie Burrell and a cast of locals in front of and behind the lens. We did a Q&A interview with Burrell, which, due to a little miscommunication, turned more into just an ‘&A’ thing, but it works anyway. I asked Katie about the project’s take on narcissism, the basic human need for love, affection and understanding, and about trying to fill that yawning chasm of lonliness by substituting a real life for a fake one online. We also touched on the most important philosophical question of our time: if a ski tour happens in our mountain forests, but nobody posts it to Instagram, did it happen at all? Without further adieu, here’s what Burrell had to say about INFLUENCER: The INFLUENCER project is a runaway joke. It started as a satirical moment on Instagram — I was exploring social media as a platform for my comedic expression and started playing a spoof of myself, an aspiring social
media influencer in my own right. The character has since then taken on her own life. I’m much more annoying than she is. The show is about a girl (Subject A) who wants to project a perfect life on social media to distract herself from her insignificant reality, and a psychologist (Dr. Elizabeth Burr) who, after a nasty divorce, moves back to the mountain
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Katie Burrell in character for Storyhive INFLUENCER project. Photo: Zoya Lynch town that her parents live in to rebuild herself and try to get ahead in her career (she has a famous psychologist ex-husband, who left her for his research assistant.) Each episode explores Dr. Burr trying to further her working theory “Digital Narcissism Syndrome” and Katie “Subject A” demonstrating severe symptoms of it. The two of them have an interesting relationship; is one more narcissistic than the other? Is there a style of self-projection that is “worse” than another? Can you write a book about being obsessed with yourself without being a little obsessed with yourself? Is it really that bad to think you’re kind of amazing? Overall, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at what is actually happening in real life (#irl) compared to the glossy images that we have all been accustomed to seeing and subconsciously feeling terrible about. The pilot episode airs on February 5 on TELUS Optik TV, Storyhive and YouTube. Voting runs from Feb 5–9. There are 14 other pilots that we’re up against, narrowed down from the 250plus original submissions. We’ve had incredible support from the community on the project from locations to production assistants to extras, as well as invaluable guidance from experienced filmmakers like Anthony Bonello and Momme Halbe. The core production team is myself, Colleen Gentemann, Zoya Lynch, Momme Halbe, Anne Cayer-Huard, Kate Belton, Jess Broadfoot, Blair Richmond and Mike Southworth. The pilot episode features comedians Aaron Read, James Kennedy and Shane McLean. Zoya plays a spoof of herself. I play Katie and Dr. Burr. I could either say that’s a statement thing, or I could say it’s a budget thing. All of the characters in the show are satirical stereotypes; yes, it’s close to the bone. Take it personally. Get worked up. Troll me. I didn’t mean to make a cultural commentary piece that deeply resounded
with people. I saw a funny and just went with it. It feels to me like the audience is all having different experiences of it, before it even really exists. It also seems to me that people just like to watch me fall over. I used the word influencer and people got the joke and blew it up to be their own. I feel like that is a lot of what “the arts” is — it’s being the vessel for something that already exists, just the body for a thing to come through. It’s presenting something that just needs to seen in a new light, and all of a sudden it’s comedy. It’s powerful stuff. You can take back what has taken from you if you can turn it into humour. The project will continue to be what feels right. It’s malleable at this stage. If we win the funding from Storyhive to produce the rest of the series, we’ll do our damned best to make something that makes people laugh and keeps things fresh. If we don’t, we’ll take a look at it and either call it a learning experience and move on to the next project. Or we’ll say, these characters are too current and this concept is too timely to let it die now. Maybe we’ll shop it around. Maybe we’ll independently produce it. Maybe I’ll ask my parents if they want to fund it. They don’t need to be going on two six-week holidays every year. That’s a bit excessive. Realistically, I just want to explore life and the human experience through the art/comedy projects that find me. To me, that currently looks like learning, failing, trying again, laughing, crying in my bed, trying out new mediums and platforms, drinking too much, texting my mom, extreme highs and tragic lows, creating, not sleeping, overdoing it with Melatonin, putting myself out there over and over again, seeing what lands and what doesn’t, understanding what it means to depersonalize, and never giving up. Some of history’s sexiest Greek gods were raging narcissists. I’m not totally convinced that it’s a bad thing to be feelin’ yourself. As long as every once in a while you bring the focus back to being “whole.” Whatever that means. This thing would not exist without Colleen Gentemann. I am significantly more aware of my tortured creative-ness now. She executes on half-cracked visions. There were tons of moments where she didn’t know how to, but she would figure it out to the absolute edge of her ability. She was nice to me even when she should have thrown me out of a window. We’ve both learned so much. Everyone needs a Colleen, in my opinion. Namaste. The light within me honours the light within you. Be the content you want to see in the world. Love, Katie
LOCAL NEWS City’s new 15-year budget format a better crystal ball into the future By Alex Cooper What will the Revelstoke look like in 15 years? That’s something city hall has shed some light on with it’s new 15-year financial plan that starts this year and looks all the way to 2032. Significantly, the financial plan looks at the city’s needs for the next 15 years, instead of only five years as has been the norm in the past. “A planning period of 15 years has been adopted for both operating and capital so that the long-term implications of current day decisions can be considered and so that the city can chart a sustainable financial path for the community,” writes Tania McCabe, the city’s director of finance, in the new document, which council has already met to discuss twice (without any media present at the public meetings.) Council is contemplating a budget that calls for a three per cent tax increase, $20.7 million in operating expenses, and $8.4 million in capital spending for 2018. Council met three times in January to discuss the budget. The city hopes to have a draft financial plan go out to the public for comment in mid-February, with a meeting scheduled for Feb. 20 to solicit feedback. Council also has to discuss how the tax increase will be distributed over the various property classes. The draft plan is 131 pages and folds the community report into the budget. It provides organizational charts for each department, an overview of their accomplishments and responsibilities, and a look at their priorities going forward. It looks at Revelstoke’s financial picture and compares the city’s situation compared to other communities.
What’s in store for 2018? The city expects to spend $20.7 on operations in 2018 — a 3.5 per cent increase over 2017. Spending increases average about two per cent per year thereafter, rising to $27.5 million in 2032. The budget calls for $8.4 million in capital spending in 2018. Among the more notable items are: -$1.9 million on various water projects, including $700,000 to extend the water line to the airport;
-$961,000 on various sewer projects; -$320,000 to relocate the Third Street West water and sewer lines away from the slumping bank; -$640,000 to repair the exterior of city hall; -$945,000 on road paving, patching and repair; -$655,000 on a new splash park and $725,000 ($125,000 in city funding, $600,000 from grant funding) on a new skateboard park; -$210,000 on various arena upgrades; -and $155,000 on projects identified in the trails master plan. One change in the budget is in how new capital projects will get approved. Spending that’s not part of the financial plan must be proposed by department heads and approved by council. The financial plan concludes with a wishlist that includes a request for an RCMP Sergeant ($125,280), another engineering technician ($103,500) and an extra building inspector ($85,000). Council has yet to discuss these asks. Taxpayers will be slightly relieved to see a proposed tax increase of three per cent in 2018, and two per cent per year going forward, though that’s only compared to last year’s budget, which called for five per cent tax increases for the foreseeable future to meet infrastructure demands. Taxation makes up about 55 per cent of the city’s estimated $20.7 million revenue for 2018, with the
rest coming from grants, user fees and returns on investments. Water rates have been increased to $425 per household, from $405 in 2017, while sewer rates have been increased to $284 from $270 in 2018.
What about the next 15 years? Perhaps the most significant change to the plan is the longer look into the future. This is especially notable in terms of capital spending, where a desire to know more about the long-term needs of the city spurred the longer outlook. However, the budget states that the plans will likely change as more information becomes available. “It should also be noted that the capital projects in the later years are not based on detailed estimates like those in the first few years, and that as capital projects become more current (in subsequent versions of the long-term plan) updated cost estimates will be obtained,” states the plan. What are some of the projects being contemplated between now and 2032? For one, the city plans on spending about $26 million on roads over the next 15 years, while another $5 million is slated for bridge renewal, $5.5 million for the stormwater system, and $1 million on sidewalks. That’s just part of the $44 million the engineering and public works department expects to spend
until 2032. The parks department plans to spend about $8 million on capital projects such as playground improvements, sports field maintenance and much more over the next 15 years. Upgrades to Williamson’s Lake are expected to cost $1 million through 2024. The city plans on spending $17 million on the water network and $11.1 million on the sewer system (not including a new treatment plant). $12.9 million is earmarked towards vehicle replacement over the course of the plan. The budget calls for the no new borrowing and the pay down of existing debt over time. The city plans to build up its reserves, from about $3 million to $4.7 million by 2032, and the plan calls for savings from reduced debt to be put into reserves. This follows a policy of “pay now, buy later.” Under this plan, the city hopes to be debt free by 2037. An exception is for local area service projects, like the Big Eddy water project, where residents of a certain neighbourhood would pay back debt incurred on projects that benefit them. It is notable what’s not in the 15-year financial plan - $70 million in development cost charges projects. They will instead be included in a new DCC bylaw that is being developed over the next few months and will be made part of future financial plans. Projects include $30.2 million for a new sewage treatment plant, $15 million to increase the size of the transmission pipe from the Greeley Water Treatment Plant, $5 million for bridge replacement, $4 million for water reservoir expansion, and $2.5 million on the Fourth/ Victoria/Townley intersection. The budget notes that the city can borrow to pay for DCC projects in advance, but at a risk that it won’t collect enough fees to pay down the debt. “The long-term capital plan as it relates to DCC projects will have to be amended in the future based on the new DCC bylaw,” states the budget. “Financing DCC projects and related growth without debt will be a major challenge for the city in the future.”
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ENTERTAINMENT
Spinning up a storm Meet some of the Revelstoke DJs who help to put the ‘life’ in nightlife by Laura Hodge
SiFi Photo: Jean-Marc LaFlamme
SiFi Dexaville Declan Saville (aka. Dexaville) is a DJ, music producer and radio show host with a penchant for four to the floor, tech and progressive house. A humble guy — his dream rider consists simply of crispy M&M’s & Ferrero Rocher. Dexaville says his wife, daughter and his late father as his biggest inspirations. Back in 2007, Dexaville played his first club gig — one of the highlights of his career so far. When asked about the Dexaville wildest antics he’s ever seen at one of his gigs, Dexaville recalls the time he looked up to find that everyone on the dance floor had upped and left. Initially he thought he’d made a bad choice with his song selection, but upon closer inspection discovered that a rather over-enthusiastic man dancing naked had scared everyone away! Dexaville frequently collaborates with fellow local DJ Si-Fi as part of the DJmeets-live-percussion duo SiDex. He also holds regular Wednesday and Sunday spots at Craft Bierhaus, as well as hosting Dexessions every Friday on Stoke FM, playing house, deep house, tech house, nu-disco and funk.
SiFi — or Simon Hunt as he’s known to his family and friends — brings something a little different to the table, combining DJing with live improvised drumming. Taking EDM and house music as his base genres, SiFi mixes these beats with pieces from his other musical inspirations, adding his own touch with some additional live percussion. Alongside Dexaville, SiFi puts the ‘Si’ in SiDex, as well as teaming up with a group of fellow talented Revy locals to put on a range of larger musical events. Last Halloween, he headlined and organized a dance at the Legion, raising $2,000 for the planned skatepark. Most recently, he headlined at Revelstoke Mountain Resort for New Year’s Eve. And Simon’s career highlight so far? In September 2017, Simon played the Luna Festival opening night in the McKinnon Ballroom at the Explorer’s Society Hotel: “The energy in the room was unbelievable!” Simon’s goals for the future include playing Shambhala Music Festival, becoming a music producer and performing internationally. Watch this space! Keep your eyes peeled for SiFi’s next gig on www.sibeats.com. https://www.facebook.com/SidexOfficial/
DJ Jayse Aspey
https://soundcloud.com/dexaville https://www.facebook.com/SidexOfficial/
Huws Who?! HuwsWho?! (real name Huw Saunders) has a sound that is constantly evolving. Taking his inspiration from Smalltown DJs, Justin Martin/Dirtybird Records, Skiitour, Bonobo and Calibre, HuwsWho?! never plays two sets that are the same. When playing a more casual night in Revelstoke, Huw favours influences of funk, Latin, hip hop, reggae and soul. For larger and more energetic events he blends house, breaks, bass music, trap, funk, drum ‘n’ HuwsWho?! Photo: Laura Hodge bass and more. Huw’s varied musical style has seen him have some pretty epic career highlights so far: DJing on The Dirty Beetle’s Art Car at Burning Man, last-minute filling in for the Sunday night headliner at Diversity Festival 2016 and DJing a seven-hour set on a homemade floating barge anchored off the beach at Diversity Festival 2015. You may recognise HuwsWho?! from Big Eddy’s annual Halloween party, which he has DJed for the past three years. You’ll also find him providing casual background music at The Taco Club every Saturday evening. And if Huw could collaborate with anyone? Smalltown DJs and Justin Martin. https://soundcloud.com/huwsaundersmusic
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DJ Jayse Aspey
If you’ve ever been to Revelstoke’s famous Toonie Tuesday’s at Traverse, then you may be familiar with DJ Jayse Aspey. Although he plays mostly ghetto funk and regular funk, Jayse is open to anything
that will get the crowd moving. Jayse takes inspiration from a number of different artists, with his top five favourite albums being Blink 182, Enema of the State: The Monkees, Day Dream Believer; Marvin Gaye, Midnight Love, Jurassic 5, Quality Control; and N.W.A, Straight Otta Compton. Once voted ‘Whistler’s Best DJ,’ Jayse has previously DJed Whistler’s famous Beach Party. At this event, they went all-out and filled the nightclub with sand. One particularly wild image that sticks in his mind is ‘a guy wearing just his Speedos and a swimming cap’ who was bodysurfing back and forth across the crowd on a body board. ‘Quite the sight to see!’ In the future, Jayse’s dream collaboration would be Dillion Francis or Deadmau5. And his dream line up for an event? Stickybuds, Slynk and Skiitour. https://soundcloud.com/djjayseaspey https://www.facebook.com/DJJayseAspey/
A perfect match: Valentine’s Day and the right wine selection By Heather Hood It is hard not to assume the perfect marriage or union that there is with the combination of Valentine’s Day and wine. Bubbly, Rosé and Fortified wine are nice styles of wine to celebrate the occasion of love or friendship. Sharing the experience of wine with others can add to the moment and contribute to a memorable experience. Take the time this month to enjoy good company and perhaps a nice glass of wine or two.
J.J-Dub
J. J-Dub
Music runs in the veins for J.J-Dub (aka. Joshy Williams), with a mother who is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, and a stepfather who is a rock guitarist. A big fan of bass house, G-House, deep house, dubstep and glitch-hop/ghetto funk, Joshy’s favourite albums of all time are: Daft Punk, Discovery + Homework; Horrorshow, The Grey Space and Pendulum, Hold Your Colour. J.J-Dub currently holds a resident position at The Last Drop, where you’ll find him playing every Tuesday — but not for much longer! In March he’ll be saying goodbye to Revelstoke, after six years here, to go study production and to put together an Australia and New Zealand tour. And if J.J-Dub could have his dream line up accompanying him on this tour? It’d be a pretty epic one: Pendulum, Zedd’s Dead, Ephwurd, Mat the Alien, The Librarian, Slynk, The Funk Hunters, SkiiTour, Eric Prydz, Claude Von Stroke, Daft Punk, Boogie Vice, Vanilla Ace, Beatangers and Small Town DJ’s. https://soundcloud.com/j-j_dub https://www.facebook.com/JJDubs88/
Summerhill Winery Cipes Brut Kelowna, BC $28.39 Summerhill Winery is worth the visit if you’re ever in Kelowna. This winery has a unique method of cellaring their wine, in a pyramid that was constructed for this particular purpose. Their wines are all organic and biodynamic with very minimal inputs to the wine making process. This bubbly is nice with characteristics of green apple, almond, citrus and a subtle minerality. It has a little sweetness on the palate with a nice acidic finish. It’s never difficult to find an occasion to drink bubbly, especially from a winery who has been successfully making sparkling wine since they began.
Hester Creek Cabernet Franc, 2016 Oliver, BC $22.30 This Rosé has such a beautiful pinkish colour that is hard to not fall in love with it at first sight. The wine is very flavourful and has an abundance of red berry characteristics of strawberry and raspberry. There is a nice acidity that is crisp, which provides good balance to this wine.
Dirty Laundry A girl in every port Summerland, BC $25.95
Relax. Indulge. Explore.
If you haven’t tried a fortified or port style wine, this one from Dirty Laundry is a very good place to start. When you pour this wine, there are aromas of caramel, tobacco, raisins and dried cherries. The sweetness on the nose is carried over nicely on the palate, which is not too sweet but rich and slightly tannic. There’s a wonderful lingering of dried fruit on the finish.
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All wines available at Cheers! Downtown Revelstoke Open 9am to 11pm Delivery to your Door Call 250.837.4550
OUTDOOR LIFE
Hungry up-and-comers compete at Freeride World Qualifier By Emily Stone During the second week in January, an assortment of outstanding skiers and snowboarders from across North America and beyond descended on Revelstoke for the Freeride World Qualifier 4 event, each enjoying a generous helping of the technical terrain RMR has to offer as they competed for a spot on the Freeride World Tour. During the run-up to the competition, the perfect combination of prime snow conditions and the presence of talented riders getting sendy all over the mountain meant that the overall stoke was high on the mountain. Although the initial qualifying day of the competition was pushed back due to shockingly poor visibility, no spirit was dampened. Attempting to drop cliffs in such thick mist would have been unsafe, and the judges wouldn’t be able to see the sends anyway. The call was made at noon to postpone. Of course, this weather day afternoon was wasted by no one – take a large group of freeriders and add powder, and you’ve got mighty ratpacks popping pillows all over the mountain! Since the snowfall in the Southwestern US this year has been appalling at best, competitors hailing from drought-ridden Colorado and California were grateful for a day in the deep. The first day of competition went ahead on Separate Reality, with day two in Lower North Bowl. On both days an amped-up crowd turned out, frequently breaking into dance and enthusiastically cheering for each competitor as they backflipped and ollied their way through the natural features. Spectators also kept the event crew fired up during the long days with lashings of hot chocolate and friendly banter. On both days participants put on a fantastic show, with a creative selection of lines taken utilizing a range of cliffs and natural kickers. “It was awesome to see the competitors throwing down their biggest tricks on some of our most impressive in-bounds terrain,” said Kevin Manuel, Director of Marketing at RMR. “The calibre of skiing and riding at this event continues to progress.” Due to decreasing visibility on the final day, the judging panel was forced to split, with the three judges spreading out across North Bowl to judge individual zones instead of watching together from a viewpoint at the base of the run. This means that the competitors’ final score is the sum of three individual scores – one from each zone – instead of an agreed overall score for the entire run. This can be advantageous to competitors: should they fall in one zone, their score from the other two zones could likely bring them back up the rankings. The previous two FWQ events at RMR, in 2016 and 2017, saw Revelstoke-based snowboarder Kai White take first place. Although 2018 didn’t see him scoring a hat-trick, he was still 30
Above: A competitor takes a run down Separate Reality during the FWQ event at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Right: Skiers gather at the judging booth. Photos: Hywel Williams incredibly pumped to be part of the competition: “There was just such a good vibe on the mountain. I think the weather day was actually one of the best days I’ve had, just ripping around with awesome crews all day.” Those good vibes were in abundance at the prize-giving in the Mackenzie Plaza igloo. As a keepsake from Revelstoke, those placed first to third in each category were awarded a life-size replica trophy of our beloved buddy Gnorm the Gnome. Nicole Kelly (USA) took first place for women’s snowboarding, with Ben Smith (USA) taking the men’s title. Elsa Smith (USA) and Tom Peiffer (Whistler) came first in women’s and men’s skiing respectively. Competitors and their friends quite rightly celebrated this epic couple of days well into the night, bringing the hype from the mountain to downtown. Once again, RMR outdid itself as a competition venue: without a doubt Ullr was kind to us, providing deep landings which 2018’s FWQ competitors will surely be re-enacting in their sleep for months to come.
Five Revelstoke must-haves for the winter months
HOME STYLE
By Heidi Hopkins
1.) The New Year calls for new resolutions. For many, starting a morning routine to set their days on the right track is at the top of the list. These routines might include long runs, yoga or simply a morning beverage curled up by the fire. If yours involves the latter, there is no other mug to enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea out of than Jumping Creek pottery. Locally created by the talented Kaitlan Murphy, her pottery is so beautiful, you’ll feel better just holding it.
4.) While fresh snow is mostly celebrated in this little town, the person left to shovel it may disagree. To avoid a pow day domestic, invest in a good shovel and clear the path to your spouse’s heart … and the ski hill. Garant’s Aluminum D-Handle Grain/Feed Scoop from Home Hardware is an excellent addition to the shovel family.
2.) Want your woodstove to treat you better than your broken-down sled? Invest in a Blaze King; blazing warmth, blazing reliability and blazing class. These thermostatically controlled stoves have a 30-hour low burn time. There is no better way to end a day of digging out your sled then cracking a beer in front of your everlasting Blaze King, available at Rough Country Marine.
3.) Looking for something to keep the cold at bay? Looking to increase your Instagram followers? This blanket is a one-stop shop. Drape it over your shoulders as you curl up on the couch, while chopping wood or at the top of mountain. These handwoven blankets by Forest & Waves are versatile and perfect for adding colour, warmth and most importantly, popularity to your life. Find these quality gems at The Annex on First Street West.
5.) Maybe winter is not your thing or perhaps you are missing our lush green summers. Consider houseplants as a means of refreshing your home. These green wonders can reduce carbon dioxide levels in the home, reduce certain pollutants such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide, and reduce airborne dust levels and stress. Sounds like a win-win! Find them at Revelstoke Florist on Mackenzie Ave.
CongRatulations to the maCKenzie village pRojeCt.
looking forward to the next phase!
Renovations \ CommeRCial \ Residential info@appenzellconstruction.com
604 935 9138 31
HOME STYLE
A look inside Mackenzie Village, Revelstoke’s newest housing development With Mackenzie Village’s first phase now complete, local developers David and Shelley Evans are ramping up plans for the second phase of the large-scale Arrow Heights development. By Imogen Whale For the Evans family, Revelstoke is home and it has been for the past five years. Their youngest child is set to graduate from Revelstoke Secondary School this summer. The Evans’ personal property is home to several horses, a host of dogs, including a massive but incredibly friendly Rottweiler rescue named Harley, and barn cats who have run of the home. Local employees help with the stables. To one employee, Emily Wright, the Evans have become a second family. “They’re good people,” Wright explains. “They care.” Yet since the Evans moved to town and bought multiple properties with the intention of developing, some neighbours became concerned about the implications. With seasonal vacancy
rates hovering near zero, residents see the need for more housing supply, but they are nervous about higher density living. The hard truth is that developers’ interest heralds the fact Revelstoke has arrived as a world-class destination, and is now seeing the kind of larger-scale development across the community that was predicted to come with the establishment of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Development has the potential to address some of the issues Revelstoke’s booming popularity has caused. Take Mackenzie Village (MV), the Evans first realized development in Revelstoke, where the results speak for themselves. “We invested financially and personally in this community,” Shelley Evans says. “I can’t tell you how much it means
to us that our first project supplied new homes, jobs and the knock on effect of more money invested into the City of Revelstoke. It really inspires us.” Mackenzie Village is in the heart of Arrow Heights and in close proximity to Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) and adjacent to the proposed golf course. Phase One has reached near completion and the development is on the verge of starting phase two. With phase one completely sold out, developer David Evans said the breakdown of purchasers has been exciting to see. “About a third of purchasers plan to live in their homes full time,” David explains. “Another third are utilizing their space as a vacation home. The final third
has purchased for the purpose of using their units as vacation rentals, whether the purchasers are local or not.” Vacation rentals are a controversial subject in Revelstoke. With expensive and limited housing availability issues aside, the main bone of contention is issues of parking and noise. “This is where strata is very useful,” David says. “In the city, you have to make formal complaints about parking. Noise complaints are dealt with by the RCMP. In a strata like Mackenzie Village, we have a 10 p.m. quiet time and a security company that enforces it. So if someone breaches the bylaw, both the renters and the owners are ticketed immediately. And underground or above-
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HOME STYLE
The Mackenzie Village development in Arrow Heights has just opened its soldout Phase One condos to new homeowners. The interiors feature contemporary, neutral designs fit for customization and personal touches. Photos by Keri Knapp/ Revelstoke Mountaineer
ational aspect. There are kids going to school with our youngest whose parents, grandparents and even great grandparents all live in this community.” MV has become a haven for Revelstokians who have previously been unable to get into the real estate market. With homes prices being at an all time high, and available homes often in need of major renovations, MV has allowed Revelstoke couples, singles, and families to purchase a new home with a mortgage equivalent to the sometimes exor-
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bitant rent they were previously paying. In turn, this frees up rentals in town. MV is meant to accent the beauty of the land it is built on, and the Evans have brought clean design and environmentally sound building to the forefront. The Evans have a passion for building clean; their own home uses a biomass boiler fuelled by wood chips and passive gains through south facing windows to
heat the majority of their home. With that passion for environmentally sound building in mind, most of the phase one MV units were built off site to minimize waste. Triple glazed windows, wall build-ups boosting the insulation value from R18 to R35 and LED lighting has given these homes a high passive rating. “It’s a fine line,” David explains. “I would like to make them even more environmentally friendly, but then the price
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ground parking spots are available for each unit.” While there are certainly out of province buyers, what excites the Evans most is the purchasers who will live at Mackenzie Village year round. “Of that third, about seven percent of people who purchased phase one homes were people who were born and raised in Revelstoke, and then left. Now they can come back,” David says. “We have also noticed a demographic of people who want to downsize, but who are not ready to move into assisted housing or leave Revelstoke.” The ability to stay in town regardless of age is important to the Evans. “A very unique thing about Revelstoke that we didn’t see in Whistler is the multigener-
Congratulations
David and Shelley on your investment in our community. 210 Hwy 23N, Revelstoke B.C. P: 250 837 5144 www.revelstokeequipmentrentals.com
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HOME STYLE would skyrocket.” The units are crisp, the design a modern mountain vibe that utilizes white with dark tile accents. “We really like the contemporary look and purposely stayed away from the typical ‘mountain’ style,” Shelley says. “The theme we utilized will allow our owners a lot of flexibility in designing and furnishing with their style. We wanted to create something with stylistic longevity which would appeal to a wide range of personal taste.” With phase two on the horizon, Mackenzie Village is slated to have 18 townhouses and four 36-unit apartment complexes three stories high with the main floor zoned for commercial space. In phase two, patios and decks are included wherever possible. Townhouses will have rooftop gardens, as will the penthouses of the apartment complexes. With the large setbacks and minimal above ground parking, trees and gardens will be plentiful. The development is situated on one of the last greenfield lots available in the city, and its dovetails with contemporary planning principles that seek to create neighbourhood retail and community hubs that allow area residents to walk or bike to get staple groceries and other basics. Underground parking is a central concept throughout phase two of MV. This allows outside areas to be geared towards pedestrian use. Rather than more dense buildings, phase two will boast a pedestrian plaza comparable in size to downtown Mackenzie Plaza. In phase two, buildings will adhere to a 57-foot setback from Nichol Road. A separated sidewalk will stretch the length of the property, and with school board permission the sidewalk will extend to Park Road. There will be above ground commercial parking north of the plaza. “MV is meant to be enjoyed by all people in town, not just condo and townhouse owners,” David explains. “Phase two apartments will have a main floor comprised of commercial space, so we hope people from around Revelstoke will enjoy the amenities.” When asked if the Evans were worried about backlash from downtown stores, David doesn’t believe there will be much. The Evans have already been contacted by local business owners looking to obtain a second space and others who have been unable to find a commercial space downtown. There will be no box stores
The interiors are designed with a sleek, contemporary look that can be easily accented to adjust to the homeowner’s tastes. Photo: Keri Knapp/Revelstoke Mountainer
CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING PHASE I OF MACKENZIE VILLAGE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING SUPPLY YOUR BUILDING SUPPLIES FOR PHASE II.
(250) 837-2185
www.homehardware.ca 201 Campbell Ave Revelstoke, BC
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CONCRETE FINISHING, DRIVEWAY, PATIO & SLAB
250-814-7488
ANDYCOURNOYER58@GMAIL.COM
Thank you
EXCAVATION - UTILITIES AGGREGATE - TRUCKING
Thank you Shelley and David for the opportunity to stage the show suites at
THANK YOU to David and Shelley Evans for the opportunity to participate in this exciting new development project which benefits our community and local economy. We look forward to working with you again.
Mackenzie Village Phase 1. Wishing you further success on Phase 2.
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2500 Westside Road www.jakejayconstruction.ca
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RONA – Glacier Building Supplies wishes to congratulate David and Shelley Evans on the completion of the first phase of MacKenzie Village. We wish them continued success on the next phase of the project. We thank David and Shelley Evans and Horizon North for supporting local business and for giving RONA the opportunity to be part of this awesome project. We look forward to working with you on the next phase. 250-837-6144 96 Cartier Street Revelstoke
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The first phase of Mackenzie Village borders stands of evergreens, covered here with a fresh blanket of snow. Below: New homeowner Louisa Corton checks out her brand new kitchen right after moving in to the new development. Photos: Keri Knapp/Revelstoke Mountaineer
and most commercial spaces will be around the 200-square-metre mark. What’s more, being located in Arrow Heights means no traffic is diverted from the downtown. “We are looking to compliment downtown,” he says. “Already, right now, you can’t get into places to eat during the winter season. With more people living here, there needs to be amenities to provide for them.” It’s important to understand our success is linked with downtown, with the Revelstoke economy as a whole,” he says. “We hope that by building Mackenzie Village we are allowing people who want to stay in Revelstoke the opportunity to do so. People are worried we are changing the face of Revelstoke,” he explains, “but we are helping keep people here who couldn’t have stayed otherwise. This includes vibrant entrepreneurs, who are part of the reason the downtown is what it is today.” While growth can seem painful and the long-term effect is unknown, development seems necessary and inevitable. Mackenzie Village offers a potentially beautiful rendition of future housing for our community.
Congratulations on the completion of Phase 1 of Mackenzie Village. rbattersby@rctvonline.net 520 2nd street west Revelstoke, BC
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P 250.837.2519 F 250.837.6219
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CONGRATULATIONS on the completion of Phase 1 of Mackenzie Village. We wish them continued success on phase II. Peter Bernacki | bernacki@nu-trendltd.com | (250) 837-1462 37
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MODERN LIVING. MOUNTAIN LIFEST YLE. Introducing Mackenzie Village, a landmark new community in Revelstoke, BC just minutes from Revelstoke Mountain Resort and downtown Revelstoke. Everything you need to spend your time where it matters the most: outside.
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