READ THE ACTION PLAN

1. Availability of secure housing based on job vacancies and rental occupancy.

2. Resident sentiment towards the quality of life in Revelstoke, ascertained through ongoing community surveying.

3. Carbon emissions per tourism dollar spent in the community.

4. Visitor sentiment ascertained through Net Promoter Score or comparable data.

Tourism Revelstoke gratefully acknowledges the support of Pacifican and the Economic Opportunity Fund in creating our Destination Management Plan.

Giant Cedars Boardwalk Will Remain Closed For Summer 2023

PARKS CANADA SAYS THE POPULAR MOUNT REVELSTOKE NATIONAL PARK ATTRACTION HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS LIFECYCLE

By Melissa Jameson

A popular visitor attraction at Mount Revelstoke National Park will remain closed this summer.

Parks Canada says significant damage due to heavy snowfall during the winter of 2021-2022, along with years of exposure to deep snow combined with the humid Columbia Mountains rainforest environment have taken their toll on the Giant Cedars Boardwalk.

“Unfortunately, the structure is at the end of its lifecycle and needs to be replaced,” Kevin Gedling, acting public relations and communications officer for Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks wrote in an email to the Mountaineer. “Parks Canada has started planning for the future of the Giant Cedars Boardwalk area, but this thorough process requires time. We need to look at replacement options that meet the accessibility needs of as many Canadians as possible, protect this important old growth cedar forest ecosystem, and can withstand the wet, heavy snowy conditions. It is important to consider many perspectives and possibilities.”

While no replacement options had been identified at the time of publication, Parks Canada said planning is underway to ensure it can respond as quickly as possible when funding becomes available. There is currently no projected timeline for reopening the Giant Cedars Boardwalk.

“We understand this is disappointing to visitors and Revelstoke locals,” said Gedling, noting the closure is in place for public safety and to ensure the sensitive environment is protected from impacts of foot traffic and tramping – and to protect people from the giant Devil’s Club, which according to a WorkSafe BC document, can cause a serious reaction in some people.

Parks Canada will provide information on the future of the Giant Cedars Boardwalk as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Giant Cedars picnic and dayuse area is open to the public. You can also check out some of the other beautiful trails and sights at Mount Revelstoke National Park, including the Inspiration Woods and Broken Bridge trails.

Bed and breakfast owners operating within the City of Revelstoke will see a drastic increase in annual licensing fees starting January 2024.

At its regular meeting on May 23, Revelstoke city council passed a motion to increase fees for bed and breakfast operations to be on par with fees for short term rentals. As of January 2024, the fees for a B&B license will increase to $500 plus $250 for each additional licensed bedroom. Currently B&B license fees are $50 plus $4 per additional bedroom.

Council’s approval of the increase in fees at its May 23 meeting followed a first, second, and third reading of the new bylaw held at the regular meeting on April 11. During that meeting the mayor and some councillors expressed concern about how quickly the motion was moving forward; however, but one council member noted their support for the bylaw amendment to see B&B license fees increase to match short term rental fees.

City councillor Tim Stapenhurst, the lone council member to oppose the amendment during the April 11 discussions asked if consideration be given for the $500 fee be only for new B&B applicants and not for existing operations. He also noted a preference to see more aggressive ticketing of non-compliant operations.

FEES FOR B&B LICENSES IN REVELSTOKE ARE GOING UP

IN A MOVE TO BRING FEES ON PART WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS, THE COST OF LICENSING A BED AND BREAKFAST FOR EXISTING AND NEW OPERATIONS IN REVELSTOKE WILL INCREASE TO $500 STARTING JANUARY 1, 2024

By Melissa Jameson

City lead planner Paul Simon said staff time to complete the application and necessary building and fire inspections is one component, but that bylaw enforcement on the back end is where more substantial costs are incurred including $13,500 for host compliance which monitors and tracks legal and illegal operators to help with enforcement on both a proactive and reactive basis. In addition, research and monitoring costs range from $27,000 to $81,000 dependent on the number of hours required of development services staff.

Council has asked city staff to send a letter to all B&B operators notifying them of the increase to business license fees beginning January 1, 2024.