26 minute read
Day & Night of a DJ. p
DAY&NIGHT OF A DJ
WHEN I FIRST SAT DOWN WITH SIMON, I THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR A STORY ABOUT A LOCAL DJ WITH A COOL AND CONTRASTING DAY JOB. I PICTURED THE MAGAZINE SPREAD FEATURING A BLOWN-UP IMAGE; TWO PORTRAITS MERGED, ONE HALF OF SIMON IN HIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT FUSED WITH HIS OTHER HALF AS A DJ AND PRODUCER. THE STORY DIDN’T GO THE WAY I EXPECTED. IN FACT, SIMON’S STORY IS AN EXAMPLE OF EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED AND MAKING THE MOST OF THE SITUATION.
By Nora Hughes
At the beginning of our conversation, emergency management professional Simon Hunt fielded my first question expertly. I asked him to tell me about his career; a vague question, I’ll admit. “What I’m going to get to is the why,” he says. The answer to how the hell he ended up saving a music festival and securing a job as Public Safety Coordinator for Shambhala Music Festival.
A fire roughly 350 hectares in size, responsible for 39 evacuation orders to properties nearby, loomed dangerously close to Shambhala in 2017, threatening to end the iconic music festival early and result in financial disaster for the organizers.
The festival was under evacuation alert and planned to cancel the last day of festivities due to safety concerns. The shock was illustrated through multiple news headlines, and Shambhala issued a public safety announcement to guests: “Due to the McCormick Creek wildfire and after consulting with the local government Shambhala Music Festival Ltd. has decided to issue an early closure this year.” According to a CBC article published, an estimated $500,000 in revenue would be lost by ending the festival early.
Simon attended Shambhala in 2017. The fire was an opportunity for two parts of Simon’s previously separate worlds to collide. Shambhala provided a juxtaposition of Simon’s professional and recreational worlds. At the time, he was a Federal Government employee working for Parks Canada as a park warden. “I’m a forest fire expert,” he says, recounting the event. “And the festival was threatened by a wildfire.”
When I first sat down with Simon, I thought I would hear a story about a local DJ with a cool and contrasting day job. I pictured the magazine spread featuring a blown-up image; two portraits merged, one half of Simon in his emergency management environment fused with his other half as a DJ and producer. The story didn’t go the way I expected. In fact, Simon’s story is an example of expecting the unexpected and making the most of the situation.
Simon’s father was an emergency doctor. “I got first aid manuals in my stocking at Christmas,” he tells me, laughing. “He’s definitely had a huge influence on me, and he was really accomplished in his medical career. So, I realized early on that it really turns my crank to help people. And there are all different ways that you can help people.”
In a 25-year emergency management career with the federal government, Simon deduced that his interests and values didn’t always align with his employers. “I had the most incredible career,” he says, telling me about the extensive training worth millions of dollars he received through his work.
In 2010, Simon took a senior role in emergency coordination with the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. “[It] was the largest assemblage of emergency management in all of Canada’s history. It was like 20,000 people,” he says. “I worked in the Regional Emergency Operation Centre that oversaw all six municipalities that contain the Olympics. So we looked after everyone; we looked after two million people during the Olympics.”
“So just like an incredible career, but then all these new things came into my life, and I just saw that my beliefs and values didn’t align.”
The unexpected
Simon’s wife, Pauline Hunt, passed away in the summer of 2021, 10 years after being diagnosed with ALS, a terminal neurological illness. “See, that illness runs its full course in three to five years,” he tells me. “We ended up getting 10, which is incredible.”
Simon tells me about how they met, the house they bought, the two kids they raised, and the ways the community banded together to support his family after Pauline’s diagnosis. “We’re the kind of people who make the best out of the situation,” he says.
Friends, family, and community members fundraised to send the family on a trip worldwide. As Pauline’s illness progressed, the community came back and fundraised to renovate the Hunts’ home, making it wheelchair accessible so the family could stay together.
Simon says a big part of the why — the answer to my initial question — he attributes to his wife. In 2017 when a friend and event organizer at Shambhala invited them to the festival, they went. “The music just absolutely blew my mind,” he says. “And I was like, I want to do that.”
That was where it all started for Simon. Shambhala showed him the music, and his career prepared him — a crossover that would change his career trajectory.
Simon had been monitoring the weather
as a fire expert all summer for Parks Canada and knew there was rain in the forecast. “I told [the festival organizers and owner] to delay their decision to end the festival by 12 hours; I’m pretty sure it’s going to rain,” he says. The organizers retracted the decision to evacuate, and sure enough, it rained. “That saved the festival,” He says.
The experience profoundly impacted him and opened doors. “I took the role as their first public safety coordinator. I am the first of my kind for the entire event industry,” he says proudly. Shambhala is forward-thinking when it comes to harm reduction. Simon oversees six programs and a team of over 1,000 staff and volunteers. Simon says he took the festival’s six existing programs, medical, harm reduction, security, fire rescue, traffic control, parking, and health and safety, bringing them together to work collaboratively.
The beginning of SiFi
As Simon’s wife’s illness progressed and she became less active, Simon stayed closer to home. “I was closer and closer to home, which gave me the space [to] realize early on that I want to use [music] to play a larger part of my life,” he says.
His first event was shortly after Shambhala, at Revelstoke’s 2017 LUNA Arts Festival. Simon was a DJ at the after-party. “The response I got inspired me so much that I decided to go professional,” he says.
And so SiFi Beats, Simon’s performing persona, was born. As a professional drummer for over 30 years, SiFi’s specialty is house music. “I like to see people absolutely lose their inhibitions on the dance floor,” he says. “I like to have a lot of bass, and it's just vibrating you from the inside out and just endorphins.”
He explains that DJs mix other people’s music, and one of his goals is to produce music.
After Pauline passed away, Simon discovered a gift she had left for him. She sent Simon to a music production school, supporting his dreams even after she’d gone. “It’s called Cosmic Academy,” he says with emotion in his voice. “It’s an artist development program.” Simon says the gift was a beautiful gesture that not only taught him how to make music but also sign records, promote himself, and become part of a collective. It created a community for him to utilize. “At [Shambhala] this year, five of my colleagues are performing,” he says with a smile.
Pioneering passion
Simon fulfilled his dream of producing music with an unexpected deeper connection. Simon will perform original music at this year’s Woodstoke festival in Revelstoke on September 3, 2022. He’s performing with Amy Stenner, a professional singer and one of his wife’s caregivers. He describes the beautiful coincidence, “She’s like family, and there’s so much synergy between us.” Simon says he’s at a place in his life where anything could happen. He’s creating music to progress his DJ career and dreams of performing at Shambhala. He says he’ll apply to record labels after he has an arsenal of good music. Simon continues to work for the Shambhala music festival as their Public Safety Coordinator. In addition, Simon does emergency management consulting under Spark Solutions Ltd. He will serve as the Safety Coordinator for the 2022 LUNA Arts Festival in September. In November, Simon will start a master’s program in Disaster Emergency Management. “I’m gonna be a master of disaster,” he remarks comically. With this education under his belt, he hopes to fill a gap in the events industry. “I would like to be able to create a safety coordination role for the entire event industry for all events across Canada,” he tells me. He wants to use all his knowledge from his government career to create a role intertwined with a scene he loves so much. “I don't know what that's going to be quite yet,” he says. “But here I am, getting another crack at life, a whole new life.” For Simon, it’s not black and white. His work overlaps in unexpected ways. He refers to his work as parallel lives — both sides define his pioneering ambitions for the future.
THE DOWNBEAT ON REVELSTOKE’S DJ SCENE
DOLLA HILZ
Name during the day: Hilary Links: @dollahilz, djdollahilz@gamil.com, soundcloud/dollahil Genres: Reggae/Dancehall, Hip Hop, West Coast Bass
Dolla Hilz lives in Revelstoke and is an active member in the DJ community, frequently hosting her own show and appearing at events all over town. While she says she hasn’t played any big shows or festivals (yet), she’s most proud of a show she threw in April 2022 called Thiiic Stacks.
Q: Day job? A: Bookkeeper, dance and yoga instructor, currently completing a master's degree in counselling psychology Q: Your sound in one word? A: Vibez Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: The scene in Revelstoke is grassroots, authentic, inclusive, supportive and expanding.
BUNNY HOPS
Name during the day: Alex Hopkins Links: @alexhopss a.hopkins@live.ca Genres: All genres of house, disco, and funk
Bunny Hops lives in Banff but has been playing in Revelstoke on a semi-regular basis. In terms of the show she’s most proud of performing at, she says the answer changes all the time, but that she was hyped to be a part of Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s end-of-season party.
Q: Day job? A: Sales Rep at CMH Heli-Skiing Q: Your sound in one word? A: Vibrant Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: The scene in Revy is unique and filled with talent across multiple genres. Revelstoke is there for a good time and good music; what else could you want? I love being a part of it.
KITCHENSINK
Name during the day: Nick Links: @kitchensinkdj Genres: Bass House, Dubstep, Experimental Bass
KITCHENSINK, a Revy resident and founding member of Group Research Project, is passionate about developing Revelstoke’s DJ scene. That’s why he’s proud to have played a slot at Group Research Project’s Canada Day festival titled “Rave Eh!” He says he’s also proud of an opportunity he took to play at Renegade Stage during Shambhala 2022.
Q: Day job? A: Landscaper, arty planner, fun haver Q: Your sound in one word? A: Bassface Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: BASS!!! Group Research Project is changing the scene in Revelstoke. These guys create safe and non-judgmental environments that expose you to the best underground bass music. UP AND COMING, BABY!!
LEARN ABOUT ONE OF THE STAPLES IN REVELSTOKE’S DIVERSE MUSIC SCENE, UNDERGROUND DJS AND PRODUCERS.
By Nora Hughes
From event venues to bars to parties in the woods, Revelstoke’s DJ scene is as iconic as its mountain culture. Under the influence of sick beats, good vibes, and flashing lights, it may be hard to tell who your dance doctor is during the day. Maybe they're your neighbour, boss, or the co-owner of your favourite bookstore. We connected with some of Revelstoke’s sound mixers to gain insight into the day and night of a DJ.
BUNNY.PANCAKE
Name during the day: Links: mariepierruest@gmail.com, Facebook: Marie-Pier Ruest, @marieruest. Genres: Techno, Tech House and Afro
Bunny Pancake calls Revelstoke home and is excited by the variety of music and people mixing the music. You may recognize her from a show she was proud to play in March 2022 at Traverse.
Q: Day job? A: I am a Translator Q: Your sound in one word? A: Fierce Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: There is a great variety of excellent DJs in town - and they are all wonderful humans!
JUDGE JUICY
Name during the day: Justin Links: @its.judge.juicy Genres: Tech House & Bass House
Member of Group Research Project and Revy resident Judge Juicy says the DJ scene in Revelstoke is for everyone. He’s proud to have played at Group Research Project’s “Rave Eh!” festival in July 2022.
Q: Day job? A: Salesperson Q: Your sound in one word? A: Juicy Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: The Revelstoke scene is fun, inclusive, and welcoming to anyone who plays or enjoys electronic music. Whether it's in the bar, the park, or an undisclosed location in the woods, you're going to find some talented people playing something you are going to love.
WEX&DEX
Name during the day: Simon Dex and Declan Saville (Dexville) Links: Keep your ears to the ground. We tend to pop up somewhat unannounced. Genres: House, Tech House & Disco
Revelstoke dads and DJs Wex and Dex say their performances can be described as live audio art shows, combining lighting, custom visuals, and four-deck DJing live from the booth. The pair came together as a DJ duo in December 2019 and says that since coming together, every show has been their favourite.
Q: Day Job? A: Full-time Dads is our mainstay. Q: Your sound in one word: A: Technotronic-Bass-Funked-Disco Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: It's building momentum. The DJ scene in Revelstoke has certainly grown over the last five years.
ONORAY
Name during the day: Alex Rouleau Links: @alx.rouleau, alexandre.r@illusionfestival.com Genres: Techno, Minimal, Psytech
Revelstoke’s Onoray is Co-Founder of Cymatic Grounds, a DJ collective focused on techno and house music and terrific audio-visual integration. The show he’s most proud of is a festival of his own creation called “Illusion.” Some of his other best shows include performing on the main stage at Astral Harvest and at a stereo bar in Montreal.
Q: Day job? A: Freelance graphic designer / Event producer Q: Your sound in one word? A: Restless Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: Still a very under developed scene but you can feel the excitement from the people, they want something to be done.
SPANDA
Name during the day: Allie Bruni Links: www.spanda.ca Genres: Tech House, Afro House
You’ve probably seen Spānda around, her electric energy and passion are hard to miss; that goes for her day job and DJ performances. The show she’s most proud of playing is the Joshua Tree Music Festival in the USA in 2018.
Q: Day job? A: Co-owner of Fable Book Parlour Q: Your sound in one word? A: Fun Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: Revelstoke is blessed to have so many talented local, creative, and inspiring DJ/ Producers. Not only do these DJs work tirelessly (behind the scenes) on their craft, but they are all trying to create and produce (music) opportunities for themselves, all while attempting to grow the DJ scene here in Revelstoke.
HUWSWHO?!
Name during the day: Huw Saunders Links: @huwswho, huw.is.who@gmail.com, Facebook: Huw Saunders, Genres: House, Drum n' Bass, Bass music
HuwsWho?! lives in Revelstoke and has a passion for DJing, adventuring, and snowboarding. The show he’s most proud of is a performance he gave at Burning Man in 2018 on the Dirty Beetles' Boogaloo art car.
Q: Day job? A: Non-Destructive Testing Technician Q: Your sound in one word? A: Eclectic Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: Busy and blossoming! Photo credits: Robin Falletta Photography
BOOMSQUATCH
Name during the day: Noah Links: @nbyernss Genres: Disco, Downtempo, House
Boomsquatch lives in Revelstoke seasonally as an outdoor enthusiast in addition to his passion for the booming bass. He’s proud to have performed at Group Research Project’s “Rave Eh!” with his fellow DJs KITCHENSINK and Judge Juicy.
Q: Day job? A: Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Q: Your sound in one word? A: Booming Q: What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like? A: Very loose
SIFI BEATS
Name during the day: Simon Hunt Links: @sifibeats, simon@sifibeats.com Genres: House, House, and House!!!
SiFi Beats is a drummer and DJ living in Revelstoke. His passion for music has led him to some incredible opportunities that have allowed him to merge his professional life and musical aspirations. SiFi is most proud of his performance at LUNA Festival 2017 after party, where the crowd lost their inhibitions in the music. Read more about SiFi in the full length feature Day and Night of a DJ
Day job: Public Safety Coordinator for Shambhala Music Festival / Emergency Management Consultant - Spark Solutions Ltd. Your sound in one word: Vibey What’s Revelstoke’s DJ scene like?: Growing/Blossoming!!! HuwsWho?! Photo: Robin Falletta Photography Simon Hunt (Sifi) at Shambala 2022. Photo: Allen McEachern Photography
Photo: Bailey Gringras-Hamlton
BACK TO THE BUSHES
EVEN AS INDOOR MUSIC VENUES REOPEN, REVELSTOKE'S SECRETIVE BASS MUSIC SCENE IS GROWING, LED BY LOCAL DJ COLLECTIVE GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT.
Words and photo by Bailey Gingras-Hamilton
Under a cover of pine trees and stars, the ground trembles from bassy growls. Far past the reaches of the nearest cell tower, they gather in a sea of sparkles, mismatched patterns, and strobe flashes through the hemlocks.
Even as Footloose-esque laws relax and indoor music venues reopen, Revelstoke’s secretive backwoods rave scene is growing. At the centre of this bass-music renaissance is Group Research Project; a local DJ collective led by Nick St-Germain (a.k.a. DJ Kitchen Sink) and Justin Jackson (a.k.a. DJ Juicy J).
The group says it is supported by dedicated volunteers, attendee donations and electronic music aficionados, Group Research Project celebrated their first anniversary in August 2022. Their first event saw approximately 200 attendees. Since then, some events have seen nearly double that attendance.
“I want to create an open space for people to be exposed to really cool underground music, while being in a safe environment. Where you can express yourself and be free with whatever you do,” reflects St-Germain on the groups inception and their first event over a year ago.
Through word-of-mouth advertising, the group has attracted hundreds of artists and attendees; extending beyond the general Revelstoke area.
“We are now having out-of-town artists and well-known Shambhala [Music Festival] DJs play at our events, and we are also outreaching to artists outside of Revelstoke to come to town and play and show us their art,” St-Germain says. While the secretive nature inhibits name-dropping, DJs from the Nelson area are rumored to appear at their next event.
Deck: Group says it prioritizes attendee safety and minimizing environmental impact
Despite operating in a legal grey-area, Group Research Project says it has pulled off these events for one year without any serious incidents.
The group says it uses on-site medical and harm reduction staff, sober drivers, attendee camping areas and a dedicated “green team.” Keeping an underground profile also promotes a caring environment, St-Germain explains.
“We have our followers come to [us] specifically. It's not just random people that show up in town. It's people that follow us, that know the culture, that know how to properly rave.”
So, how does one properly rave? Recently, Group Research Project says it introduced a dedicated harm reduction tent where attendees can have a calm place to chill out, refuel on water, snacks and electrolytes, and get information about how different substances interact with each other.
Naloxone kits are a common sight, fixed to fanny packs and utility belts on volunteers and attendees alike.
“Anything can happen, whether it's at a rave or not. That being said, we do everything that we can to anticipate those situations,” St-Germain adds. This is where their team of sober drivers come in. The group maintains an evacuation plan at all their events, with enough volunteers to safely get people home.
While Group Research Project keeps their locations secretive until the day of the events, the group says Revelstoke paramedics are always notified of their exact destination, St-Germain says.
As for environmental impacts, St-Germain is well aware of the damage that noise, garbage and human waste can cause to local ecosystems.
“A big part of my mentality is also to leave nature and the environment better than it was,” he says. “We have a green team that kind of comes in after the event, and they will do all the nitpicking of little pieces of trash that we've missed.”
With an eye on the future and continued growth, St-Germain pays homage to the people who bring it all together.
“These events wouldn't happen without anyone, all of our volunteers. So, we have an insane amount of people that are happy and want to volunteer at all of our events. I just want to give the biggest thank you to those volunteers because these events wouldn't happen without them.”
MIRROR MIRROR
TAKING A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, JILL MACDONALD EXPLORES DEPICTIONS OF OUR HOME TOWN.
By Jill Macdonald
Art is an opportunity to encounter new perspectives and to reconsider the familiar. It presents new ideas and relationships, giving us an avenue to review our assumptions. Framing this exploration of iconic Revelstoke images required a long swim through turbulent water – such is the experience of self-evaluation.
As I review my relationship with Revelstoke, I realize we are still just acquaintances; we are not close friends yet. I have a sense of the place and its history but there are only gleams shining through the shell. This scanty impression is not solely a function of time spent here, it is more about interaction and allowing perceptions to flow through, like a rip tide. Be carried, don’t resist, don’t presume to already know.
With that in mind, we begin with the celebrated Canadian artist E. J. Hughes as the outsider, looking in.
STYLIZED REALISM
A quick internet query resulted in multiple threads leading toward the same painting. E.J. Hughes, born in 1913, grew up on the west coast of B.C. He was a reclusive person, never attended any of his art shows and struggled to make a living until his first break in 1951, when he was given $500 for a dozen paintings. With financial ease, he was free to explore. Revelstoke was one of his destinations.
Above Revelstoke (1963), pictured here, was the largest canvas in his portraits of our town. In it, we see his signature brilliant colours, lush greenery, and the magical quality of his depictions built on rhythm, patience and a sense of wonder. There is no tension, no battles with wilderness or change, and no history. Out of step with the trend of his time, Hughes’ style was not abstract; it was sharp and detailed. At times he suffered doubt when his works were compared to photographs, thoughts he was able to squelch. “I continue painting realistic things because a painter can add something a photographer hasn't got. It is a form of worship. I am showing my appreciation to these Creations.”
Hughes made two trips here and took meticulous notes and drawings. In rendering what he felt, he infused his art with the awe of a visitor. He came, he saw, he was transported.
E.J. Hughes, Above Revelstoke.
THE SALON
We shift from an outsider’s perspective to a person who has always called Revelstoke home. Greta Speerbrecker has been painting since she was a teenager and took classes with the masterful and personable Sophie Atkinson, founder of the Revelstoke Arts Group.
Speerbrecker credits Atkinson for exposing her to colour flow, teaching her to include all the colours in a scene and the importance of blending the background. “Watercolours are the most difficult style of painting to master,” she says. As a student of Atkinson, she learned to see things differently, a talent that has not left her. There is a gentle intimacy to her work, a casual familiarity that is neither bold nor careless; her artistry is respectful, quiet and mainly pastoral.
Still going strong at 85 years old, her new craze is for alcohol inks, which she paints in a style she calls “loose.” It entails putting down bright colours and manipulating them with a dry brush, or an airbrush and gradually revealing the forms within. Speerbrecker claims she can no longer achieve the detailed brushstrokes of her younger years, but she is modest.
The underlying serenity of Speerbrecker’s works reveals a Revelstoke that simply is itself. Like her flower gardens that she calls “wild,” nothing is tamed or tortured, it is free to grow as it will, mixing with weeds and wandering through the trees, unfussed, steadfast.
Painting with alcohol ink. Greta Speerbrecker
HYPERBOLE
So far, we have reverence for our mountains and landscapes. It is tempting to rest within that category because it’s familiar and comfortable, but there has to be an underbelly, or we can’t be telling a true story. Along comes Maria Medina to turn things on their head.
Medina spent her childhood in Revelstoke. After travelling the world, she has come full circle and once again lives here, where she maintains an active painting studio. She brings us a response to this landscape that is at once surprising and delightful. It is also unexpected.
“My work is a reaction against what I see,” she explains. “I am surrounded by green. Lots of artists choose to focus on their surroundings, but my work is an exaggeration of colour and detail.”
Medina collects objects and stores them in curated cubbies in her studio. To compose her paintings, she arranges the objects into narratives, then adds elements to create vignettes that are not quite true.
“My painting is a response to growing up in this environment. When I paint, I don’t paint a bee or a flower, I paint a series of lines and shadows and their relationship to one another, positive and negative spaces. The result is a face or a nose.” Or a bird eating a bee.
Her uncanny ability to notice and capture the minutiae, her sense of humour and her willingness to express tension and potential conflict, pokes us in the ribs and asks the question: “How is this a response to Revelstoke?”
Medina’s Bird Eaters seemed an unlikely fit to include; they are sharp and pesky. But they are unforgettable and tenacious. After seeing them, it is impossible not to notice those flowers in gardens around the city and to watch the interactions between insects and birds. This is another layer of Revelstoke, a peeling back of thinking about local sensibilities.
When objects and places come at us differently, we have the opportunity to reimagine the everyday. That is the surprise of artistic interpretation. Look closer. Look inward. Look away and look back.
The bee eaters. Maria Medina
Using visitor dollars to promote arts and culture in Revelstoke.
Tourism Revelstoke’s funding comes from the Municipal and Regional District Tax, more easily understood as the hotel tax. Every visitor who spends a night at a hotel in Revelstoke contributes to a pool of funds which is reivested in marketing and managing Revelstoke as a tourism destination. Tourism Revelstoke is committed to reinvesting our funding in the community to the greatest extent possible. We see arts and culture festivals and projects as a great avenue to spend our funding in a way that builds Revelstoke as a year-round destination, but also makes life better for our residents. In 2021, Tourism Revelstoke gave $190,000 of our $695,000 budget to non-profit organizations, a large portion of which went to arts and culture initiatives. In 2022, we increased our funding commitment towards arts initiatives in Revelstoke. Our aim is that every dollar we spend on marketing has a purpose over and above just promoting Revelstoke as a destination. We want to ensure that we promote Revelstoke in a sustainable way that enhances our community values. Tourism Revelstoke is eager to support the arts and culture scene in our community in order to provide unique experiences for both residents and visitors. If you are planning a community event and need financial assistance, please reach out to events@seerevelstoke.com.
Photo: Rob Buchanan
LUNA ARTS FESTIVAL.
“The support Arts Revelstoke received for LUNA this year allowed us to plan the biggest and most exciting Festival to date. The funding contributed towards 10 bands over 4 stages at LUNA SOUND and over 40 performances and art installations on the night of LUNA. This year we are anticipating crowds of over 10,000 people all invited to discover arts and culture and experience Revelstoke as they never have before completely for free.” - Miriam Manley, Executive Director of Arts Revelstoke
Photo: Kyra Sklar
Photo: Christine Love-Hewitt
INDIGENOUS FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY.
“Tourism Revelstoke is an important support in our community. The Indigenous Friendship Society of Revelstoke has received grants from them for events and intiatives over the past couple of years - the REDdress installation at the Riverside Trails in 2021 and the Salmon Feast in 2022. They provided accessible funding for events that brought together members of the Revelstoke community. We so appreciate this support and their commitment to promoting inclusion, education and community.” - Lisa Moore, Indigenous Friendship Society
Photo: Alexis Welch
REVELSTOKE VISUAL ARTS CENTRE.
“Everytime I have the chance to sit down and brainstorm with Tourism Revelstoke I know it’s going to lead to something incredible. The team at Tourism goes above and beyond when it comes to working with the local organizations, including our non profit arts organization, the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre. They provide us wide-reaching marketing support, a visitor centre that helps direct people to our gallery, and programs such as Thanksgiving Back and Revy Bucks that intend on increasing volunteerism and expenditure at our gallery.” - Meghan Porath, Executive Director of the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre
REVY LIVE.
“The support Arts Revelstoke gets from Tourism Revelstoke through MRDT funding for our arts and cultural programming is invaluable. The funding Tourism Revelstoke provides to REVY.Live Outside allows us to bring the best and most talented bands to Revelstoke, entertaining tourists and locals for 60 nights all summer long.” - Miriam Manley, Executive Director of Arts Revelstoke
