With the new year around the corner, the Revelstoke Review is taking this time to share some of the stories that made headlines throughout 2024.
January
After a decade-long hiatus, plans were being made for the return of Revelstoke’s winter carnival. Marking the city's 125th birthday, the 2024 Revelstoke Winter Carnival will paying homage to the city’s rich history by reintroducing some of the carnival’s original events. From March 1-3, Centennial Park would host both fan-favourite and new events.
Revelstoke was one of two Interior towns to top the WorldAtlas list of B.C.'s most welcoming towns. Revelstoke came in third place and Penticton in fifth.
A helicopter that went missing after it crashed in Glacier National Park on Friday evening, Jan. 5, was found with the sole occupant of the aircraft deceased. The helicopter was travelling from Calgary to Sicamous. The aircraft activated its emergency locator transponder, which was picked up by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) around 7 p.m. By Sunday, RCMP announced the helicopter had been found. The pilot and lone occupant, later confirmed to be Rob Blair, was found dead.
The Revelstoke Community Housing Society (RCHS) took another step towards starting a local affordable housing project during a special city council meeting. The project in question was 420 Downie St.The project aims to introduce 165 non-market rental units and 5,620 square feet of licensed childcare space. BC Housing opened the requests for proposals in December looking for a nonprofit organization to oversee design, construction, and operation, which BCHS is eager to apply for. Council approved RCHS' request to develop a contract that would allocate an additional $100,000 to the society.
Revelstoke city council voted unanimously to cancel the Johnson Heights Neighbourhood Plan project at a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 9. Lead city planner Paul Simon explained the city wouldn’t be able to tackle the project in 2024. This was in response to provincial legislation, Bill 44 which required municipalities to amend zoning bylaws "to allow up to four units on all residential lots currently zoned for single-detached or duplex dwellings, and six units on lots in proximity to transit.”
Revelstoke’s first baby of 2024 arrived Jan.7. Sadie Olsen was born at 10:37 a.m. on Jan. 7 at Queen Victoria Hospital, weighing 7 lbs, 10oz. Parents Taylor and Cody Olsen, big brother, Chase and grandparents Monica and Jerry Olsen were all enjoying their new bundle of joy.
Revelstoke council chose to postpone opting into B.C.’s latest legislation around short-term rentals, citing a need for further investigation. As a resort municipality, Revelstoke was exempt from the principal residence feature of B.C.’s new Bill 35, the ShortTerm Rental Accommodations Act, unless the city chose to opt in. That legislation – made official in October – aims to address the strain placed on the housing stock by ballooning short-term rentals that can price residents out of housing and contribute to an already bleak housing crisis.
