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.
June
Revelstoke Cycling Association executive director Alex Cooper and vice-president and secretary Steven Mulcahy, brought City of Revelstoke councillors up to date on the association and its activities at the May 28 council meeting. Cooper handed the microphone to Kirk Murray to update council on the more than 100 kilometres of trails the association manages in four networks – MacPherson, Boulder, Sunnyside and Frisby Ridge. Murray pointed out the budget for 202 was $164,000, with $106,000 going to trail maintenance. Cooper noted the association started the season with a $77,000 operating deficit. Climate change is the biggest challenge facing the organization as the hotter, drier trails are harder to maintain and wildfire smoke has a damaging effect on the health of workers and cyclists. Also a challenge are the more complex land-use application Issues, First Nations reconciliation and habitat protection.
The Okanagan Regional Library, Revelstoke branch celebrated the opening of news spaces including the Teenie Teen area, a revamped Family Space, Library Learning Lab, a new circulation desk area, and reading room.
Revelstoke was treated to a plant medicine workshop on June 13 at School District 19. The workshop was put on in conjunction with the Sinixt Upper Columbia Canoe Journey. Led by Sinixt knowledge keeper Faith Zacherle-Tonasket and native plant specialist Rob Crandall, the workshop focused on plant fibre processing and traditional medicine making workshop. Crandall taught a group of about 20 participants how to strip the fibre from hemp to be used for things such as basket weaving, and discussed various wetland plants that can be used to create things such as ropes and fishnets.
Volunteers were busy trying their best to conserve Revelstoke's painted turtle population. The continued conservation effort include signage to remind drivers to slow down and watch out for turtles when driving on Airport Way and Red Devil Hill. In addition to the signage, Wildsight Revelstoke and a team of volunteers constructed an alternative nesting site to encourage the turtles to choose a different and less dangerous route.
A Revelstoke resident was the one flying high after a quick stop en route to the airport to pick up a friend. Pat Dillman originally stopped at Chances Casino in Salmon Arm on Thursday, June 13 to get something to eat, but decided to feed the machines first, resulting in a $1.2-million feast from a Powerbucks Cleopatra Grand slot machine. The big winner, however, was prepared to walk away with much less. “I thought I’d won 410 bucks. The girl came over and I said just give me my $410, I’m going to the restaurant to eat. And she said ‘You’re not going anywhere for awhile, you’ve got the big one’,” Dillman said, with the final number actually $1,245,154.16.
Interest in the Revelstoke Airport was beginning to soar. Councillors were filled in on new operations and increasing membership in the Revelstoke Flying Club at the June 11 City Council meeting. Council gave unanimous approval to Coun. Matt Cherry assuming a seat on the board of the flying club as a non-voting member. Cherry explained that membership in the flying club, which was established in 1960, had been aging out, but a recent resurgence has brought the numbers up to 30. He noted that two new operations were interested in the airport, the Silvertip Flying Club and a flight training school pending approval by Transport Canada.