August 16, 1947 - January 17, 2025
In loving memory ~
On January 17th, Revelstoke lost a vibrant, outspoken and courageous community member. A fourth-generation Revelstokian, Barb Little was born at the stately Queen Victoria Hospital on First Street East, though she grew up in her second hometown of Castlegar. A life-long runner, skier, dog lover and writer, her story speaks to some of the best aspects of Revelstoke.
From a very young age, Barb loved to write, filling up more than 100 journals in her lifetime. "That's my thing," she once said. She attended Simon Fraser University and, in 1986, graduated from a writing program at Selkirk College in Castlegar. While in that program, she began writing for Revelstoke's Front Row Centre, the first newspaper in Western Canada to use desktop publishing methods. After her program ended and she returned to Revelstoke, she was their main reporter.
When Front Row Centre folded, she wrote freelance for The Revelstoke Times, the Revelstoke Times Review and the Revelstoke Current. She used her writing to speak for the community. In 2008, as Revelstoke Mountain Resort was being promoted internationally, she wrote a regular column in the Revelstoke Times Review covering housing issues. She helped form a local group called Renters' Voice to advocate for affordable housing.
Barb's friends remember her love of dancing, running, skiing and the outdoors. In the 1970s and part of the 1980s she was a server at the Regent and 112 Restaurant. She loved to dance with friends at the Regent and on any occasion - something she did even in the last months of her life.
Barb skied her whole life, even into her 70s and was a member of the ski patrol for many years. She also took up dragon boating and competed in that sport in the 55+ BC Games at least twice.
Running, especially with her many dogs, was her passion. For more than 50 years, Barb ran almost daily and participated in road races. She ran the Jasper-to-Banff relay with the Okanagan Women's Team at least two years in a row and continued to run races into her 70s. When she was 69, she won several medals in track and field at the 55+ BC Games. She credited her dogs, her "coach" and adopted 'little sis,' Andrea and the Dirty Feet Trail Series for pushing her out of her comfort zone. Her last race was at the 55+ BC Games in Kelowna in 2019, at the age of 72.
Barb's dogs kept her going. She loved big, blonde dogs and chocolate labs: Ishie, Bick, Casey, Charlie Brown and Monkey all kept her going and she returned the love in spades. In the early 2000s, with the help of a Community Futures grant, Barb pioneered a dog walking business in Revelstoke. People trusted Barb with their dogs and doggie sleepovers were common in Barb's trailer, just a stone's throw from the walking trails along the Illecillewaet River.
At the age of 69, Barb wrote in the Revelstoke Review, "Running has saved my life more than a few times. It has energized me, kept me young at heart, improved my agility, balance and stamina and, I believe, is helping push back the smog of Alzheimer's that is beginning to nibble at me."
Barb was predeceased by her parents; Irma June Johnston and Thomas Murray Little, who she cared for for years at the end of his life. She leaves behind her brothers; Ross and Thomas (Michelle), her niece; Christie and nephews; Simon and Jesse. She also leaves behind countless friends, several of whom visited and cared for her and her dogs to the end of her life, including Andrea, Linda, Heather(s), Ingrid, Kathleen, Noeline, Sue, Laura, Lorraine, Barb and many more. Thanks also go to Dr. McCarroll and the staff at the Cottages who gently cared for Barb.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society or the Revelstoke District Humane Society would be appreciated. An informal Celebration of Life will take place in the spring.
Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.bowersfuneralservice.com