REVELSTOKE COMMUNITY PROFILE

ECONOMIC INFORMATION

Here you will find the following economic information for Revelstoke:

• Economic Sectors
• Business Activity
• Business Costs
• Proximity to Markets
• Industrial Land

Revelstoke’s economy is dependent on four basic economic sectors: transportation, forest industry, tourism and public services. Figure IV indicates the distribution of economic dependency for the years 1991, 1996 and 2001.

Figure IV
Revelstoke Economic Dependency

Source:  BC Stats - Ministry of Management Services, January 2004:  British Columbia’s Heartland At the Dawn of the 21st Century.

Note:  CPR Transportation figures were separated from other employment for 1991 and 1996 based on the 2001 data made available for that sector.

The following is a brief description of each of these basic sectors and identification of the major companies operating in these sectors.

4.1.1 Transportation - C.P. Rail:

Historically, CP Rail has been the largest and most stable source of employment in Revelstoke. Recently CP Rail has initiated major corporate restructuring in order to remain internationally competitive resulting in reductions to local work force numbers with the centralization of some activities such as crew calling and customer services to other Canadian cities. CP Rail currently employs on average 400 persons locally as crew persons for the freight trains and track maintenance workers.

4.1.2 Forest (Timber) Industry:

Revelstoke is the base of operations for three sawmills, one cedar shake and shingle mill, one pole yard, and several value added wood manufacturing plants.

Downie Timber, which employs 200 persons at its sawmill is the major wood manufacturer in the area. This company has recently expanded its operations to include a value added wood processing plant, Selkirk Specialty Woods, providing direct employment for an additional 70 persons. All woodlands operations including harvesting, hauling, road building, forest management services and silviculture are handled by independent contractors.

The City of Revelstoke has undertaken a number of initiatives to support the processing of forest resources in the community. In June 1993, the City of Revelstoke in partnership with three local sawmills purchased a Tree Farm Licence and formed the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation which is responsible for managing the Tree Farm Licence. The community's investment in this project helped to secure a guaranteed wood supply for the local processors, provide for economic stability and security, and ensure local control of local resources.

The Revelstoke Community Forestry Corporation operates a log sort yard which allows for the opportunity to purchase selected high quality logs which benefits local value-added companies and artisans.

The 2001 Census reported 450 persons were employed in forestry and wood manufacturing in Revelstoke.

4.1.3 Tourism and Hospitality:

Revelstoke is an historic mountain community which is currently a summer and winter tourist haven. Considerable tourism infrastructure has been developed, including 1,300 rental bed units and well established attractions, restaurants, bars, entertainment outlets and retail stores. With its central location on the Trans Canada Highway, between the Monashee and Selkirk Mountains, Revelstoke serves as a staging center for winter and summer back country activities.

The tourism and hospitality sector has demonstrated significant growth and investment during the past ten years. From the 2001 Census data, 670 persons were employed in accommodation and food services in Revelstoke. Many of these jobs are part time and/or seasonal. Thirty food & beverage establishments and twenty accommodation properties, support a full range of tourism attractions, tours, museums, art attractions, sports, outdoor recreation activities, specialty accommodations and recreation facilities. A visitor’s guide can be viewed at www.seerevelstoke.com/vacation

The Revelstoke Tourism Strategy was revised in 2003 by the Revelstoke Tourism Advisory Committee. A Tourism Development Coordinator has been working since 1997 to implement the Strategy. A number of tourism marketing projects are being developed to enhance and sustain the tourism sector of the economy.

The www.seerevelstoke.com Chamber of Commerce website was established in 1995 and is continuously being updated. Revelstoke Winter Sports activities are available on the website at www.seerevelstoke.com/snow. Revelstoke Summer Activities are available on the website at www.seerevelstoke.com/vacation. All of the major activities are represented as well as accommodation, food and beverage services. A new addition to the Chamber website is the translation of the tourism and business pages into German, Dutch, French, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.

The following visitation information demonstrates the growth trends for tourism in Revelstoke. Several recent studies and reports have identified the Tourism and Hospitality sector as having the greatest potential for future expansion over the next few years.

• The Revelstoke Railway Museum attendance has grown significantly since it opened in 1993 with just over 15,000 visitors. Attendance now averages 22,000 visitors per year.
   
• Snowmobiler sign in sheets are kept at Boulder Mountain Chalet. These sheets are tallied every year and the visitation data recorded. Snowmobiling activity is also tracked through trail pass sales. Figure V is a graphical representation of the growth in snowmobiling over the past 17 years.

Figure V
BOULDER MOUNTAIN SNOWMOBILERS 1991 – 2007

• Data provided by Parks Canada indicates the number of people traveling through Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks on the Trans-Canada Highway increased 35% from 2.8 million in 1987, to 3.8 million in 2001.
   
• Traffic counters situated on the Trans Canada Highway west of Revelstoke at Craigellachie indicates that vehicle traffic has grown from 1.7 million in 2000 to 1.9 million in 2002.
   
• Room Revenue Data is collected by BC Stats. As can be seen in Figure VI room revenues have been increasing steadily over the period 2000 – 2006.

Figure VI
 Revelstoke Room Revenues 2000 – 2006

• The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce operates two Visitor Information Centres. One at its main office year round and a seasonal satellite centre in the heart of downtown. In 2006 attendance was reported at 48,644 visitors. Figure VII shows where the visitors originated.

Figure VII
Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce Visitor Origin 2002 - 2006

4.1.4 Public Service

Despite recent reductions in the provincial government workforce, public service provides a significant stable employment base in Revelstoke. 2001 Census data indicates that 700 persons are Public Service Employees (Health Care and Social Assistance, Education and Public Administration).

4.1.5 Other Basic Employment

Included in Other Basic Employment are Hydroelectric production, water bottling, mining and construction.

Hydroelectric Production:

The operation of two of B.C. Hydro’s major hydro-electric production facilities at the Revelstoke and Mica Dams contribute significantly to Revelstoke’s economic base. These two dams represent 33% of B.C. Hydro’s electrical production capacity and employ 85 persons, most of whom are resident in Revelstoke. In addition, contract services are provided from Revelstoke to both facilities.

Water Bottling:

Cott Enterprises operates a water bottling facility 45 kms east of Revelstoke. Operations consist of blow moulding a recyclable plastic container and bottling and packaging natural spring water in an integrated and robotized plant. Three Valley Springs also bottles water in the Revelstoke Area, and the potential for further expansion of water bottling opportunities is unlimited given the excellent quality of this abundant mountain water resource.

Mining:

Mining has historically been an important economic activity in the Revelstoke area. While there has been little activity in the past few years, there is a very active mining exploration program currently underway, and a Vancouver-based company (Orphan Boy Resources) is planning to re-activate the Goldstream Mine processing facility in the near future.
 

* Building Permits include renovations and new construction

2005 and 2006 were record years for construction in Revelstoke, with residential, commercial and institutional building showing substantial increases.
 

 
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