Revelstoke, British Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Revelstoke
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| City of Revelstoke | |
Mackenzie Avenue
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| Nickname(s):
Revy, The Stoke, Revelstuck
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 Revelstoke
Location in British Columbia
Revelstoke
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional District | Columbia-Shuswap |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Incorporated | 1899 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 40.76 km2 (15.74 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 480 m (1,570 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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8,275 |
| • Density | 622.8/km2 (1,613/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−07:00 (PDT) |
| Postal code span |
V0E
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| Area code(s) | 250, 778, 236, 672 |
| Highways |  Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) Hwy 23 |
Revelstoke is a city in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is home to about 8,275 people as of 2021. The city is located about 641 kilometers (398 miles) east of Vancouver and 415 kilometers (258 miles) west of Calgary, Alberta.
Revelstoke sits on the banks of the Columbia River, just south of the Revelstoke Dam. It is also close to where the Columbia River meets the Illecillewaet River. To the east, you'll find the Selkirk Mountains and Glacier National Park. These areas are crossed by Rogers Pass, which is used by the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway.
South of Revelstoke, along the Columbia River, are the Arrow Lakes, Mount Begbie, and the Kootenays region. To the west, Eagle Pass cuts through the Monashee Mountains, leading to Shuswap Lake.
Contents
History of Revelstoke
Revelstoke began in the 1880s when the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was built through the area. Mining was a very important industry in the early days. The city was first called Farwell, named after a local landowner and surveyor. Even before that, it was known as the "Second Crossing" because it was the second place the Canadian Pacific Railway crossed the Columbia River.
The city got its current name from the Canadian Pacific Railway. They named it after Lord Revelstoke, who was the head of Baring Brothers & Co., a UK bank. This bank helped save the Canadian Pacific Railway from going bankrupt in 1885 by buying its unsold bonds. This allowed the railway to be finished. The city's post office opened in 1886.
Growth and Tourism in Revelstoke
The building of the Trans-Canada Highway in 1962 made it easier to get to Revelstoke. Since then, tourism has become a very important part of the local economy. Skiing is now the most popular attraction. Mount Revelstoke National Park is located just north of the town.
A big new ski resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, started being built on Mount MacKenzie in late 2005. It first opened for the 2007-2008 ski season. Revelstoke is also home to a railway museum, which tells the story of the city's connection to trains.
Wildlife in Revelstoke
Revelstoke is located in an area where both black bears and grizzly bears live. In 1994, the city's garbage dump was surrounded by an electric fence. This stopped bears from eating garbage there. However, the bears that used to feed at the dump then started looking for food in town. Many of these bears had to be removed because they became a problem.
Because so many bears were removed, an education program was created. This program teaches people how to keep bears wild and how to keep the community safe.
Revelstoke's Snowy Winters
Revelstoke holds the Canadian record for the most snow in a single winter. During the winter of 1971–72, an amazing 2,447 centimeters (963 inches) of snow fell on Mt. Copeland, just outside of town. That's more than 80 feet (24 meters) of snow! The town itself received 779 centimeters (307 inches) of snow that winter. The snow levels were higher than many roofs in town by several meters.
Economy of Revelstoke
Revelstoke's economy has always been strongly connected to the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). This connection is still important today. However, other industries like forestry, construction, tourism, and retail have grown a lot in recent years. The Revelstoke Railway Museum shows the town's ongoing link to the Canadian Pacific Railway and is a popular place for tourists to visit.
Revelstoke Dam and Downtown Renewal
Revelstoke is also where the Revelstoke Dam is located. This dam was built on the Columbia River and was finished in 1984. In 1986, after the dam was completed and a local sawmill temporarily closed, the City of Revelstoke started a project to improve its downtown area. This project was very successful and helped the city's economy.
The city has its own airport, called Revelstoke Airport.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort Development
A small ski resort with one short lift has been operating on Mount MacKenzie since the 1960s. Higher up the mountain, people could also go snowcat skiing. A strong effort was made to turn the entire mountain into a large resort, and construction began in the early 2000s.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort opened in the winter of 2007/8. It is known for having North America's greatest vertical drop, which is 1,713 meters (5,620 feet). The resort offers a huge area for skiing, including 3,121 acres of fall line skiing, high alpine bowls, and 13 areas with trees to ski through. It also has more groomed trails.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort was once the only resort in the world to offer lift, cat, heli, and backcountry skiing all from one main village. Even though economic conditions changed after 2008, the resort plans to keep growing. New lifts, hotels, condos, and a golf course are planned for 2025.
Population of Revelstoke
In the 2021 Census, Revelstoke had a population of 8,275 people. These people lived in 3,354 of the 3,739 homes in the city. This was an increase from its 2016 population of 7,562. Revelstoke covers a land area of about 41.28 square kilometers (15.94 square miles). In 2021, there were about 622.8 people living per square kilometer.
Different Backgrounds in Revelstoke
Revelstoke is home to people from many different backgrounds. The table below shows how the population has changed over the years.
| Panethnic group |
2021 | 2016 | 2011 | 2006 | 2001 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |||||
| European | 7,245 | 88.52% | 6,720 | 90.26% | 6,385 | 90.44% | 6,805 | 95.04% | 6,975 | 93.88% | ||||
| Indigenous | 400 | 4.89% | 410 | 5.51% | 395 | 5.59% | 215 | 3% | 220 | 2.96% | ||||
| East Asian | 160 | 1.95% | 130 | 1.75% | 150 | 2.12% | 75 | 1.05% | 95 | 1.28% | ||||
| South Asian | 135 | 1.65% | 70 | 0.94% | 50 | 0.71% | 25 | 0.35% | 25 | 0.34% | ||||
| Southeast Asian | 85 | 1.04% | 75 | 1.01% | 35 | 0.5% | 15 | 0.21% | 20 | 0.27% | ||||
| Middle Eastern | 55 | 0.67% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| Latin American | 45 | 0.55% | 10 | 0.13% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 80 | 1.08% | ||||
| African | 30 | 0.37% | 15 | 0.2% | 35 | 0.5% | 25 | 0.35% | 10 | 0.13% | ||||
| Other/Multiracial | 20 | 0.24% | 20 | 0.27% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| Total responses | 8,185 | 98.91% | 7,445 | 98.45% | 7,060 | 98.89% | 7,160 | 99.03% | 7,430 | 99.07% | ||||
| Total population | 8,275 | 100% | 7,562 | 100% | 7,139 | 100% | 7,230 | 100% | 7,500 | 100% | ||||
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||||||
Religious Beliefs in Revelstoke
Based on the 2021 census, here are the main religious groups in Revelstoke:
- Most people (69.0%) do not follow a specific religion.
- About 27.7% of people are Christians.
- Smaller groups include Muslims (0.7%), Buddhists (0.5%), Hindus (0.5%), Sikhs (0.4%), and Jewish people (0.1%).
- About 1.2% of the population follows other religions.
Sports and Recreation in Revelstoke
Revelstoke has been home to many talented athletes, especially in ice hockey.
Ice Hockey in Revelstoke
The city once had a junior hockey team called the Revelstoke Bruins. In the 1970s and 1980s, several players from this team went on to play in the NHL, including Bruce Holloway, Ron Flockhart, and Rudy Poeschek.
Today, Revelstoke has a team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League called the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Aaron Volpatti, a professional hockey player born in Revelstoke, used to play for this team. Another professional hockey player, Andrew Kozek, who played in the Austrian Hockey League, was also born in Revelstoke.
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revelstoke Grizzlies | KIJHL | Ice Hockey | Revelstoke Forum | 1993 | 4 |
Ski Jumping History in Revelstoke
Norwegian immigrants brought skiing and ski jumping to Revelstoke. By the 1910s, several ski jumping hills were built around the town. The Revelstoke Ski Club started in 1914 and quickly grew to 102 members.
The club's biggest event was the annual Winter Carnival Tournament. The first tournament was held in 1915. It included cross-country skiing and ski jumping competitions. There were even events for boys under 16 and a title for the Champion of British Columbia.
Nels Nelsen Hill, first known as Big Hill, opened in 1916. Revelstoke became a famous place for ski jumping around the world. Top athletes came for the yearly tournament. Revelstoke's own Nels Nelsen set a world record on the hill, jumping 73 meters (240 feet) in 1925. Later, Bob Lymburne set another record of 82 meters (269 feet) in 1932.
The hill was completely updated by 1948, which led to more international tournaments. The town even thought about trying to host the 1968 Winter Olympics. However, interest in ski jumping began to decline in the 1960s, and fewer people came to watch. The last tournament was held in 1975.
Winter Sports in Revelstoke
Because of the heavy snowfall, Revelstoke is a popular place for winter sports. It has four heli-skiing operations and two cat-skiing operations. Heli-skiing means a helicopter takes you to remote mountain tops to ski down. Cat-skiing uses a snowcat vehicle for the same purpose. There are also many lodges in the area for backcountry skiing. Revelstoke is also a major destination for snowmobiling.
Summer Activities in Revelstoke
In the summer, people enjoy many outdoor activities in Revelstoke. These include mountain biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking.
Freeride Competitions in Revelstoke
In 2010, Revelstoke became one of the special ski resorts to host the Freeskiing World Tour. After a successful tryout in 2012, the Swatch Freeride World Tour, Freeskiing World Tour, and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding joined together. They created one big global championship series. This series, called the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face, includes freeride skiing and snowboarding at each stop. It starts in Revelstoke, Canada, and ends in Verbier, Switzerland.
Since 2015, Revelstoke has also hosted the Red Bull Cold Rush. This event combines different types of skiing like backcountry slopestyle, big mountain, cliffs, and alpine ski touring. The best skiers in the world are invited to compete for prize money. The winners are chosen by other athletes, based on who is the most skilled and well-rounded.
Roller Derby in Revelstoke
In 2011, local Revelstoke residents Michael Curran and Stephanie Ells started the "Revelstoke Roller Derby Association." The league's main team, the Derailers, had their first games in the summer of 2012 and won both of their home games.
Education in Revelstoke
School District 19 Revelstoke manages the public schools in Revelstoke and the areas around it.
The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique operates one French-language school in the city. It is called école des Glaciers primary school.
Movies Filmed in Revelstoke
Revelstoke has been a filming location for several movies:
- The 1937 British movie The Great Barrier, starring Lilli Palmer, showed the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Parts of it were filmed in Revelstoke.
- Some scenes from the 1999 action thriller Double Jeopardy, with Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones, were filmed in Revelstoke. The historic courthouse was one of the locations used.
- The Barber (2001), starring Malcolm McDowell, was almost entirely filmed in Revelstoke. In the movie, the town is called Revelstoke, Alaska.
- In 2017, the Hallmark Channel movie Frozen in Love, starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Niall Matter, was filmed in the area.
Climate in Revelstoke
Revelstoke has a type of climate called a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Summers are usually warm and rainy, with cool nights. Winters are cold, very snowy, and often cloudy.
On average, Revelstoke has 50.3 days below 0°C (32°F) each year. It also has about 13.5 days above 30°C (86°F) and one day above 35°C (95°F). The most snow ever recorded in a single day was 60.2 cm (23.7 inches) on December 10, 1980. The deepest snow ever recorded on the ground was 173 cm (68.1 inches) on February 15, 1982.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Revelstoke was 40.6°C (105.1°F) on July 17, 1941. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -34.4°C (-29.9°F). This happened on January 11, 1909, January 20, 1935, and January 18, 1943.
| Climate data for Revelstoke Airport, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1898–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.7 (53.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
37.2 (99.0) |
40.1 (104.2) |
40.6 (105.1) |
38.3 (100.9) |
37.2 (99.0) |
25.6 (78.1) |
17.2 (63.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
40.6 (105.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.9 (30.4) |
1.1 (34.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
19.7 (67.5) |
22.9 (73.2) |
25.1 (77.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
18.4 (65.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
3.3 (37.9) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.5 (25.7) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
2.5 (36.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
16.4 (61.5) |
18.3 (64.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
6.8 (44.2) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
7.3 (45.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −6.2 (20.8) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
1.9 (35.4) |
6.1 (43.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
11.5 (52.7) |
11.3 (52.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
2.5 (36.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −34.4 (−29.9) |
−32.2 (−26.0) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−12.7 (9.1) |
−23.6 (−10.5) |
−32.8 (−27.0) |
−34.4 (−29.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 107.9 (4.25) |
80.4 (3.17) |
61.6 (2.43) |
66.5 (2.62) |
58.1 (2.29) |
75.2 (2.96) |
72.5 (2.85) |
66.6 (2.62) |
55.5 (2.19) |
84.2 (3.31) |
118.3 (4.66) |
103.7 (4.08) |
950.5 (37.42) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 20.8 (0.82) |
27.7 (1.09) |
43.7 (1.72) |
62.2 (2.45) |
58.1 (2.29) |
75.2 (2.96) |
72.5 (2.85) |
66.6 (2.62) |
55.5 (2.19) |
82.5 (3.25) |
62.3 (2.45) |
22.3 (0.88) |
649.3 (25.56) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 112.5 (44.3) |
67.9 (26.7) |
21.5 (8.5) |
4.3 (1.7) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.7 (0.7) |
62.4 (24.6) |
110.6 (43.5) |
381.0 (150.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 19.0 | 15.5 | 14.5 | 16.1 | 14.1 | 16.1 | 14.9 | 13.2 | 11.2 | 15.1 | 20.6 | 17.9 | 188.2 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.9 | 7.3 | 12.3 | 15.8 | 14.1 | 16.1 | 14.9 | 13.2 | 11.2 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 5.1 | 144.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 16.9 | 11.1 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 10.7 | 16.7 | 62.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82.4 | 76.7 | 63.3 | 49.3 | 44.8 | 46.8 | 50.8 | 53.1 | 59.1 | 70.6 | 82.2 | 82.3 | 63.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 29.6 | 57.8 | 125.1 | 157.6 | 209.0 | 213.4 | 241.6 | 233.7 | 168.6 | 88.4 | 32.9 | 25.1 | 1,582.7 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 11.3 | 20.6 | 34.0 | 38.1 | 43.5 | 43.3 | 48.6 | 51.8 | 44.3 | 26.5 | 12.2 | 10.1 | 32.0 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Neighborhoods of Revelstoke
Revelstoke has 15 officially recognized neighborhoods:
- Arrow Heights
- Big Eddy
- Central Business
- Central Revelstoke
- Clearview Heights
- Columbia Park
- CPR Hill
- Farwell/Mountain View
- Highway Corridor
- Kelly Flats/Dalles
- Resort Lands
- South Revelstoke
- Johnson Heights
- Thomas Brook
- Westside Road
Notable People from Revelstoke
Many interesting people have come from Revelstoke, including:
- Sophie Atkinson — An English artist known for her watercolor landscape paintings.
- Douglas Boyle — A Canadian Forces officer.
- Buck Crump — A Canadian businessman.
- Bruce Holloway — A former professional ice hockey player from Canada.
- William Stewart King — A former politician in British Columbia.
- Andrew Kozek — A former professional ice hockey player.
- Peter Morales — A former president of the Unitarian Universalist Association in America.
- John Nunziata — A Canadian lawyer and former politician.
- Sid Parker — A former member of the House of Commons of Canada for the New Democratic Party.
- Thomas Scott — A Canadian military figure and politician.
- Robert Fletcher Shaw — A Canadian businessman, academic, and civil servant.
- Aaron Volpatti — A former professional ice hockey winger.
See also
In Spanish: Revelstoke para niños
