Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine April/May 2021 issue

Accommodation builds and renos. p · 12.

Profile: Tree Construction. p · 14.

Amish barn raising in Revelstoke. p · 24.

Tiny homeownership. p · 20.

APRIL & MAY/���1

revelstokemountaineer.com

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2021 Home & Building issue

Welcoming You Home.

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Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine is a free monthly publication featuring the best of Revelstoke outdoor life, food, style, visitor experiences, lifestyles, entertainment, home style and healthy living.

We are an independent, locally owned publication dedicated to showcasing our amazing mountain town and the great people who create the stoke.

Each issue we distribute over 3,000 free copies to over 200 public venues across Revelstoke, including hotel rooms, shops, restaurants, cafes, community centres — everywhere people meet.

For all inquiries, please contact us at info@revelstokemountaineer.com For Revelstoke daily news online, please see our sister publication www.revelstokemountaineer.com · 250 814 8710 info@revelstokemountaineer.com 606 Railway Avenue. Revelstoke, B.C. P.O. BOX 112 · V0E 2S0

COVER PHOTO: Environments impact our mood. The way a building is designed has profound effects on how we feel in a space. This interior space from the Trinity Point home by Tree Construction featured in this issue was created by WELL interior design studio. WELL specializes in designing spaces that are functional, safe, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing. Spaces that promote creativity, productivity, and relaxation. Designing with wellness in mind is to design spaces with intention that enable a better lifestyle. To learn more find WELL at www.welldesigns.ca and on instagram @well_interiordesignandstudio, and learn more about the Trinity Point home in this issue. Photo: Ema Peter

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Aaron Orlando aaron@revelstokemountaineer.com

EDITOR Aaron Orlando aaron@revelstokemountaineer.com

STAFF JOURNALIST Melissa Jameson melissa@revelstokemountaineer.com

EDITORIAL DESIGN/ADVERTISING DESIGN Sonia García sonia@revelstokemountaineer.com

WEBSITE Chris Payne chris@revelstokemountaineer.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Connor Arsenault, Bryce Borlick, Noelle Bovon, Amaris Bourdeau, Heather Hood, Emily Kemp, Nikki Lussier, Greg Nesteroff, Ema Peter Louise Stanway, Laura Stovel

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS Britta Kokemor, Zoya Lynch, Elouise Paabo, Ema Peter, Laura Stovel, Laura Szanto

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Benji Lowclass

2021 Home & Building issue The building sector has been one bright spot for Revelstoke during the pandemic, going steady in a community whose tourism and hospitality sector has been hit hard.

In this issue, we sought out stories of excellence in the home and building sector, highlighting creators driving forward through diversity, delivering unique projects that reflect our changing identity as a community.

We explored trends in home design and décor, seeking out elements that make up the evolving Revy look.

For many in Revelstoke who survive on lowor middle-class incomes, housing is the biggest issue in their lives, a constant source of anxiety and strain. Although information was hard to come by, we did our best to provide an update on housing projects from the perspective of potential renters. We also touched in with members of the tiny home community to find out what drove their choice to go tiny.

Revelstoke has several very big projects on the horizon, so we provided an update on timelines of the projects to give readers a better idea how they will unfold.

Finally, our historical column explores big historical names in regional architecture, including C.B.K. Van Norman, whose Revelstoke City Hall project is a landmark of early modernist architecture in Western Canada.

On a special note, this month’s Lives section shares the story of Jeff Nicholson, who passed away in late 2020. When I lived near the Mt. Revelstoke trailhead, I often walked my dog up the trail, where I frequently bumped into Jeff, a dedicated educator who gave back to the community throughout his life. Simply put, Jeff was one of the nicest guys I’ve known in this town and just a delightful person to be around. Our topic this month is building with hardhats and hammers, but if you didn’t know him, please take time to read about Jeff and everything he did to help build this community.

—Aaron Orlando, BA, MJ; Creative Director, Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine, revelstokemountaineer.com

Will be celebrating a significant milestone this year, and we would like to thank our community, employees, friends and family for all their encouragement and support over the years.

We are proud to call Revelstoke home.

2021

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Watch out for upcoming contests & giveaways!

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CONTENTS 8

NEWS BRIEFS Our April news briefs.

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CALENDAR: APRIL EVENTS Find out what's happening around town. Don't forget to get your event included in our print calendar by adding it online at revelstokemountaineer.com.

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ACCOMMODATION CONSTRUCTION AND RENOS We looked inside three new accommodation builds and renovations for the stories behind them.

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BUILDER PROFILE: TREE CONSTRUCTION Revelstoke-based passive home builder Tree Construction has several new builds completed. We explore trends with this made-in-Revy company.

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EMERGING BUILDERS Writer Connor Arsenault reached out to three of the newer building companies on the Revelstoke scene to find out about trends and the forecast for construction future in Revy.

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GOING TINY We reached out to Revelstoke tiny home residents to find out what they represent for those seeking a roof over their head in a market unattainable for most young people.

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HOUSING PROJECTS UPDATE With those seeking a place to rent in mind, we reached out to agencies building public housing in Revelstoke for updates on the projects.

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BARN-RAISING, REVY STYLE A unique new build re-purposes a traditional Amish barn from Ontario into a new mountain home.

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VALUING FORESTS AND THE TREES Laura Stovel explores one of Revelstoke's lesser-valued woods, birch, asking if it has a bigger part to play.

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BIG BUILDS We provide an update on some of the large-scale building projects on the horizon for Revelstoke.

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GLA MPING TREND Two new projects feature higher end options designed for those who value a firm mattress over a night in a tent.

REMEMBERING JEFF NICHOLSON One of the nicest guys in town, Jeff Nicholson was a dedicated teacher and school board trustee, giving his time for causes that helped kids in the community.

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REV Y HOME STYLE We curated some unique home design objects created right here by talented local creators.

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JUST THE STATS! Emily Beaumont's quarterly real estate statistics column explores the hot market in Revelstoke, where sale prices continue to climb.

HISTORIC ARCHITECTS Historian Greg Nesteroff shares the stories of big name architects from the region's past.

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ANYTHING GOES

Online Online Art Art Auction Auction APRIL 8 - 30, 2021

Coming Coming up up next: next: May May Exhibition Exhibition Bid Bid on on your your favourite favourite pieces pieces SCAN THE QR CODE WITH YOUR PHONE TO BID IN OUR ONLINE AUCTION

WWW.REVELSTOKEARTGALLERY.CA

MAIN GALLERY: Member's Show GALLERY 1: Barbara Maye GALLERY 2: Baberaid GALLERY 3: Charise Folnovic Want to participate in our Member's Show exhibitions? Become a member of the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre for $25 annually

IN THE GALLERY & ONLINE: MAY 6 - 28 320 WILSON STREET | 250 814 0261

Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia and Columbia Basin Trust.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Exterior renovations to Revelstoke City Hall have been completed, including a new white paint job. We inquired about the cost, but city staff said they don't have the numbers yet.

Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine

Income assistance and disability rates are set to rise in B.C. Photo: stock.

Short-term rental bylaw plans

Increase to income assistance and disability rates

PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD OPEN THE DOOR TO VACATION HOMES IN ALL SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES

By Aaron Orlando.

The City of Revelstoke is proposing new vacation rental rules for Revelstoke that would allow vacation rentals in all single-family zones, as well as in duplexes and homes with suites.

The proposed regulations would only allow short-term rentals in singlefamily dwellings or two-family homes, and the proposed new rules would require a permanent resident to live in the home being rented. A business licence will be required.

However, rentals would be allowed in multi-family developments in comprehensive development zones, such as Mackenzie Village, but vacation rentals there will also require a business licence.

“The main intent of this is to ensure any multi-family residential building currently is maintained for permanent resident occupation, so we aren’t losing those ... so they aren’t being used for short term rental operations,” said city assistant planner Paul Simon at a February city committee meeting.

The proposed changes would limit the number of rental rooms in a house to four and cap occupancy at eight people. The proposed bylaw would also require one parking spot per licenced bedroom, in addition to any other parking requirements, such as for another suite on the property.

Vacation rentals would be allowed in some commercial zones, but a 24-hour property management company would be required.

Existing short-term rentals that were legalized under the spot-zoning process would be allowed to continue and would not be required to have a permanent resident on site, but they would still be limited to the existing 120 days per year.

Under the new rules, other vacation rentals would not be limited to 120 days, although there would remain the requirement for someone to live on site.

At the committee discussion, councillors focused on information questions, seeking to understand the proposed policy.

Tax implications of the plan weren’t detailed. Councillor Rob Elliott expressed concern that the city cost to provide the services for vacation rentals would not be recouped through the residential tax it collects for them.

The bylaw changes were set to be revealed to the public in March using a city online consultation platform, but at a later meeting, that was pushed back. It is now expected to start in April.

RATES INCREASE, BUT AT REVELSTOKE PRICES, IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR MANY

By Melissa Jameson.

The BC government has announced a permanent increase to income and disability rates in the province, along with the first-ever increase to the senior’s supplement.

Starting in April 2021 individuals on income and disability assistance through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction will automatically receive a permanent $175 increase to their monthly payment. This is the third rate increase since July 2017, but is still less than the $300 people on assistance were receiving at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2020, the Ministry of Social Development announced it would temporarily increase income assistance and disability rates by $300 per month.

In December 2020, the government announced it planned to first reduce the payments to $150 starting January 2021, with the COVID-19 supplemental income ending completely in March 2021.

While the rate increase is welcome news for many, it still leaves those on assistance living under the poverty line, with an individual on provincial disability (PWD) receiving approximately $14,400 per year, or $1,358.42 per month. Advocates are calling on the provincial government to increase the rates to an amount that is at the poverty level — about $1800 per month for an individual.

A grassroots gathering of people with disabilities, advocates and allies to demand a more adequate monetary increase to assistance rates is planned for the afternoon on Thursday, March 18. Advocates will hold a press conference at the BC legislature, along with an online gathering on Facebook to call for a rate increase that is more in line with economic reality.

The province is also increasing the senior’s supplement for the first time since 1987 by $50 per recipient.

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Local.

Independent.

Get in the magazine: info@revelstokemountaineer.com

TOURISM TALKS THE KICKING HORSE CANYON PROJECT

By now, you’ve hopefully heard about the upcoming closures on Highway One through the Kicking Horse Canyon. This highway widening project will ultimately benefit residents and travelers on the Highway One corridor. The end outcome will be a highway that is safer, more efficient, and more pleasant to travel on. The construction project is slated to last until the winter of 2023/24, with intermittent closures until then.

The first 24/7 closure will begin in April, with detours via Highways 93 and 95. Throughout the summer, full closures may also occur, but only at night. Still, the publicity around the closures and the increased difficulty of travel will have an impact on visitors coming from Alberta.

To tackle this problem and help ensure that visitors have access to accurate and pertinent information, Tourism Revelstoke is spearheading the Kicking Horse Canyon Project. In 2019, we applied for $20,000 in funding from Destination BC in partnership with Tourism Golden and Shuswap Tourism. This spring and summer, the funding will be used to promote accurate information surrounding the closures. We recently launched the microsite GetIntoBC.com, which has information about the project and closures, as well as tourism information pertinent to Golden, Revelstoke, and the Shuswap. Our central goal is to educate visitors about the closures and to promote the value of the region to ensure that visitors are not deterred.

We recognize the hesitation that our residents have with respect to travel reopening, and rest assured that as residents of the community ourselves, we do not intend to promote travel to our region until it is safe to do so. It has been an exceptionally difficult year for the tourism industry worldwide and we want to do what we can to mitigate the impacts of the closure on our local tourism businesses. With that in mind, we intend to spread the message that the highway will be open this summer and to provide pertinent information to help travelers avoid closures. This corridor is key to the recovery of our tourism sector.

A sample of content from the new GetIntoBC.com microsite.

Moving forward, we will share information about Highway One and promote it as a great touring route. Travellers on Highway One are rewarded with an abundance of recreation opportunities and superb views. We are excited about this opportunity to promote road tripping in our region, when it is safe to do so, in concert with our partners in Golden and the Shuswap.

To read previous Tourism Talks columns, check out seerevelstoke.com/about-tourism-revelstoke/

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CALENDAR APRIL & MAY 2021 WEEKLY EVENTS MONDAY LADIES ONLY RIDES

@ Revy Riders Dirtbike Club · 6 p.m Meet at the track at 6 p.m. All ages and abilities welcome. For more information visit revyriders.com.

TUESDAY REVELSTOKE READS - FAMILY STORY TIME

@ Online · 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Join Vanessa, Sasha and Stacy on Zoom for super fun stories, songs and rhymes. Register once to get Zoom invitation for all sessions. Visit the events page at orl.bc.ca/revelstoke for more information.

WEDNESDAY FREE MEDITATION

@ Balu Yoga · 7:30 a.m. - 8 a.m.

Free meditation every Wednesday morning at Balu Yoga. No experience needed. To view the in-studio COVID protocol visit baluyoga.com.

FRIDAY WOMEN’S DROP IN

REVELSTOKE FARMERS MARKETS

@ Revelstoke Community Centre · 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The weekly Farmers Markets in Revelstoke are still happening, just at a new location to allow for physical distancing. The Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market can be found in the community centre parking lot. You’ll find the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative Market just down the hill at Centennial Park. Starts late April.

TAKE OUT FAMILY CRAFT DAY

@ Okanagan Library Revelstoke Branch · 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Drop by the library the first Saturday of every month to pick up everything you need for a family crafting afternoon.

(F)REE (ART) (S)ESSIONS

@ Okanagan Library Revelstoke Branch · 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

On the first and third Saturday of the month drop by the library for some inspirational, imaginative, zero waste, creative fun.

TAKE AND MAKE SUPER STEAM SATURDAY

@ Okanagan Library Revelstoke Branch · 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Drop by the library on the second Saturday of every month to pick up everything you need for a fun afternoon of family STEAM exploration.

@ Community Connections · 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Enjoy coffee, light snacks and conversation about everything woman. Call 250-837-2920 for more information.

APRIL EVENTS

SATURDAY

THURDSDAY, APRIL 8

REVELSTOKE WINTER MARKET

ANYTHING GOES 2021

@ Revelstoke Community Centre · 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Winter Market brings together farm and craft vendors from Revelstoke and beyond. Takes place every second Saturday from November until April.

@ Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre/Online · 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

The Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre’s popular Anything Goes Art Auction is back for 2021. Visit the gallery in person or online to bid on your favourite pieces. Visit the gallery Tuesday through Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Show and auction runs until April 22.

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VISIT REVELSTOKEMOUNTAINEER.COM/CALENDAR TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT FOR FREE. WE INCLUDE A SELECTION OF THOSE EVENTS HERE IN OUR MONTHLY PRINT CALENDAR. *Due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings due to COVID-19 some events may have changed or are cancelled.

Please check with event organizers for up to date information.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13 COLLAGE W/TRADITIONAL JAPANESE PAPERS

@ Revelstoke Library - Participate from Home · 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Join community librarian and multi media artist Lucie Bergeron for a short, fun, and process oriented exploration of collage techniques and projects using traditional Japanese papers. For more information or to register visit www.orl.bc.ca/hours-locations/revelstoke or call 250-837-5095.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10 LOCARNO

@REVY.Live ONLINE · 8 p.m.

Locarno is the Latin project of JUNO Award winning musician, Tom Landa. A fusion band, Locarno takes a deep dive into Mexican and

Latin music, blending contemporary with traditional. Part of the Revelstoke Arts Council’s free Revy.Live online performance series. Visit artsrevelstoke.com for details and a link to the performance.

Visit the events page at orl.bc.ca/revelstoke for more information.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17 TH’OWXIYA: THE HUNGRY FEAST DISH

@REVY.Live ONLINE · 5 p.m.

This Kwantlen First Nations tale follows a sly Mouse (Kw’at’el) who is caught stealing cheese from a feast dish. To appease an angry spirit (Th’owxiya), Kw’at’el embarks on a journey to find two children for the ogress to eat, or else! Suitable for all ages. Part of the Revelstoke Arts Council’s free Revy.Live online performance series. Visit artsrevelstoke.com for details and a link to the performance.

Lorcano plays REVY.Live on April 10. Image: handout.

Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish will be available live through REVY.Live on April 17. Photo: Handout.

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OUTDOORS BUILDING

NEW ACCOMMODATIONS OPEN TO QUIETER SEASON IN REVELSTOKE

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THREE NEW ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE STARTED UP THEIR BUSINESSES IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY DIFFERENT WINTER SEASON, FACING CHALLENGES BUT ALSO HIDDEN BENEFITS OF A SLOWER START

By Cara Smith.

This past year may seem like a strange time to open a new inn or hotel in a popular winter tourist destination, but three new sets of owners have taken to the challenge, opening their doors amid a season that looks drastically different from what they were expecting.

THE COPELAND One of these new endeavours is the takeover of McCarty House Inn, which now operates as The Copeland. New owners Lars Andrews and Billy Reilly are bringing a fresh take to the historic property, focusing on curated decor and good food and coffee from local roasters, markets and bakeries Long-time local and The Copeland’s operations manager Emma Mains has found an unexpected benefit of a quieter start to the season. Since they have not yet been able to encourage visitors to come to Revelstoke, they have focused on establishing the operations of the new business.

“It's given us a lot of time to really understand the space and how we can interact with the space, how we can set it up safely for clientele and then when the time is right, open the floodgates and let people in,” Mains says.

As they continue to establish themselves during this unusual time, they are paying particular attention to the fact that the property is an important historical site in town. While the name of the business had to be changed from McCarty House to The Copeland with the change in ownership, they are actively incorporating the history of this heritage property into the new business.

The history of this property is an interesting one. Originally built in 1900 by Revelstoke’s first mayor Frank McCarty, the

house has since served a number of purposes, from dress shops to the most recent bed & breakfast business. Built in the Western Canadian Queen Anne style, the house remains a landmark in the town today. One interesting feature remaining from the original build is the upstairs balcony that the mayor had put in so he could oversee the numerous businesses he owned from the house.

While the house has sat in its spot on the corner of Mackenzie Avenue and Third Street for the majority of the town’s history, Mains says she and many other locals never had the opportunity to see inside. She and fellow local Leah Evans hope to change that by establishing partnerships and welcoming the community into the space for summertime market events, art installations, live gigs, farm-to-table dinners, cocktails nights and more.

Mains is looking forward to being able to wholeheartedly welcome both out of town visitors and locals alike into the space that is so central to everything Revelstoke has to offer.

“I've lived here a long time and I live in town, I walk here. I love being able to engage with this community and I think if I can be working on something and working with a project that's actively doing that, that's awesome. That's really rewarding for me,” Mains says.

BASECAMP RESORTS Sitting a little further from the Revelstoke’s core on Highway 23 is a brand new build: Basecamp Resorts. This modern hotel is owner and developer Sky McLean’s first foray outside Canmore, where she has established a number of properties. The Revelstoke property was in development for two years before becoming fully operational on December 3, 2020.

McLean decided to set up shop in Revelstoke because of her own experience. She found it difficult to secure a place to stay with all of the amenities she was looking for, a place fully equipped with a kitchen, washer and dryer, and multiple bedrooms that would be ideal for a group of friends spending their days on the mountain. She says the greatest strength of Basecamp Resorts Revelstoke is the fact that it offers all of these amenities plus the bonus of a beautiful location that is still fairly central.

It has, of course, been a challenging time for a property like Basecamp Resorts to fully launch. McLean says that Revelstoke being much quieter than normal has had a dramatic effect on the business, but they are still focused on offering top-notch customer service.

One element of Basecamp Resort’s business that has proved to be a strength in this time when many people are trying to limit contact with others is their self-serve check-in option.

Guests are given a code for their unit before they arrive so that they can check-in without having to go through a front desk check-in process. McLean highlights the fact that they

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4 are still providing exceptional customer service, with someone reachable in person, by phone call or by text to provide anything that might be needed for a guest’s stay.

While it’s been a tricky start so far, McLean is hopeful that the future will hold everything they envisioned for Basecamp Resorts Revelstoke.

“I love Revelstoke and we're kind of just waiting to see what happens with the economy and tourism and everything once it's calmed down, but I would like to expand into other projects in Revelstoke in the future,” McLean says.

COURTHOUSE INN When they took over the Courthouse Inn back in October, Meghann Hutton and Joel Asher took on the task of transforming a Victorian style bed & breakfast into boutique accommodations reminiscent of a backcountry lodge, featuring rustic Canadiana decor and handcrafted furniture. The goal was to convey the spirit of what Revelstoke has become over the last 10 years as it’s transitioned into a popular ski destination.

Hutton, who is the local notary public, and Asher, who owns The Village Idiot, Big Eddy Pub, and Chubby Funsters, combined forces with Hutton’s father David Hutton, who established Moraine Lake Lodge in Lake Louise and Cathedral Mountain Lodge in Field, in their takeover of the Courthouse Inn. Through his expertise, they recognized the opportunity in the Courthouse Inn and are working to establish it as a destination for explorers looking for the feel of a backcountry lodge with the convenience of being close to everything in town.

Hutton and Asher feel the strength of the Courthouse Inn lies in the experience they can give visitors. They say they’ve brought

on a very strong team, from red seal chef Linda Cain, who puts out a gourmet three-course breakfast for guests every morning, to the innkeepers, Emily Hayes and Myles Turner, who have extensive education and experience in hospitality.

They’re tying in the historical elements of the inn’s proximity to the town’s courthouse with stunning mountain views typical of properties in downtown Revelstoke while offering a comfortable, personalized and intimate stay for guests.

Asher says that as a relatively small property, the Courthouse Inn allows guests to feel safer than being somewhere larger and potentially coming into contact with more people. He also points out that this quieter season has been a bit of a hidden blessing, giving them more time to adjust to operations.

“We took over what was a very well-run and well-kept facility so to be able to have a little extra time to get used to it so that we can maintain that very high standard that was set for us has been a benefit,” he says.

“Revelstoke's marketplace is a lot different this year than it has been in the past but looking toward the future and out of the pandemic, we feel that as Revelstoke bounces back, so too will our opportunity grow.”

In the future, Hutton says they are looking to partner with local businesses and operators to develop packages that will entice people to stay and experience Revelstoke and all it has to offer. As a restaurant owner, Asher understands the importance of partnering with and fostering relationships with other local businesses.

“Revelstoke is a very remote town for a lot of things business. You really do need to have strong connections with the business community and with other operators in order to succeed, even if it's just needing a favour, a set of sheets from another hotel, you have to be able to work with people,” he says.

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1. The Basecamp Resorts new hotel on Highway 23 North, near the Revelstoke Dam. 2. The Copeland, formerly McCarty House, has changed names and management, transitioning into a full-service facility focused on the ski community.

3. The Courthouse Inn, located in front of the Revelstoke Courthouse, has undergone an interior renovatoin with a historic theme.

4-5. The Basecamp Resorts new facility has views over the Columbia River, and features inroom kitchens to facilitate longer stays.

Photos: handouts

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Trinity Point’s interior is a calm and artistic sanctuary providing a healthy indoor air environment perfect for both entertaining and relaxing, thanks to Tree’s in-house designer Kim Offord of Well Design Studio.

Photo: Tree Construction.

MADE HERE HOMES

PASSIVE AND BEAUTIFUL A LOOK AT HOW TREE CONSTRUCTION IS CREATING ALLURING, WELL-CRAFTED ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS BUILDINGS

By Melissa Jameson.

There’s an aesthetically pleasing quality in a well-crafted home that can compel you towards it, causing you to pause and take in careful consideration of its architectural lines, colours and use of space.

Here in Revelstoke, Tree Construction is taking that artistic approach to new heights.

With an ethos centred around sustainability, Tree specializes in residential and commercial builds that meet passive housing standards.

As Tree’s finance assistant Carter Berton notes, the overall energy savings make for a smart, environmental and budget conscious long-term choice. Now into its 11th year, the construction company is also moving towards more pre-fabricated builds that will pass savings on to its customers without compromising the overall beauty of a project.

Breaking the mold: Casita de Montaña proves pre-fabricated homes can be beautiful There’s a bit of a misconception when it comes to pre-fabricated homes. Tree founder and CEO Greg Hoffart points out many people mistakenly believe pre-fabricated and modular builds are one and the same. In modular builds, the assembled components come in a box, which can then be put together like blocks, or Lego. With true pre-fabricated builds, Hoffart says the “elements are built customized to a design, and delivered as pieces like a puzzle, or an IKEA desk top.”

With Casita de Montaña Tree took the creative elements of pre-fabrication even further, breaking away from the norm by combining timber frame and pre-fabricated building components. Much of the build’s construction was able to take place offsite, in a shop, during the middle of winter. It’s a smart

move, given Revelstoke’s short construction season, and also one that bodes well for clients, as structures are able to go up much faster once weather warms up.

“We’re definitely moving towards prefab. [Casita de Montaña] was one of the first experimental ones and definitely proved well,” said Berton.

Casita’s interior design maximizes living space with a loft, creating a modern and openconcept look. It’s not surprising to note Casita is one of Tree’s most recognized builds, with many referencing it for design.

Built in 2017, Casita was a collaboration between Tree and Squamish-based Stark Architecture. The two companies share a long partnership, but as of 2020 Tree has expanded to include an in-house architectural team. Coupled with in-house designer Kim Offord of Well Design Studio, Tree can now take its clients through an entire project from start to finish.

Inspired by a Norwegian farmhouse, Trinity Point features one of the largest passive certified glass facades in Canada Inspired by a farmhouse in Norway, the bold lines and simple architectural style of Trinity Point provides the perfect framing for its main feature: a curtain wall of triple-glazed windows that frame views of Mount Begbie — one of the largest passive certified glass facades in Canada.

With the amount of snow that accumulates in Revelstoke each year, a common theme is to create a “busy architecture which is difficult to detail, is hard on the eyes and expensive to build,” says Hoffart. “I think the architecture

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One of Tree Constructions most recognized builds, Casita de Montaña combines pre-fabricated building components with timber framing.

Photo: Tree Construction.

Trinity Point’s curtain wall of triple-glazed windows presented a challenge for Tree Construction, but the astounding result allows for picture perfect views of Mount Begbie. Photos: Ema Peter/Tree Construction.

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Homes

NEWS

Up: Nestled in Kananaskis, AB Innsjø Hus’s remote location in the Canadian Rockies made for good use of Tree Construction’s prefabricated system.

The building’s design placed emphasis on reduced maintenance, ensuring relaxation and spending time with family and friends are preferred past-times.

Photo: Britta Kokemor /Tree Construction.

Down: Innsjø Hus’s interior design provides a tranquil respite after a day spent adventuring outdoors.

achieves its own brilliance as an artwork, and less as a competition of lines.”

Simplicity is not synonymous with ease, however, and Trinity Point is an example of the very real need for integrated project delivery, professional insight and coordination. The home’s focal point is comprised of glass and timber, and, as Hoffart points out, one moves while the other is static.

“The static element being the glass is unforgiving, and a simple mistake leaves a piece broken and irreparable. Needless to say, every millimeter counts to allow the timber to sway and glass to stay.”

Identifying potential issues early on in a project allows the team at Tree to prepare solutions ahead of time. Using building information models lets the team look at issues from numerous angles, avoiding on-site problems.

“Effective communication at the right time through participatory design provides a positive stage for ‘participants’ to engage in discussion geared towards finding the best solution,” says Hoffart.

In addition to its passive status, Trinity Point also includes rainwater collection and a solar power system. The look of the home is completed with Shou Sugi Ban siding, an ancient Japanese wood finish created by burning the surface of the wood and then coating it with natural oil. Offord says while it has nothing to do with passive housing, “it can withstand a variety of weather conditions, and the charring preserves the wood.”

What’s ahead?

Tree looks to increase passive commercial builds; releases pre-designed series Looking forward, Berton says Tree is looking to add more passive commercial builds, with interest already coming in from a group in Kaslo. In 2019, Tree completed construction on the Tantrum Ride Co. and Selkirk Offices building. In early 2020 the project became the first commercial building in North America to receive passive certification.

Tree has also released a pre-designed signature series of modest-sized homes that meet passive standards and are budgetfriendly for the Revelstoke market.

“It’s a really cool thing that we’re proud to be doing,” says Berton.

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FEATURE

EMERGING CONTRACTORS TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE REVELSTOKE BUILDING SECTOR

NEW BUILDERS Jon Adrian is the photographer for the Arrotec pictures and Absolute Contracting is the General Contractor.

Laura Szanto is the photographer for the Appenzell pictures.

By Connor Arsenault.

Arrowtec Building Systems Ltd. James Rogers

James Rogers

Cameron Lackey

Jocoah Sorensen

A gigantic marshmallow has appeared in town. This fully mobile workspace located near the new roundabout has been built this winter to house the operations of Arrowtec construction, masterminded by James Rogers.

A Revelstoke local since 2015, James has been working alongside Absolute Contracting since he arrived. Fulfilling a number of roles over the years, the idea came to him in 2019 to bring the prefabrication model to local projects. With a background in engineering and 3D modeling, James couples these skills with prefabrication to alleviate shortfalls and take away the guesswork in building, reducing waste and cost to the client.

James modestly downplays his role in the formation of the company, stating “we’ve got to give our dues to Absolute. Scott trusted us out of the gate and he’s been our biggest client to date.” Moving forward, the team at Arrowtec see an opportunity to involve more general contractors in town who want to streamline their projects.

With sustainable housing being a perpetual issue in Revelstoke, the two big projects in Nakusp that Arrowtec has just completed in conjunction with Absolute are very enheartening: A 10-unit affordable housing apartment building and a nine-unit senior living complex. According to James, these buildings turned out, “not as boxy as you’d think, they still have character to them,” and he’s pleased to have proved the viability of using prefabrication to build affordable living spaces.

The team at Arrowtec also have a few residential projects under their belt, including a new home on Lee Road for which they supplied the framing package. This house is in the running for a Georgie award, a prestigious award in the world of building.

What’s next for Arrowtec? Along with Absolute Contracting, they’re happy to have been awarded the building contract for the new Revelstoke Community Housing project. This is a big win for the prefab model and for the continued expansion of more affordable housing here in town.

Homes

New homes seem to be appearing in Revelstoke almost overnight.

Our mountain town is officially on the radar and garnering more and more interest every day. It’s becoming clear that along with being an in-demand place to live comes an influx of new homes and new faces.

Rising energy prices and a greater awareness of our effect on the planet are changing the way we build our homes. Provincial regulations are catching up to public consensus here – collectively, the province has made a resolution to be net-zero energy by the year 2032.

This resolution coincided with the advent of the BC Step Code, a series of levels denoting the required energy efficiency of new builds. It’s been left up to municipalities to choose to require new builds to adhere to certain energy efficiency standards, and Revelstoke is on its way to requiring new construction to be

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compliant with Step 3 out of 5, or roughly 20% more efficient than the most basic building code.

The new construction companies in town grasp the necessity of shooting for much higher energy efficiency standards than the basic of what’s required, for our own sake and for the health of the planet.

With 17% of current greenhouse gas emissions in Canada coming from our buildings, it’s clear that building energy efficient homes with responsible materials is needed for us to reach net zero energy.

Not only are the methods and materials used in house building changing, the looks and style are as well, both inside and out. I spoke with three of the newest building companies in town to hear about their methods and how they’re crafting the new future of building in Revelstoke.

Appenzell Construction Cameron Lackey

Adaptive Homes Jocoah Sorensen

With a confident grin and capable manner, Cameron Lackey welcomes me into his office with views of Mt Begbie and Macpherson. His company Appenzell has been making building dreams come true in Revelstoke since 2017.

Originally from Toronto, Cameron has a very diverse background in building.

He grew up around woodworkers; his father made guitars and his uncle was a building contractor in the city. It was after participating in the Katimavik program that Cameron got into building himself. Before starting Appenzell, he’s worked in production framing and high-end millwork and trimwork. The custom building we’re seeing so much of here in the west is on the other end of the spectrum from where he started in Toronto, but being able to bring the production mindset to custom home building has proven to be part of what sets Cameron’s work apart.

Moving to Whistler in 2013 and becoming highly involved with the customhome build scene, Cameron has padded out his experience. His company’s first big project in Whistler was a half a million dollar renovation in Whistler, and he more than learned the ropes on this job. His company has gone on to successfully complete another 20 jobs in Revelstoke.

Drawn to Revelstoke by the chutes, high alpine and backcountry access, he’s without a doubt been sold on the place by the people. “It’s a community first.”

It’s like a breath of fresh air after leaving the Disneyland that is Whistler.

Having seen firsthand the direction Whistler is headed, Cameron hopes to see Revelstoke stop ourselves falling into this trap. “Demand is just going to drive people out and it’s going to become a small little town of rich people.” He suggests multi-family housing such as townhomes as a potential solution. We don’t necessarily need skyscrapers, but by achieving a higher ratio of volume to exterior building face, we can make overall much more affordable living spaces – both in terms of energy usage and building costs.

They say you can tell a lot about a man by his dog and Jocoah’s dog is awesome.

We’re at Adaptive Homes’ shop over in the Big Eddy and I’m learning all about how Jocoah Sorensen and his business partner Logan Ashley are shaking up the building scene here in town.

With over 30 years of building experience between the two of them, these guys have the experience and credentials to back up their avant-garde way of doing things. That is, building super energy efficient houses by prefabricating them in-house and assembling them on-site.

The inspiration for starting the company back in 2017 was to make efficiency and environmental stewardship attainable for a broader range of people.

“There’s definitely a movement towards green building,” Jocoah says when asked about the future of building in Revelstoke.

The first step for Adaptive Homes when building a new project is to model the entire job beforehand and break it down into modules and panels that can be assembled in the shop and then shipped to site. Pre-assembling and shipping homes to site up to 90% completed allows for faster turnaround time and concurrent building and foundation laying.

Passive house certification is the ideal goal for Jocoah, although net-zero can be an easier target to achieve for lower budgets. The materials he uses in jobs are designed with all forms of sustainability in mind, such as wood-fiber insulation, which is much closer to carbon neutral than the alternatives. Sun aspect and the incorporation of food production within the insulated area of the house are two more lesser-considered solutions used to offset emissions and lower living costs.

One of the exciting things that Adaptive Homes is doing to bring energy efficient homes to a broader market is coming up with pre-designed homes.

They already have three replicable formulas and plan on creating more. By only designing the home and creating the plans once, the cost to your average Joe of having a passive house is greatly reduced.

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Homes

LIFE Right: After a hard summer tree-planting and living out of her car, Lisa Takkinen decided it was time to find a housing solution, opting for a tiny home and a goal to be mortgage-free before she turned 30.

Down: Marie Blanchet outside of her Revelstoke tiny home. Photo: Zoya Lynch.

Property values in Revelstoke continue to rise at a rate that leaves many renters struggling to keep up—let alone get ahead—financially. Yet, a select few have managed to exit the race, catch their breath and set out on a different route entirely: they’ve chosen to go tiny.

With the work of non-profit initiatives such as the Revelstoke Microhome Project, led by Landscape Designer Adrian Giacca, raising awareness of microhome living solutions, as well as local contractors (such as Earthwright Shelter Company and Take To Heart Construction) actually carrying out the construction work, the idea of living small in Revelstoke has become less of a Pinterest daydream and, for many, has become a tangible reality. Tiny homes are gaining momentum because they bridge the gap between living independently and living affordably.

I caught up some with some micro-home owners in town, all of whom are currently living alone, to find out what it means to live tiny in Revelstoke.

MEET THE OCCUPANTS OF REVELSTOKE’S TINIEST DWELLINGS

GOING TINY

By Louise Stanway.

Homes

Revelstoke Mountaineer: What made you go tiny?

David Pearson: After years of living in shared accommodation in a town with rising rental rates, I was finally able to make the dream of building my own tiny home a reality. The main driving force to go tiny was a longing to stop paying rent and be able to afford living on my own.

Marie Blanchet: My budget was probably the main factor. I’m also conscious about how much I consume, I love simplicity and I do my best to reduce the level of stress in my life. And tiny homes are just the cutest thing ever.

Lisa Takkinen: After a tiresome season of treeplanting and travelling and living out of my car, I ended up in Revelstoke in somewhat of a quarter life crisis. This is really when I decided I wanted more stability in my life and that I would do whatever it took to be a mortgage-free house owner by the time I was 30. This was the fuel that started turning my dreams into a reality.

RM: Many who go tiny, don't stay tiny. Is a tiny home a stepping stone for you, or is it end game?

DP: For now, it’s an experiment to see if the tiny home can be an end game, but it’s definitely a stepping stone to a lower cost of living that will allow me more financial freedom in the long run and allow me to save for a property of my own.

MB: My dream home would be a cabin sized around 20x20 feet.

My tiny home is 9x26 feet, so I wouldn’t be opposed to more space in the future, but at the moment I am super happy with what I have. Life is an ever-changing adventure, we never know where we will end up and what our needs will be in the future.

LT: My dream is to buy land with the intention of turning it into a co-op/strata living situation. I would love to be in community with other tiny home owners, with not only enough space for individual privacy, but a shared central area for gardening, composting, chickens, and communal gatherings.

RM: Did you outsource the construction, or did you build your home yourself?

DP: I worked with Blake Richards from Earthwright Shelter Company to get me to lock up and assist with the build of kitchen and bathroom, but I finished most interior on my own. I hired a plumber, electrician, roofing company to each lend their skills and knowledge to the project.

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MB: I am super lucky to have very good friends who are also carpenters, we all got together one weekend and framed the tiny house. After that, I took over and with the help of friends and family, I managed to do all the work without hiring anybody. It takes a village to build a home, even a tiny one!

RM: A minimalist lifestyle is generally a byproduct of micro housing. Have you found this to be challenging?

DP: I haven't found it very challenging to live tiny. In a way, it makes certain things easier as many chores are now much smaller tasks. I find my home to be quite comfy, yet never claustrophobic.

MB: I don’t consider myself a minimalist, I’m more like an avid thrift store shopper. It’s a constant battle between my desires and my needs, but I think everybody should always second-guess every purchase they make. For me, it is way more satisfying to make a smart purchase, rather than buying something new.

RM: Why are we seeing more people turn to micro housing solutions in Revelstoke?

DP: I’ve gone tiny to reduce my cost of living and increase my ability to save for my future. With a long term parking pad and my tiny home, I can afford to live in this town without the stress of buying an older, used house or building a new one. Revelstoke employs a lot of people that can only afford to live here by renting, and a tiny home may be the solution to allow them to go from renters to home owners.

MB: I think people need a different model than the typical family house/mortgage solution. Tiny homes are not an investment, but they allow people their own space at a reasonable price. It is possible to sell the tiny home for the same amount as you paid (maybe higher), if it's well taken care of. People live different lives and housing options should reflect that. I don’t think tiny homes are for everyone, but they work very well for some of us.

LT: People are simply starting to realize that sometimes less is more, and that busy is not always better. Especially during these current times, I see a movement of folks not only wanting to reduce their footprint and frivolous spending, but to also eliminate the unnecessary distractions and stresses that come alongside managing a life-long mortgage and upkeep.

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LIFE

By Melissa Jameson.

REVELSTOKE HOUSING PROJECTS PROJECTS INCLUDE A PROPOSED MICROHOME COMMUNITY, RENOVATED APARTMENTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN A DEVELOPER AND THE CITY

It’s no secret Revelstoke is in desperate need of housing, particularly rental housing for middle and low income individuals and families. Here’s a look at some of the projects, all at various stages of planning or completion, intended to help with the city’s housing shortage:

The project: Rivers Edge and Columbia Gardens

The project: Downie Street affordable housing

THE LOCATION: Rivers Edge is located at 1211 Front Street. Columbia Gardens is at 1949 LaForme Blvd.

THE LOCATION: 420 Downie Street.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In 2019 BC Housing spent approximately $12 million to purchase two rental housing developments — Rivers Edge, a 44-unit apartment complex and Columbia Gardens, a 73-unit mixture of apartments and town-homes.

Both required extensive interior and exterior upgrades.

WHO IT’S FOR: Middle-income individuals and families. According to information on BC Housing’s website this is currently defined as a maximum of $116,330 for families without children and $163,220 for families with children.

TIMELINE: Originally due for completion at the end of September 2020, the project has been hit with a number of obstacles. Project completion is now estimated for mid-Spring 2021.

A BC Housing spokesperson said all 28 units at Columbia Gardens in need of repair are complete, along with 14 units at Rivers Edge. There are nine additional units being renovated at Rivers Edge. Other work to complete includes deck waterproofing, security system and plumbing repairs in the underground parking. At Columbia Gardens, work will be done to upgrade the elevator, perimeter trench and to replace the make-up air unit in Building A. COST OF RENT AND APPLICATION PROCESS: The project has been marred by lack of communication with existing residents from BC Housing. In March, a rent increase notice was taped to the doors. 1-bedrooms start at $1,350, 2-bedroom at $1,450. However, existing residents' apartments were not updated and are dilapidated, but they will need to pay the new rate if they want a renovated apartment. For more information visit bchousing. org/housinghub/projects-and-partnerships.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In February 2019, in response to the need for more affordable housing in Revelstoke, BC Housing purchased a threeacre property in Southside that formerly housed Mount Begbie Elementary School. The land was purchased from the Revelstoke Board of Education for $1.5 million. While project plans have yet to be finalized, BC Housing presented a plan for a 174-unit development during a virtual engagement session held in September 2020. The proposed high density development included a mix of apartments and town-homes, along with some commercial space.

Additional details are available at bchousing.org/ projects-partners/development-projects/revelstokedownie-street.

WHO IT’S FOR: Low-to-moderate-income families, seniors and young people in need of affordable housing.

TIMELINE: Ongoing. There are a number of steps that still need to take place before construction begins including asking the City of Revelstoke for a zoning amendment.

A BC Housing spokesperson said they are currently compiling and summarizing public engagement input received over the last year. “BC Housing anticipates applying for rezoning in the spring. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said in an email to the Mountaineer sent in late March.

COST OF RENT AND APPLICATION PROCESS: The project remains in the planning stages and information about the cost of rent, along with the application process is still forthcoming.

More information on applying for affordable is available at bchousing.org/housing-assistance/ rental-housing/affordable-rental-housing.

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A visual concept of renovations to the Rivers Edge apartment building in Farwell.

BC Housing is renovating the dilapidated building.

The project: Hay Road Housing Agreement

The project: Microhome project

The project: Humbert Street housing project

THE LOCATION: 1794 Hay Road and 1738 Grizzly Lane.

THE LOCATION: No land is currently associated with this project.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: As part of the 60unit passive housing ‘Stoked Living’ development in Upper Arrow Heights, developer Stefan Maunz has entered into an agreement with the City of Revelstoke to provide 10 rental housing units for a period of 12 years.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In early February 2021, the Revelstoke Community Housing Society announced it had partnered with Adrian Giacca to work on development of a microhome community that would operate as a strata. Giacca has been working on the tiny home project since 2017. The new partnership has RCHS taking the project lead.

THE LOCATION: The most recent available information puts the development behind the ambulance station between Powerhouse Road and what will be an extended Humbert street.

WHO IT’S FOR: Moderate to high income households.

TIMELINE: “A minimum of five purposebuilt rentals under the housing agreement are required with Phase 1 of the development, and the remainder in Phase 2,” City of Revelstoke Director of Development Services Marianne Wade wrote in an email to the Mountaineer Magazine. The Mountaineer reached out to Maunz for details on the anticipated construction timeline, but did not hear back prior to publication deadline.

COST OF RENT AND APPLICATION PROCESS: Rents are set at a maximum of $2,375 per month (not including utilities) and may be increased in accordance with the BC Residential Tenancy Act. No details were available on the rental application process. For further information on this project visit stokedliving.ca.

WHO IT’S FOR: People who are interested in tiny home living and want the benefits of home ownership, but who are unable to get into the regular housing market. The proposed strata concept also means a desire for community-style living is important for anyone considering this option.

TIMELINE: A timeline for this project is unknown with a number of steps being required for the project to come to fruition. “There is no application with the city and there are several issues regarding this proposal which need to be sorted out including zoning and building bylaw regulations. There is no land associated with this concept yet,” said Wade.

COST OF RENT AND APPLICATION PROCESS: Unknown, however people typically own the tiny homes they live in and pay rent for the land on which the home is located.

For more information on the Revelstoke Community Housing Society and its projects visit revelstokecommunityhousing.com/.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: First announced by the Revelstoke Community Housing Society in 2019, there are no current details are available for this 24-unit affordable housing project which is being funded through Columbia Basin Trust and BC Housing. We made several attempts were made to gather information over a two-week period, with a BC Housing spokesperson providing a last minute response that, “Our Ministry will be issuing an official news release about this project in the next couple of weeks. I will be able to share information after we issue the news release.” The Mountaineer has learned that BC Housing, with knowledge from city council, has imposed a media gag order on the volunteer housing society working to complete this project. This follows a story from another media outlet where the RCHS criticized the city for project delays.

WHO IT’S FOR: People in need of affordable rental housing.

TIMELINE: Unknown. The original completion date for the project was in 2020, but this has been pushed back due to multiple delays.

COST OF RENT AND APPLICATION PROCESS: Unknown, however since it is marked as an affordable housing project rent.

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Homes

LIFE

BARN RAISING IN REVELSTOKE Picture this: you enter a restored barn and are greeted by a simple mudroom with a washer, dryer and washroom.

A few steps over you have a big, open, communal space with a modern kitchen, living room, fresh morning light and vaulted ceilings, all of which radiate authenticity. In the middle of the room are steep steps that lead to the bedrooms. In theory, it’s an old barn.

But structurally, it’s on par with all new builds — with the benefit of being wholly and amazingly distinctive.

Revelstoke, as part of a network of highly desirable small Canadian communities, is barely affordable at its best, whether you buy or build. For Jamie Forbes, it was obvious that either avenue would be a worthy investment. So why not build the home of his dreams while he’s at it?

The Ottawa-born advertising professional moved to Revelstoke two years ago after exploring other nearby communities like Kelowna and Golden.

For Forbes and his wife, Revelstoke had all the amenities and fostering attributes required to raise their young child.

All available (and affordable) homes, however, were mostly built between 1950 and 1980, which wasn’t part of their vision. Forbes had a very specific plan in mind: to convert a barn into a home, and to do so sustainably.

He had been living in Toronto in a converted loft with exposed brick and much of the space’s original

architecture. The loft was previously home to the Columbia Graphophone Company. It was lively, full of character, and unquestionably stunning. Forbes had seen the possibilities for beauty in restoration, and he wanted the same for his own abode. “This played a part in my obsession with re-purposing an old barn for a home.” Plus, the many weekends he spent on his grandfather’s farmland, dotted with interesting old farm buildings, shaped his idea of home.

Bringing a barn cross country In 2019, Forbes purchased land on Aspen Crescent, passed his owner builder exam, and ordered his barn from an Amish countryside town north of KitchenerWaterloo. The town was famous for the supreme calibre of its barns. “It’s funny because there’s no reason at all for the barns to be in such pristine shape— they’re purely functional structures,” he laughs. “It must have been a pride thing.” Indeed, the town had a skilled tradesperson whose sole job was to cube pieces of lumber for homes. Many local specialists Forbes has worked with marvel at the precision and structural integrity of the barn.

The barn’s original beams were hand hewed in the 1850s. No metal, nails,

or screws were used in the original fabrication; mortise and tenon joinery techniques were favoured. Forbes and his construction labourer hope to keep the barn’s old spirit. They also wish to keep waste and needless tree cutting to a minimum. As part of this effort, Forbes is using reclaimed wood for the structure, trim, floors, and ceiling boards, which, he argues, is less daunting a process than you might think. “Though make sure you put yourself on waiting lists for certain speciality products,” he advises.

The walls are built using integrated concrete forms (ICF), which are vaguely comparable to giant Lego blocks. Vincent Fafard, owner-operator of Last Spike Construction, specializes in this type of build. He’s poured concrete between the gaps in Styrofoam blocks to create a functional yet historically accurate outer structure.

Forbes and his wife enjoy their advertising work, but if the demand was there, the business savvy family man would happily switch careers to be a consultant on similar eco-conscious home restoration projects.

When asked what he’s most looking forward to upon completion of this project (set for June), Forbes chuckles as he envisions himself living in his dream home and welcoming neighbours for a glass of wine.

ONE REVELSTOKE MAN IS MAKING HIS RESTORATION DREAMS COME TRUE

By Amaris Bourdeau.

New resident Jamie Forbes' unique new build on Aspen Crescent features an antique Amish barn frame, which was dissasembled and is not being reassembled in Revelstoke.

Photos: Contributed by Jamie Forbes.

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Homes

NEWS Is it time to take another look at a local hardwood? Woodlot owner Mike Cummings is also a fine woodworker who uses birch from his stand to create unique projects like the chair pictured.

Photos: Laura Stovel.

BIRCH: FROM WEED TO TREASURE

By Laura Stovel.

Walk onto Mike Cummings and Dell William’s woodlot at the base of Mount Macpherson and you’re in for some surprises. Growing amongst the usual array of coniferous trees that are the mainstays of most tree plantations in the Revelstoke Forestry District – red cedar, white pine, hemlock, Douglas-fir, spruce and, increasingly, larch, the latter an adaptation to climate change – you will see ponderosa pine and birch.

Cummings, who grew up in Revelstoke, sees the value of species diversity for forestry and for the ecosystem. He and William planted 600-800 ponderosa pine seedlings in 2009, in anticipation of climate change. Ponderosas don’t count towards the stocking of planted trees required by the Ministry of Forests but “we wanted to see how they would do,” Cummings said. Today the ponderosas “tower above” the other trees they planted or that grew naturally around the same time.

Logging birch is another example of Cummings’ out-of-the-box thinking. Unlike many logging companies, “we like to keep deciduous trees on our blocks,” he said. “I know other outfits will come in and brush the block. They just mow down every bit of deciduous, supposedly to promote the conifers to grow a little bit faster but it doesn’t seem natural or right to me. It’s expensive to do and I don’t think it makes much sense ecologically, either,” he said.

Today, paper birch and Douglas-fir are the two main woods that Cummings and William log on their woodlots.

Paper birch, which has value to foresters as a hardwood, is a fast-growing pioneer species, among the first to grow in after a disturbance like logging, a blowdown or a fire. It also grows in secondary forests. A B.C. government forestry site states that paper birch “contributes to the nutrient status of forest floor by increasing its calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and boron concentration, and reducing its aluminum, iron, manganese, and zinc concentration. The presence of birch in coniferous stands will increase decomposition and mineralization rates, thus altering humus form.

This … results in increased levels of plant-available soil nutrients.” Other than the bronze birch borer, a beetle that attacks weakened or damaged trees, it has few insect predators.

Birch trees also provide important habitat for many birds and mammals. They are a favorite of whitetail deer, moose and snowshoe hares.

Woodpeckers, chickadees, ruffed grouse and

pine siskins enjoy the seeds. One scientific paper concluded that, “At least 24 different kinds of animals are known to feed on birches.”

Cummings has been logging and milling birch since the mid-1980s when he and Ward Kemmerer went into business together. Since then, he has promoted birch and value-added wood production.

“I wanted to promote what I considered to be the value of birch. It was considered just a weed species, treated terribly, actually. I saw it as a beautiful wood. People could make useful and beautiful things from it and make some employment.”

Cummings is a fine woodworker whose stunning, modernist furniture, often including birch, has been featured in at least one exhibition at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre. He also used to produce birch flooring, trim, baseboards, and tongue-and-groove panelling. Now he focuses on kiln drying and milling birch slabs, 4x4s for newel posts and other boards.

“Mostly I sell raw wood to folks who are doing various projects in town,” selling to artists, cabinet makers and fine home builders, among others.

Last year some of his birch went to a veneer mill in Kamloops, and, depending on market conditions, he has sold birch to the Hyde Mill in Malakwa.

Although markets are evolving in Revelstoke, with more interest in locally-sourced products, Cummings doesn’t see any business surviving completely off birch. He sees it “more of a sideline for an operation like” Take to Heart Mill. There would have to be “some other high-end product, trying to squeeze more value out of something like fir, hemlock maybe,” he said. *** After note BC Timber Sales, the logging branch of the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, is currently advertising its Integrated Pest Management Plan and 2021 Proposed Herbicide Treatments for the duration of June 2021 to May 2026. The herbicides are designed to restrict the growth of deciduous trees and other plants to avoid costly brushing of undergrowth. Given the value of deciduous trees such as birch for wildlife and plants in healthy forest ecosystems, and given that companies such as the Revelstoke Community Forestry Corporation are able to log successfully without using pesticides and herbicides, even when they do remove deciduous trees, it may be worth asking whether the application of such chemicals is consistent with healthy forests.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Roughing it

REVELSTOKE NOW BOASTS TWO NEW OPTIONS FOR THE OUTDOORS WITHOUT THE TENT

By Bryce Borlick.

Ah. my first overnight camping experience. At the tender young age of seven I embarked on an overnight school trip that aimed to teach us how early settlers lived. By morning we were all cold, wet, and tired so I suppose you could consider it a success. It’s part of camping, they say, and anyone who has spent any time under the stars probably has a similar tales of misery. If you want to indulge in the outdoors, how else are ya’ gonna’ do it? Well there’s good news: you now have more luxurious options, and Mount Revelstoke National Park and K3 Cat Ski offer two of them locally.

The new Snowforest campground at the base of Mount Revelstoke National Park opened last summer and has been welcoming visitors to its mix of 63 walk-in and RV-accessible sites. But for the 2021 season, there are also three curiously small cabin-like structures, just ten by ten feet in size, that are available for nightly rental. Called MicrOcubes, they are a style of accommodation that has become known informally as ‘glamping,’ short for ‘glamorous camping’. Equipped with double beds, lighting, patio furniture, and USB charge ports, these micrOcubes are aimed at couples who want to experience outdoor cooking and living without giving up the basic creature comforts of indoor living.

“The MicrOcube, is a contemporary concept unique to Parks Canada and designed with couples in mind,” explains Shelley Bird, a Parks Canada spokesperson. “As a leader in the tourism industry, it is important that Parks Canada’s visitor offer

evolves with the expectations of Canadians, such as the increased interest in comfort camping.”

The MicrOcubes are not unique to Revelstoke — they are also offered at Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, and at Forillon National Park in Quebec. In fact, since 2012 when Parks piloted the oTENTik, a cross between a tent and a cabin, Parks has developed a number of interesting alternative accommodations, including tiny houses at Waterton Lakes, a suspended Cocoon Bed sphere at Cape Breton, and a water droplet shaped 4-person shelter at Fundy National Park, dubbed the Goutte d’Ô. The MicOcubes were built small since the majority of Parks’ visitors are parties of two, and they were built solid to address Revelstoke’s often inclement summer weather and our unique snow load requirements.

“The MicOcubes have an upgraded air barrier system, and are built stronger to accommodate the higher snow loads at the campground elevation,” says James Rogers of Arrotwtec Building Systems who built the units in conjunction with Absolute Contracting.

But perhaps you’re looking for a true backcountry experience that makes no compromises in terms of luxury and comfort. For you there is the new K3 Cat Ski lodge, located just west of Revelstoke, high up in the Anstey Range and accessed via snow cat.

The immaculately crafted eight bedroom facility ticks all the boxes a discerning client might have; ensuite bathrooms, gourmet meals served in a spacious dining room, a lounge wrapped around a crackling fireplace, and of course, amazing views of

Top and right: The new K3 Cat Ski Lodge supports a remote CATSKIING operation.

Photos: Laura Szanto.

Top Right: Pictured in 2020 with the Innotech Windows stickers still on the doors, the new MicrOcube camping buildings in Mt. Revelstoke National Park. The new campsite is located near the Nels Nelsen historic ski jump. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine.

Homes

in style

the surrounding mountains. It may be a far cry from camping, but it still allows you to disconnect with the world and reconnect with the earth.

Over the last ten years there has been a growing niche of travellers and adventurers who aren’t looking for mere accommodations, rather they’re seeking unique experiences like these. A quick scan through Airbnb reveals just how varied they can be: a refurbished firewatch tower, an igloo, a haunted castle, a converted Boeing 747, and even a Hobbit House in southern B.C. that looks to be straight out of Middle-earth. Even WWOOFing is a form of adventure accommodation that goes back decades. Driven mainly by younger customers, the global ‘glamping’ market has grown to $2.35 billion USD annually and shows no signs of stopping. The steady growth has caught the attention of tourism agencies, including Parks Canada.

“Parks Canada considers the MicrOcube one of three national accommodation products, along with oTENTik and Ôasis.“ says Shelley. “Further MicrOcubes will be built and installed in Parks Canada’s campgrounds as funding and opportunity allows.”

Surely there are camping purists among us who are scoffing at the idea of waking up warm, dry, and well rested and for them a moist sleeping bag and a cold can of beans may suffice. For the rest of us, there are some exciting options to explore. And hey, if the settlers eventually moved indoors, maybe we can too.

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LIFE HERE MADE

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KEEP COOL CLAYWORKS

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ALL STRUNG OUT- STRING ART BY KRISTEN

Interior Design Inspiration A LOOK AT SOME GREAT INTERIOR DESIGN PIECES MADE RIGHT HERE IN REVELSTOKE

By Sonia García.

VANESSA STYVES ART

BIG EDDY GLASS WORKS

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REIN VINTAGE

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BACK COUNTRY METAL WORKS

METAL MIND FORGE

I LOVE LOG

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BARBARA MAYE

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Made Here

REAL ESTATE

Revelstoke continues to be a seller's market, with housing prices up again so far in 2021.

SALES VOLUME, PRICES UP IN REVELSTOKE REAL ESTATE MARKET JUST THE STATS! IS A QUARTERLY LOOK INTO REVELSTOKE REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS TRENDS

By Emily Beaumont.

With the realization of what is tremendously important in life emerging for many people, Revelstoke’s real estate market has become increasingly active.

The sales volume is up by 18% the first quarter, this year over last.

At March 14, 2021 there were 96 single family residential sales in the past 12 months compared to 90 year-over-year.

The average sale price is up 7.6% this year over last at $734,000 versus $688,000 in the same period a year ago.

Nearing the end of the first quarter of 2021: · Just one of the 20 homes sold was under $500,000 · Three properties sold above $1 million · In 2019, 25 of the 85 homes sold were in the $500,000 range Currently there are only 27 homes on the market.

There have been just seven land-only sales to date. Of the 17 lots listed, just three of them are under $450,000.

The average sale price for land is $350,599. In 2019 it was $251,430, and just last November it was $299,226.

Revelstoke is coming alive again this spring — people are waking up from winter! Revelstoke's abundant natural surroundings are extremely attractive, but we need to find a way to make sustainable, functional and create affordable housing more attractive for development. People need a place to live, but it is a basic right that is becoming unattainable. This is unacceptable.

How do we motivate those who need to be motivated to open up to the new direction that has to emerge to allow for the solutions that already exist, and incorporate them into daily operation. We can solve the greatly needed affordable housing issue for Revelstoke’s diverse community! Now is our chance; we can still get it right, use the creative ways we know are out there.

Thoughtfully planned, it’s an idea whose time has come!

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Local.

Independent.

Get in the magazine: info@revelstokemountaineer.com

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Homes

LIFE

A NUMBER OF MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE SET TO GET UNDERWAY AT REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN RESORT THIS COMING SPRING AND SUMMER. HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT’S IN STORE

By Melissa Jameson.

A rendition of the new Cabot Revelstoke golf course near Williamson's Lake.

Image: Reveslstoke Mountain Resort.

REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN RESORT GOLF COURSE, HOTEL CONSTRUCTION SLATED

Construction on a luxury heli-hotel, which will become the new home of Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing, broke ground in June 2020.

Peter Nielsen, RMR vice president of operations, said the hotel is set for completion sometime in 2023. The helihotel is part of a partnership between RMR and Cabot, which was announced in November 2020. That partnership will also see development of other infrastructure, including an 18-hole golf course, which Nielsen says the resort is hoping to get started on this month, pending final environmental approval for Phase 1. Currently, the estimated date of completion for the golf course is in 2024.

There is also a new day lodge planned for the top of the gondola, that is currently in the planning stages. RMR is hoping to break ground on that project in 2022.

The resort is hoping to break ground on much needed staff housing this summer. Nielsen said RMR is currently in the development permit phase, with plans to get started on the 88-unit Phase 1 this June. Phases 2 and 3 are market dependent.

Other near-term projects include a town-home development and a water reservoir. The townhome project is still in the design phase, and the resort is hoping to apply for permits sometime in 2021, but actual construction start and

finish dates are still unknown. The water reservoir project, which will service the resort basin area and Arrow Heights for drinking water is already on the go.

With all of the various projects on the go, Nielsen said he does expect some impact to members of the public visiting the resort, but nothing he can specify at this point.

“There might be some short road closures at some point, particularly when doing the golf course, but it’s undetermined when. Our number one goal is to provide a great experience for our guests and we’ll put thought and planning into any sort of service interruption.”

Homes

A Rendition of proposed new development plans at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The development will take place over many years, with only some of the projects slated. Image: Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

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It’s been four years since the completion of Phase 1 of Mackenzie Village and developer David Evans says he is excited to break ground on the next phase .

“We have have been working with city and made them aware we want to be breaking ground May of this year. That allows us to get the majority of works want to do this year buttoned up before snow starts to fly in December. Will become challenging if date gets pushed back too much,” said Evans.

The newest phase of development is for Mackenzie Plaza which, once completed will include 121 residential units and 35,000 square feet of commercial space.

community—both existing Mackenzie Village residents and neighbouring Arrow Heights residents.

“When I talk to people in Arrow Heights they’re super excited to be able to ride a bike, get a coffee, a loaf of bread, groceries,” said Evans.

The response from the local community has been good so far, with around 30% of the phase one Mackenzie Plaza units sold to local buyers, said Evans. Additional phase one units sold have gone to buyers in BC, Alberta, Ontario and a few from the U.S. The project also brings significant financial resources, with approximately $1 million per year in additional revenue and taxes for the city..

Evans said there are also plans for a sidewalk in front of Mackenzie Plaza, on Nichol Road.

“As our development builds out we will have a sidewalk network that will extend to existing Arrow Heights neighbour hoods to the north as per the master plan,” said Evans.

A rendition of proposed staff housing for Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

The final project may look different. Image: Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

Mackenzie Village developer hopes to start work on Mackenzie Plaza May 2021

The residential units range in size from 700 to 1,500 square feet.

The first phase of the Mackenzie Plaza project includes 61 residential units and approximately 15,000 square feet of commercial space. Two buildings are planned for phase one, with one building all residential and the second building having ground floor commercial space.

Buildings three and four, planned for the second phase of Mackenzie Plaza, will both have ground floor commercial space.

While Evans wasn’t willing to share which businesses might occupy the commercial space, he did say up to 10 local businesses are looking to open a second, or in some cases a third or fourth, location.

“Most of them have businesses in the downtown core already and are not looking to leave, they are looking to add and expand. They’re going to move here because they see the opportunity and they are excited about the extra space,” said Evans.

Evans said the plaza’s commercial development is a huge benefit to the

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OUTDOORS LIVES

REMEMBERING

JEFF NICHOLSON

Jeff helping with the apple harvest on a 100-year-old apple tree.

Photo: Matthew Nicholson and Mengia Nicholson.

A WELL-LOVED MEMBER OF THE REVELSTOKE COMMUNITY, JEFF IS REMEMBERED FOR HIS LOVE OF NATURE AND PASSION FOR EDUCATION

By Melissa Jameson.

As a child, Matthew Nicholson would often go on hikes with his dad, Jeff. Growing up in Revelstoke in the 1980s, Matthew recalls there weren’t too many kids hiking on the trails.

“Climbing Mount Cartier, hiking the Eva Lake Trail and exploring the Keystone Standard Basin introduced me to magical vistas that have stayed with me to this day,” Matthew told the Mountaineer.

Knowing his dad’s love of nature, one day while out on a family hike, Matthew, who was in elementary school at the time, decided to put Jeff to the test. On a summer hike along the Eva Lake trail, they began talking about the problem of litter in the National Parks."Would you drop a bottle cap in the Park if someone paid you to do it?" Matthew asked.

"No way,"Jeff replied. "What if someone gave you a million dollars to do it?" Matthew prodded. "Never," Jeff said, without a second's hesitation.

Born in Burns Lake, B.C. in 1939, Jeff played many roles during his life: husband, father,friend, scientist, teacher, school trustee, community member. Sadly, Jeff passed away at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops on November 12, 2020 at the age of 81 from a sudden heart attack. His wife, Mengia, was at his side. He is remembered by those who knew him as a kind, intelligent, thoughtful, courteous and dedicated man who held a deep love of nature, a strong commitment to community, and a passion for education.

After nearly half a century together, Mengia has a lifetime’s worth of memories, but holds especially dear the early years she and Jeff spent in Revelstoke.

“When we got married and Jeff brought me to Revelstoke in 1972, I felt like we had arrived in the ‘Swiss Alps of Canada.’ We were deeply impressed by the deep snow, the community’s foresight to preserve Mount Revelstoke and Glacier as beautiful National Parks, and the community’s sense of history and heritage,” Mengia said. “We both truly appreciated the caring and sharing qualities of Revelstokians as we got to know them.”

Making their long-term home in Revelstoke, Jeff and Mengia raised their two sons, Matthew and Peter.

“He indeed chose a special place for us to raise our family and to share 48 good years together,” she said.

As a teacher and a trustee, Jeff’s passion for education shone through A high school teacher for many years, Jeff found unique ways to engage his students. For several years during the mid-1990s, he’d often ask friend John Woods to give guest presentations to his Grade 11 Biology class. (The two had met sometime in the 1970s while John was working as a biologist for Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. Jeff also held a Master’s of Science in Forestry and had worked for the Canadian Forestry Service in St. John’s, NL from 1966 to 1970. He made the transition to teaching upon his return to BC, earning his high school teaching qualification from Simon Fraser University in 1971. He began teaching at Revelstoke Secondary School the same year.)

John recalled with fondness, one particularly smelly endeavour he aptly refers to as “Elk liver lab.”

At the time, John was studying the ecology of elk in the mountain parks. His project included investigating a species of parasitic flatworms— “Giant liver flukes,” huge leech-shaped creatures that can grow up to six centimeters long— that could invade elk livers.

“Often encased in a hallow cyst the size of a chicken egg, within a liver the size of a turkey, discovering them was guaranteed to be something a student would never forget,” said John. Jeff was game for the proposed “hands-on” laboratory, where students could take part in John’s research by dissecting elk livers from animals killed on the highway or railway.

After a brief introduction to parasitology, students were given all the necessary tools to complete the liver

dissection, along with a bit of encouragement. John recalled many of the elk livers had been in carcasses along the highway for hours before being collected, with some being badly damaged by the liver flukes.

It didn’t take long for the smells to make their way to nearby classrooms. “As the odours circulated down the halls by the school’s ventilation system, groans of astonishment could be heard from students along a rapidly expanding radius,” said John. “This odoriferous wave prompted the principal to declare an early dismissal for the entire high school!”

Back in the lab however, complaints about the smell gave way to fascination as students discovered the large parasites. “Some students became so enthralled that they asked if they could stay for the next class so they could look for more liver flukes,” said John. “We continued to present the “elk liver lab” to his classes for several years—although the dissections were moved to the farthest corner of the school playground!”

A well-loved and respected member of the school community,Jeff taught biology, science and math at Revelstoke Secondary from 1971 to 1999. After his retirement, Jeff joined the School District ‘s Board of Education, sitting as a trustee until 2018.

“Jeff was a strong supporter of our public education system,” Board Chair, Bill MacFarlane, said. “He worked tirelessly to make sure our schools supported each and every student.”

Former Superintendent of Schools, Anne Cooper, first met Jeff in 1999 while he was still teaching. She remembers Jeff as a, “serious, dedicated employee who loved his subject matter and was known for his gentlemanly demeanour.”

“After retirement, when Jeff became a trustee these same qualities shone. Jeff was always well prepared, read everything possible, asked good questions, and never for one minute made a comment or a contributed to a decision that was not about the best interests of the district and children. He was kind, thoughtful and dedicated to the role,” she said.

Jeff’s dedication to his role as trustee and passion for education is remembered by others as well, including board vice-chair Alan Chell and current Superintendent of Schools Mike Hooker. Chell first met Jeff when he moved to Revelstoke 40 years ago.

The two sat on the Board of Education together for 19 years. Chell remembers Jeff was, “always extremely well prepared for meetings and would often show up with pages of notes from research he had done.”

Knowing how important it is for school trustees to know what is going on provincially, Chell said Jeff also established many friendships with colleagues from other School Districts around the province, particularly in the Thompson Okanagan region.

“Jeff was an outstanding school trustee,” Hooker said. “His kind and caring attitude was infectious.

Well after retirement he would come into the School Board office to say hello and check in and offer his thoughts and observations.”

Jeff is survived by his wife Mengia, son Matthew (Chieko), grandson Hugo and granddaughter Sara, siblings Daniel, Millie, Connie, William, Ruth and Mari. He was predeceased by his son Peter, brother-inlaw Pete and sister Barbara.

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A glimpse into the remarkable stories of people and places in the Columbia Basin.

BIKE REPAIRS OPEN APRIL 15 After a long winter in storage, it’s time to give your bike the tune up it deserves. Let our qualified bike mechanics make sure your bike is as trail-ready as you are.

We are open and accepting bikes as of April 15. Pre-booked appointments are recommended but not required.

Program makes it easier for builders to employ trades apprentices Alan De Chezet, owner of Ruby Mountain Builders, wasn’t actively looking for an apprentice, but he felt an immediate connection with Michael Greenfield. Columbia Basin Trust’s School Works Apprentice Wage Subsidy Program helped De Chezet round out his four-person crew and gave Greenfield a leg up in his carpentry career. “Without it, I think it would’ve been much more Full story on difficult to find an opportunity like this - there’s no question.”

ourtrust.org/stories

BOOK A SERVICE OR FIND MORE INFO AT revelstokemtn.com/repair

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ARTS & CULTURE HISTORY

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

By Greg Nesteroff.

Revelstoke City Gall is seen not long after its completion in 1939. Architect C.B.K. Van Norman’s Modernist masterpiece recently underwent a major rehab. Photo by J. Fred Spalding/MSC130-08032-01/Courtesy of the Phiilp Francis Postcard Collection, a digital initiative of Simon Fraser University Library

When the City of Revelstoke commissioned Vancouver architect C.B.K. Van Norman to design a new city hall and fire hall in 1938, did they have any idea how unusual the result would be?

Van Norman’s plans called for a building unlike anything in B.C. at the time: a minimalist, concrete, twostorey box in the International Style, nearly devoid of ornamentation but with a tall hose-drying tower.

“It was a very daring statement and somehow met with the approval of council who viewed the plans,” heritage consultant Donald Luxton wrote in 2013, describing the building as “startlingly modern and innovative.”

Perhaps cost considerations convinced council to accept the radical design. Van Norman, 31, wanted the commission badly and promised the building would be delivered on budget or he would waive his fee.

Still, in a city otherwise filled with Victorian and Edwardian-era buildings, local reaction was mixed at best.

Mayor Walter Hardman heard the building referred to as “the mausoleum,” “the portal of Connaught Tunnel,” “the city jail,” and the “flour mill.” However, he was unapologetic. It was modern and good value, he said.

It was also Van Norman’s enduring masterpiece.

A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s architecture

school, Van Norman specialized in designing homes and was among the first in Vancouver to use the International Style, popularized in Europe. But he had few large commissions until the 1950s, probably because he was so far ahead of his time. Fewer than 30 of his homes remain, although he also designed offices, apartments, public buildings and a shopping centre. Among his best known works in Vancouver are Beach Towers, the Burrard Building, and Maritime Museum.

While Revelstoke city hall remains in the same location (the fire department moved out in 1982), the building was stuccoed over in the 1970s. When the city planned to add external insulation in 2010, Luxton protested to council as president of the Canadian Art Deco Society, saying the building would be “thoroughly defaced” as a result. The reno was halted. In 2012, after slabs of stucco began to fall off, a building envelope study was commissioned, kicking off a long debate over city hall’s future.

Fast forward to today. A rehabilitation project to remove old stucco, create a new envelope, and restore the building to its original sparkling white appearance has just wrapped up at a cost of more than $1 million (the final figure was not available as of press time).

Arts & Culture

Some architects have outsize influence on their communities. For Van Norman, a single commission earned him enduring fame in Revelstoke. But in Nelson, Alexander Carrie was responsible for designing or executing numerous beloved buildings in a career spanning more than 50 years.

Arriving in 1895, Carrie worked on hundreds of commercial, institutional, and residential projects, both solo and in partnership with Alexander Ewart. A heritage walking tour includes 26 of them, including the turreted KWS Block at the corner of Baker and Ward streets.

Carrie is justly celebrated, yet sometimes unfairly overshadowed by Francis Rattenbury, who designed a handful of buildings in the Kootenays, including the Nelson courthouse, for which Carrie was clerk of works. Rattenbury’s major commissions, salacious personal life, and subsequent murder make him simultaneously B.C.’s most famous and infamous architect.

Archie Broderick, meanwhile, left his mark on Trail, but Trail seems hell-bent on forgetting him.

The South African-born architect joined the Cominco engineering staff in 1914 and served as architectural consultant to the company for 25 years while running his own practice. He was responsible for providing much of the city’s character through his boxy brick buildings of the 1910s and ‘20s, many of which have been demolished. Those that remain have been greatly altered.

Another prolific architect in Trail and Nelson was William F. Williams, an Australian who worked in Montreal for the firm hired to design the Blaylock Mansion on Kootenay Lake’s north shore.

Williams came to Nelson in 1934 to supervise construction on the mansion. Once finished, he stayed in town and opened his own practice.

He was responsible for many noteworthy local buildings, although probably best known for winning a competition to design the Canadian Paviliion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Williams died suddenly in 1947 but his wife Ilsa continued the practice, completing Nelson’s Mount St. Francis hospital and other works. Ilsa was certainly Nelson’s first female architect and among the first in BC. She took on David Fairbank as a partner, whose son Chris continued the firm as Fairbank Architects. Its recent closure marked the end of an architectural era.

THE PIPE OPENS MAY 21 The weather is warming up and we’re busy getting Revelstoke’s #1 Summer Attraction back in action. The Pipe Mountain Coaster and the Lower Gondola are back for the summer season starting May 21, so mark your calendars and get those piping arms ready!

BUY TICKETS OR FIND MORE INFO AT revelstokemtn.com/pipe

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Ryan Creary Photo

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