Revelstoke, a city nestled in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, is a gem waiting to be discovered. With a population of 8,275 as of the 2021 census, Revelstoke is situated 641 kilometres east of Vancouver and 415 kilometres west of Calgary, Alberta. The city is beautifully located on the banks of the Columbia River, just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River.
Revelstoke was founded in the 1880s when the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was built through the area. Originally named Farwell, after a local landowner and surveyor, the city was renamed by the CPR in appreciation of Lord Revelstoke, head of Baring Brothers & Co. This UK investment bank, in partnership with Glyn, Mills & Co., saved the CPR from bankruptcy in the summer of 1885 by buying the company's unsold bonds, enabling the railway to reach completion.
The construction of the Trans-Canada Highway in 1962 further eased access to Revelstoke, and since then, tourism has been a significant feature of the local economy. Skiing has emerged as the most prominent attraction, with Mount Revelstoke National Park just north of the town. Revelstoke Mountain Resort, a major new ski resort on Mount MacKenzie, has been a popular destination since it first opened during the 2007-2008 ski season. Revelstoke is also home to a railway museum, adding to its tourist appeal.
Revelstoke holds the Canadian record for the snowiest single winter. During the winter of 1971–72, 2,447 centimetres of snow fell on Mt. Copeland outside town. That's just over 24 metres of snow! The townsite received 779 centimetres, and snow levels were higher than many roofs around town by more than a few metres.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Revelstoke had a population of 8,275 living in 3,354 of its 3,739 total private dwellings. This was a change of 9.4% from its 2016 population of 7,562. With a land area of 41.28 km2, it had a population density of 200.5/km2 in 2021.
Revelstoke has been featured in several films. The 1937 British movie "The Great Barrier" depicted the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway and featured location shooting from Revelstoke. Some scenes in the 1999 thriller "Double Jeopardy," starring Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones, were filmed in Revelstoke, notably the historic courthouse. The Barber (2001), starring Malcolm McDowell, was almost entirely filmed in Revelstoke and features the town name displaced as Revelstoke, Alaska. In 2017, the Hallmark Channel original movie "Frozen in Love," starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Niall Matter, was filmed in the area.
Revelstoke experiences a humid continental climate. Summers are generally warm and rainy with cool nights, while winters are cold, snowy and very cloudy. Revelstoke on average experiences 50.3 days below 0 °C, 13.5 days above 30 °C and one day above 35 °C. The highest single-day snowfall recorded was 60.2 cm and occurred on December 10, 1980, and the highest-ever snow depth recorded was 173 cm and occurred on February 15, 1982.
There are 15 officially recognized neighbourhoods within the City of Revelstoke, each offering its unique charm and character. Whether you're a visitor or a resident, there's always something new to discover in Revelstoke, British Columbia.
