The Community Economic Development department has completed two major planning initiatives over the past few months.

The Revelstoke Community Environmental Strategy was completed in June following extensive stakeholder consultation and public input. City Council received the strategy in July, and the various municipal departments are reviewing the document to determine the best methods of implementation. Background discussion papers and detailed action plans have been developed for:

▪ Environmental Education & Awareness ▪ Toxic Substances
▪ Noise & Light ▪ Solid Waste Management ▪ Recycling
▪ Air Quality ▪ Climate Change ▪ Drinking Water
▪ Water Conservation ▪ Sewage Treatment & Discharge
▪ Storm Water Discharge ▪ Urban Forest ▪ Parks & Green Space
▪ Wildlife ▪ Energy ▪ Municipal Buildings ▪ Transportation
▪ Natural Ecosystems

The Community Environmental Strategy is available for review on the city’s website at www.cityofrevelstoke.com on the Community Development main page. Revelstoke is one of the first small communities across the country to undertake the development of a comprehensive environmental plan.

Revelstoke’s first Tourism Development Strategy was completed in 1997. This plan has successfully guided tourism development in the community over the past six years. In 2002, the Tourism Advisory Committee, a volunteer group comprised of representatives from the tourism sector, recommended that the strategy be updated to reflect the progress that has been made since 1997, and that new goals and objectives be established for the next five year period. Following review and consultation with the tourism industry, the following objectives have been identified.

• Secure consistent and stable long-term funding for the Tourism Coordinator position and establish an identity exclusively for tourism promotion.
   
• Maintain communication with the tourism industry and the community and continue to hold monthly meetings of the Tourism Advisory Committee consisting of the Tourism Coordinator, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and community members.
   
• Initiate a Tourism Service Awards program and encourage tourism businesses to maintain or develop high levels of customer service.
   
• Assist local operators and tourism companies to package and promote winter activities.
   
• Position and market Revelstoke as a summer tourism destination and assist local operators and tourism companies to package and promote summer activities.
   
• Develop and implement a strategy to draw more visitors from the Trans-Canada Highway into the community, including improvements to signage and attractiveness of areas west of town to help entice more travellers to visit Revelstoke and support for the Enhancement Committee and the City in highway revitalization efforts.
   
• Profile Revelstoke as a festivals and events destination. An events committee has been formed to assist with development of festivals and events.
   
• Develop a conference package and actively market the community as a conference location.
   
• Develop a strategy to increase promotion of the Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Heritage Tourism sectors, which are projected to be the fastest and greatest growth activities in tourism over the next 25 years.
   
• Undertake more initiatives to jointly market with regional and neighbouring communities.
   
• Develop objective indicators to measure success of the identified strategic activities.

All members of the community are invited to attend the Tourism Forum on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 4-7 pm at the Begbie Room in the Regent Hotel. There will be an opportunity to comment on the objectives and give your input into existing or future activities you think are important for the promotion of tourism.

For further information on these initiatives, or if you have other suggestions to help promote Revelstoke, please contact Alan Mason, Director of Community Economic Development, at 837-5345 or by e-mail at redc@revelstoke.net.

Alan Mason