Revelstoke Mountaineer Podcast

Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation general manager Mike Copperthwaite expresses serious concerns about the unknowns in the draft federal/provincial caribou recovery plan, particularly lack of detail, consultation and future decision-making structure. Date: April 13, 2019.

We spoke with Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok about the draft caribou recovery plan and the upcoming consultation open house in Revelstoke on April 15th at the community centre. Date: April 12, 2019

A new study using data from cellular towers finds that Revelstoke's population, with some caveats, is nearly double the official Canada Census number. We spoke with city economic development director Ingrid Bron to parse what the report means.

Darcy Peel, Director of the B.C. Caribou Recovery Program for the B.C. government, talks with Aaron Orlando about the ongoing draft caribou recovery program consultations and the upcoming consultation open house in Revelstoke on April 15, 2019. Date: April 11, 2019.

Mar. 29, 2019. Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski (NDP) discussed the draft federal/provincial mountain caribou recovery Section 11 agreement with Aaron Orlando from revelstokemountaineer.com.

Interior Health Director of Substance Use Services Rae Samson discusses the recent spike in drug overdose deaths in Revelstoke that left six dead between January and August of 2018.

Here is our interview about Revelstoke: A Kiss in the Wind, an Italian documentary premiering in Revelstoke tonight at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. In our live interview, we speak with director Nicola Moruzzi and producer Leonardo Baraldi about their beautiful, lyrical documentary that showcases a historic love story that connects Revelstoke with Italy. Sorry, there is some repetition at the start! We broadcast this live and had a technical issue.

Our April 21 podcast focuses on two innovative youth programs. We speak with Stacie Byrne of the Revelstoke Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative about a program seeking to improve mental health outcomes in the community. We talk with Rachel Reimer about the new Open Mountains program that removes barriers to participation into outdoor mountain activities like mountain biking, backcountry skiing, rock climbing a more. We also chat about a celebration happening this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Revelstoke gazebo in Grizzly Plaza. Thanks for watching!

Following controversy surrounding a development application in the airport bench area south of Revelstoke late last year, Revelstoke’s Local Food Initiative hosted an information session on the provincial Agricultural Land Commission on April 4. LFI board member Melissa Hemphill explains what the session was about. Martin Collins is the Director of Policy and Planning for the the Agricultural Land Commission. He explains its role in agricultural land decisions.

Heliskiing and splitboarding in the mountains around Revelstoke is the subject of a new song and homemade music video produced by New York City resident Eric Rhea, AKA Ric Riggler. Revelstoke gets a shout out in the video, and local companies Eagle Pass Heliskiing and Revelstoke Back Country Guides are feature in the video. We talked with Eric about his video and the National Brotherhood of Skiers.

A controversy has erupted at the Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market after its anchor tenant, Wild Flight Farm, was rejected from coming back this summer -- what would have been its 25th year at the market. We spoke with Wild Flight Farm owner Hermann Bruns and market board member Dan Meakes about the controversy, and any possible resolution.

Revelstoke Mountaineer journalist Aaron Orlando speaks with lawyer Mark Underhill, who represented a Colville Confederated Tribes member from Washington state in a court case that is being viewed as a historical milestone for Sinixt First Nation. The judge ruled that the man, who had been charged with illegal hunting in Canada, had Aboriginal rights to be hunting in Canada. The ruling is seen as a big step for the Sinixt, who have been battling for legal recognition and rights after the Canadian government declared them 'extinct' in 1956.

Last week, the B.C. government announced the creation of a new wildlife management agency that would steer hunting licence revenue into wildlife management activities. In statements sent in the government media release, the announcement was applauded by hunting organizations like the B.C. Wildlife Federation, Guide Outfitters Association of B.C., And the B.C. Trappers Association. However, environmental conservation group Wildsight is expressing concerns about the new agency, and a potential step away from science-based conservation to a new model. We spoke with Wildsight's conservation director John Bergenske to hear more about their concerns.

The ambitious Revelstoke Adventure Park development planned for the Greeley area just outside of Revelstoke received tenure approval from the B.C. government in February, a huge step forward for the developers. We sat down with Revelstoke Adventure Park CEO to find out what happens on the ground now that tenure has been approved.

Gerry Taft is the NDP candidate for the riding of Columbia River–Revelstoke in the May 9 provincial election. He's seeking to replace retiring MLA Norm Macdonald and hold the seat for the NDP. It was our first time meeting Gerry, so we sat down to find out more about the candidate and his platform.

After nine black bears were euthanized in Revelstoke in just a few days, we spoke with Revelstoke Bear Aware coordinator Maggie Spizzirri to find out what's causing the issue and what we can do as individuals and a community to prevent further bear deaths.

BC Coroners Service spokesperson Barb McLintock provides details on the recovery of remains of a drowning victim at Shelter Bay on Aug. 7, 2016.

Three-term Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald has announced he won’t run in the 2017 provincial election, saying he wants to finish off his career as an educator. The surprise announcement comes a year before the provincial election. We spoke with Macdonald about his decision.

The plan for my interview with B.C. musician Rachelle van Zanten was to podcast the audio interview with a brief bio interview. But as I learned during the interview, the new mother of two has settled into a homesteading lifestyle in a rural area near Francois, B.C., and that means off-the-grid reception and dwindling power at her solar-powered home, all factors conspiring against great audio. In the 1990s, van Zanten broke into the music scene as a member of Painting Daisies. After years in Painting Daisies and 17 years travelling the globe as an independent musician, she settled in Francois Lake, B.C. where she engaged in the issues taking place on the land, such as oil and gas development and pipeline projects. She brings a politically and environmentally-oriented message with her blues influenced music. Both are intertwined with her experience growing up in the north and living in northern Alberta, where resource extraction issues are at the front of mind. Now rooted in Francois Lake with two young chi

Don Johnston, the Liberal candidate for the Kootenay–Columbia riding in the October 19 federal election, brings serious credentials to the table in his bid to upset a race that’s much closer now that Nelson, Kaslo, Salmo and some surrounding areas have joined the riding. Johnston was born and still lives in Nelson, and has held leadership positions at major organizations, including as the CEO of the Columbia Basin Trust from 1999–2005. Johnston is bound to be a factor in the election. Conservative support is down in B.C., and the Liberals are poised to take votes from the Conservatives with their first strong candidate in this riding in two elections. Listen you our Sept. 13, 2015 interview, and read the full story on www.revelstokemountaineer.com.