Introduction - A Historical Pespective

The City of Revelstoke is nestled in the rugged and picturesque North Columbia Mountains of southeastern British Columbia. The community’s economic history has long been tied to the natural resources of the area through the mining, transportation and timber industries. In 1993, the City became the sole shareholder in the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation, a private corporation established by the City to purchase and manage an area of public forest land now known as Tree Farm License 56. This tree farm license is now the largest community forest in British Columbia, a province where forestry provides the foundation for the economy.

Other communities have taken a keen interest in this endeavor. City staff and the citizens who were involved in this historic undertaking are often asked how it was achieved. This report was prepared to document the context, history, achievements and challenges of this venture.. The report begins with a historical perspective of the events which lead to the unique opportunity that made this venture possible. This is followed by a detailed description of the steps taken to form the corporation. A description of the corporate structure and operations, its achievements to date, as well as the challenges for the future, are included.

[Table of Contents] [Introduction] [Background]
[Opportunity is Created] [From Opportunity to Reality]
[First Two Years of Operations] [Current Challenges]
[Further Information] [Appendix]