About us

In the mid 1990’s, as a director on the Community Futures Development Corporation [CFDC] of Revelstoke, Pam MacDonald raised the idea of establishing a Community Foundation in Revelstoke. Ken Magnes took the initiative to gather the relevant information on how to pursue such a venture. The idea became part of the CFDC’s strategic plan but little action was taken until 1998. Real movement occurred that year as a result of a letter to City Council from Jane Swan[nee Tomlinson], inquiring as to whether or not Revelstoke had a Foundation to which Revelstokians, returning to the 1999 City Centennial Reunion, could contribute. As a member of the Reunion Committee, Ken Magnes enthusiastically brought the query to the attention of the CFDC and efforts to establish the Foundation went into high gear.

Most of 1998 and part of 1999 were devoted to promoting the concept in the community, determining the Board and Committee structure, and establishing policies. The City of Revelstoke, the Revelstoke Credit Union [RCU], the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce [C of C], and the CFDC became the sponsoring agencies and were each entitled to appoint a Director to the Board. An ad hoc committee lead the initial organizing and assembled representatives from a wide variety of community organizations to seek recommendations for persons to serve as board members. The first Board consisted of the following individuals: – Geoff Battersby [City], Ken Magnes [CFDC], Joanne Trauzzi [RCU], Steven Hui [C of C], Jon Healey, Pat Anderson, Moira Jaatteenmaki, Kevin Lavelle, Pam MacDonald, and John Wilkey.  

The Foundation received its Articles of Incorporation in November 1998 and its charitable status was bestowed at the same time. Active fundraising to create the endowment began in 1999 with ‘99 and ‘00 being declared the “Founding Years” for purposes of donors receiving “Founding Donor” status. Endowment building was given a big boost by the Vancouver Foundation and Columbia Basin Trust matching grant programs, which meant that, if the Foundation raised $60,000 within the first 2 years of operation, it would attract an Additional $50,000 from each of those agencies. The total funds raised by December 31, 2000 were just over $250,000.

By December 2000, we were able to dispense almost $8,000 in grants with the assistance of a $2,500 gift from the Vancouver Foundation for us to grant on their behalf. The technical, know-how and financial support received from the Vancouver Foundation and Community Foundations of Canada was, and still is, of immeasurable value in helping the Foundation progress.

The Revelstoke Credit Union and the CFDC of Revelstoke have been most generous in providing financial and in-kind support for administrative and operating costs from the very beginning and the Foundation gratefully acknowledges that support. Of equal importance has been the support and generosity of many Revelstoke citizens, organizations and corporations.   

(Geoff Battersby, June 4, 2004)

In June 2014 the Revelstoke Community Foundation (incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act Part 11) transferred its assets to the newly formed Revelstoke Community Foundation (Society) registered under the BC Societies Act and resolved to dissolve the federally registered corporation.

In 2020, the Foundation celebrated the milestone of distributing over $1 million in grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students.