Aussie vanguard establishes itself in Revelstoke

It should be fair to say that when the answering machine for local businesses comes over in a strong Aussie accent, the unmistakable ‘ah’ instead of ‘er,’ then the Australians have infiltrated.

You’ll hear the accent on Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s (RMR) phone line, tourist company Everything Revelstoke, and many more. This isn’t a new phenomenon — where there are ski towns, there are Aussies.

For Revelstoke, the strongest influx of Aussies began almost a decade ago, once RMR opened. Cathy English, curator at the Revelstoke Museum and Archives, said the number of Australians here (myself included) have increased over time. We’re not just snow seekers though, the town has benefited from many workers and their families who bring their skills in return for the lifestyle Revelstoke offers.

“There have been several families that have made Revelstoke their home and settled here and brought whatever their skills and expertise,” English said. “I think it has added to the diversity of the community and added a different perspective.”

English’s own part-time researcher Hayley Johnson (who originates from Bathurst, New South Wales) moved to Revelstoke with her partner Sab Werner (from Byron Bay, New South Wales) in 2009.

“We already had established careers,” Johnson said. “We basically immigrated here for the lifestyle of the mountains.”

Hayley Johnson, Sab Werner and kids Phoebe and Archie. Photo: Emily Kemp/Revelstoke Mountaineer

With two kids aged three and five, Hayley said it was important to her that Revelstoke was a safe place to raise kids.

“It’s just the most amazing place to bring up kids,” she said. “There is so much on offer. I think the uniqueness of this community and its outdoor offerings is what makes many Australians stay.”

The uniqueness of Revelstoke is also difficult to replicate on home soil.

“You can’t compare the two countries,” Johnson said. “It’s beach culture versus mountain culture. I’m not sure where you can find a similar type of community like Revelstoke in Australia.”

And while many Australians might have come for the winter wonderland, the summer might be what surprises them the most.

“I think what catches a lot of people off guard nice spring and summer is here,” Joel Asher, manager of Chubby Funsters who has seen his fair share of Aussies said.

“There’s a ton of Aussies that I know and who like, over everything, the fishing here. I would say summer is getting a lot more popular.”

Australian teacher finds home in Revelstoke

It took 15 days on the S S Orsova to reach Vancouver on May 15, 1958.

When Jan Feldinger left Australia, a customs official asked her, ‘Are you going for two years or will you be not returning?’ and she said ‘not returning.’ While she could not have been sure — this solo teacher in her twenties only planned to travel — that’s indeed what she ended up doing.

“I think when the ship came into Vancouver harbour, it was an absolutely glorious sunny day, and I thought, ‘This is the place I want to be,'” Jan says over coffee at Revelstoke’s Conversations Coffee House.

Australian Jan Feldinger has lived in Revelstoke for 53 years. Photo: Emily Kemp/Revelstoke Mountaineer

When Jan left Australia, it was after the Second World War, and people had started to spread their wings.

“After the war, Australians travelled,” Jan explains. “They all had the urge and most of them went to the United Kingdom and then onto Europe.”

Jan chose Canada because of her father’s extensive travel. She had often watched him leave home for long stretches of time due to his work in electrical engineering and his contacts in North America would help her on her journey.

“I guess I always wanted to travel after hearing from father, all the stories he had,” Jan says.

Jan is the oldest of three girls and her daring trip encouraged one sister to follow in her footsteps four years later.

Like many Australians today who plan to travel, live and work in Canada, Jan started off in hospitality in Canada’s typical postcard outdoors. She worked all-season as a waitress on Grouse Mountain, on the North Shore mountains. It was here that she met her husband Michael, a Hungarian immigrant who had escaped the Russian occupancy. Jan remembers it as a great time within a small community of other couples on top of the mountain.

After a few years, the old chalet burned down and life was changing. Michael, on return from visiting friends in Revelstoke, declared they were moving.

“Revelstoke has been a wonderful place,” Jan says. “I’ve really enjoyed it and our two sons, Mark and Grant, really had lots of opportunities while growing up here.”

Today, Jan is a grandmother to five and has lived in Revelstoke for 53 years. Her life here has been simple but busy and fulfilling. The family and close friends skied and snowmobiled in the winter and golfed in the summer.

Jan was involved with the local school district and was part of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce during the downtown revitalization. Michael worked up at Mica Dam and later Revelstoke Dam. He passed away suddenly in 1993.

Family visits to Canada and trips back home have kept the connection to Australia alive over the years. Revelstoke has changed vastly over the years and although Jan does miss the ocean in Australia, the beauty and lifestyle here continues to captivate her.

“Everything changes from what you remember it to be,” she says. “I have thought about [returning home], but I can’t see myself settling there. It’s lovely to visit.”

Aussie soldiers get as good as they give in Revelstoke

While Aussies are known for dishing out playful ribbings, the Revelstoke folk gave as good as they got during a visit of soldiers from ‘Down Under’ in December 1942.

Aussie soldiers try on skis in Revelstoke. Photo: Revelstoke Museum & Archives

The contingent was stationed in Calgary during the Second World War and visited Revelstoke for Christmas celebrations. Many enjoyed their time so much that they returned in January.

The Skeen and Skiheard column in the Revelstoke Review, produced by the local ski club, challenged the Aussies to a ‘ski-out’ upon word about town that the Aussies said the Canadians just “can’t take it.”

“We’ll show you fellows, on the ski run tomorrow night, whether we can take it or not,” the column reads. “Come on out and meet the ski crowd boys. We’re not such a bad lot, once you get to know us, and we can guarantee lots of fun.”

The Skeen and Skiheard columb in the Revelstoke Times Review in 1943. Photo: Revelstoke Museum & Archives

After the event the following was reported:

“To “Butch” we would like to say that we think his favourite sport must be swimming, for we saw his person stretched out in a crawl position on such places as the ice at the skating rink, the bowling alleys at the Y.M.C.A., and the slopes of the slalom hill. We are only joking, “Butch”, old kid, because we really had fun just watching you.”

There was also mention of ‘Snowy’ the Aussie, who the club wished would live in town.

“He’s such a “whizz” on skis. Having been on the planks little more than half a dozen times, he claims that the road from the “Suicide” ski jump is far too tame for him, and comes tearing down along the trail yelling “blue murder,” the column reads.

This article was first published in the October/November issue of the free Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine.