Climbing devotees aim to bring a world class facility to Revelstoke

A mountain enthusiast is dreaming big for Revelstoke and wants to get the community involved and onboard with a six-storey world-class climbing gym that will draw in tourism and boost local school athletics.

Ian Tomm has lived in Revelstoke for the past ten years and is currently the executive director for HeliCat Canada Assoc. and principal of his consulting business, Cobalt Solutions Inc. In his lifetime, he’s also worked as a heli-ski guide and once owned a climbing business.

Tomm has had a little bit of time and a lot of interest in this project, which he has nurtured over the last three years with Helios Rehabilitation and Performance physiotherapist, and avid climber, Fraser Sprigings.

Now the pair are ready to reveal and recruit and Tomm recently presented at a Revelstoke Climbers’ Co-op meeting on May 26. The Mountaineer chatted about the idea to Tomm on the phone, who was on-route home after flying out to meet with strategists regarding the project.

Tomm stressed that the idea for a climbing gym in Revelstoke is still early in the concept stage and is flexible. He and Sprigings see the overall idea as an opportunity to attract tourists and give the local athletics scene a boost.

Tomm pointed to the sport’s increasing popularity as one reason why this is an attractive idea, mentioning the International Olympic Committee’s announcement on June 1 to support a proposal to add sport climbing, with four other new sports, to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“My vision is quite large, and it’s maybe a little bit of a personality trait,” Tomm said. “We have a phenomenally strong world cup circuit both in North America and internationally. Canadians are at the top. We’ve got amazing facilities in all of the major centres, but only one world cup standard facility in Canada. So when you think of the tourism value and the athletic development value, and what a world-cup standard facility would bring to Revelstoke, it fits quite nicely into the story.”

Tomm believes Revelstoke could be even more of a destination for sports since currently Revelstoke families travel as far as Vernon and Kelowna for events. He’s sure people would travel here for a climbing facility and believes if a local competition was put on, it could bring as many as 1,000 people to Revelstoke.

Climbing enthusiast Ian Tomm is inspired to bring a similar concept of The Boulder’s Climbing Gym, in Saanich, to Revelstoke. Photo: Walltopia

The climbing facility idea is modeled on The Boulder’s Climbing Gym in Saanich on Vancouver Island. The gym has a partnership with the local school board, Stelly’s Secondary School, which runs a high school credit course, hosts external students and carries out events there.

“These are all things we can do in Revelstoke as well,” Tomm said. “We can bring in international and provincial athletics. Draw on local communities such as Salmon Arm and Vernon.”

While the gym would be a boon to the local climbing community, the aim is to attract and maximize on the tourism market and solve Revelstoke’s forever question, how to get cars on the highway to stop.

“A local climbing community will only support a small facility focused on training,” Tomm said. “When we expand our perspective, we look at Canmore, when they built Elevation Place, there’s high tourism value to the gym. In peak periods, they get over 100 people, new people, a day, just there to experience climbing for the first time.”

The Allez Up climbing gym in Montreal, Canada by Walltopia. Photo: Walltopia

For this development to be constructed, it would need an area of 1.5–2 acres. It would likely need to be a brand new structure as Revelstoke does not currently have an existing facility of this size. The best spot would be on the highway, although there are still many questions about the economics of the project, location and logistics. While Tomm said he wants to invest in this project, it’s not something he can do by himself.

“I think it starts with the idea — it starts with community consultation and public input,” he said.

The development may have a retail component to facilitate the needs of its visitors, although it won’t be as large as the recent and controversial Revelstoke Crossing shopping strip.

“I want the best thing for Revelstoke,” Tomm said. “If I had a gazillion dollars in my pocket, and could make any choice, then I would be building it on the highway, and include a retail component. It would be great to have an outdoor retailer and a coffee shop and a few other things there. I don’t think that’s going to take away from downtown. It will add to it and bring (athletic) competitions to town.”

A public session will be held on Friday, June 10 at the Macpherson Room at the Revelstoke Community Centre from 7–9 p.m. See the draft schedule here.