Thirty-four local non-profits are celebrating a successful Resident Directed (ReDi) Grant season after Revelstoke city council voted to disburse funds for conservation, art and more.
Over $383,000 was distributed following the comprehensive process, which includes community presentations, committee review and council approval.
This year the ReDi Grant committee, a group dedicated to evaluating all ReDi Grant proposals, focused on projects with the largest community impact, Meghan MacIsaac, City of Revelstoke’s community development coordinator told council.
Festivals with alternative means of revenue, such as the Revy Paddlefest and Stoke FM Fest, were denied.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the selection, while Coun. Austin Luciow recused himself from voting on four Community Connections Revelstoke Society proposals and the Revelstoke Youth Soccer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup events proposal due to conflicts of interest.
The final step before distribution included a review of the projects by the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District board. Revelstoke’s submitted recipients received majority support.
Navigating grants and funding options has become “a very challenging landscape” for non-profits, Reanne Harvey, Wildsight Revelstoke branch manager said following the district board meeting. Locally focused funding such as ReDi Grants and Revelstoke Community Foundation grants are even more important as funding streams receive an increased demand, she said.
“Because we work on such a local scale, it’s harder to access some of the funding sources that focus on a bit of a larger scale,” she explained. “Community based grants are where we’ve seen the most success.”
Wildsight Revelstoke, on behalf of Turtle Conservation Revelstoke is using $2,500 to help maintain protections around Western Painted Turtle nests in Revelstoke, and spread community awareness as the turtles and Western Toads start crossing Airport Way to reach the seasonal nesting area.
While the ReDi grants will help with this initiative, Wildsight Revelstoke requested more than $8,000, and is fundraising the difference for upgrades to the wildlife culverts beneath Airport Way
Revelstoke Pride Society received $4,900, a stepping stone for a sustainable future for the new organization. While the long-standing social group received an outpouring of support from local businesses as it transitioned into a non-profit in October 2025, grants and other funding streams will help build sustainable programing.
“The idea is to be able to create some programming and find diverse fundings from other sources, but it’s been essential in establishing the non-profit at this point,” Laurie Villeton, Revelstoke Pride Society secretary said. The society originally applied for $19,650 to set up a range of events including drag shows and an inclusive prom-style evening.
“We’re really grateful for the money we got, but we’re going to have to work around that,” she said.
Partnering again with Open Mountains Project Society for the 2026 Revelstoke Pride festival, Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, Villeton added the society is eager to better establish itself in Revelstoke as a source of inclusive social events.
Other initiatives funded through ReDi include the Indigenous Friendship Society of Revelstoke’s men’s campfire circle, which received $1,000 and Community Connections Revelstoke Society’s foodbank which was granted $30,000. For a full list of recipients visit the City of Revelstoke ReDi Grant page.
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