Real-life stories from visitors who found their home in the town.
Revelstoke isn’t just a place you visit—it’s a place that captures your heart. In this series, we share real stories from travelers who came to Revelstoke for adventure but stayed for something more. Meet Isabel and Kaisa who found their home in the heart of the mountains.
Isabel Kessi, originally from BE, Switzerland
What brought you to Revelstoke and when?
My partner Mac and I moved to Revy in 2019 after spending a few years in Canmore. He got a job as a paramedic in town and my employer at the time allowed me to work from further away. We decided on Revy based on jobs but also because of the variety of outdoor sports that it has to offer.
What made you choose to stay?
We got involved in the community pretty quickly through volunteering opportunities, made some great friends and fell in love with the awesome community spirit as well as the beautiful nature surrounding us. We purchased a house in 2020 and just love it here. I love that we don’t have a neighbour town close by, we have what we have and that’s it, limited offers bring a certain peace and relaxation to life. At the same time there is also a lot of opportunity in this town. Mac and I started a farmers market booth called Summit City Artisanal Foods during the pandemic, first selling handmade pasta, then moving towards baked goods. Being at the market got us connected to lots of people and we love sharing our goodies with others.
Since 2020 I also run the LFI farmers market year round and the role brings me a lot of joy and sense of belonging. It’s my connection to the community and my outing away from my home office, where I’m self-employed working as a food production specialist.
What’s one of your favourite things to do here? (summer/winter)
To pick a favourite thing is actually really hard, I love skiing as much as biking and days by the lake in the summer. But actually, when going into town or walking my dog, Yeti, bumping into friends and familiar faces is just really nice, it’s not as anonymous as in other towns, people really care about each other, everybody has time for a friendly chat.
What advice would you give to someone visiting Revelstoke? (What would you want them to experience about the place you call home?)
Of course, a visit at the farmers market -winter or summer- is a must! It’s such a great representation of what Revy is about and we have such fantastic vendors. A drive up Mount Revelstoke is always nice too, just to see the vast nature surrounding our little town is a great perspective.
Kaisa Lindfors, originally from Gatineau, QC
What brought you to Revelstoke and when?
A classic story of a tree planter in Revelstoke is what first brought me here! During one of my planting seasons, I met a friend who had been living in Revelstoke. Over that summer my best friend and I met some amazing folks who all happened to be living here and who inspired us to check it out. I moved here 6 years ago without ever having visited!
What made you choose to stay?
The community has made me stay. I’ve never come across anywhere quite like Revelstoke and I love how caring and supportive it feels here. It’s given me the space to grow and carve out a space for myself. I’m a ceramic artist and it felt seamless for me to get involved in the pottery guild here and eventually find my own studio space in the Big Eddy which has organically grown into a little business! The arts community is always growing and is so supportive.
What’s one of your favourite things to do here?
Ski touring! I love how much of the landscape I get to explore through skiing. I love seeing the place we live from so many different angles, and being able to connect the dots on foot is such a fun way for me to build my relationship to this place.
What advice would you give to someone visiting Revelstoke? (What would you want them to experience about the place you call home?)
Go find some old growth trees! We have such a unique eco system in the Inland Temperate Rainforest and the forest is so special. It’s definitely a connection that keeps me here.
From tree planting to farmers markets, skiing to ceramics, the stories of those who fall in love with Revelstoke are as diverse as the landscape itself. Whether you’re just passing through or thinking of staying a little longer, this town has a way of welcoming you in. Who knows, your Revelstoke story might just be waiting to be written!
