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December 7, 2004 Minister of State for Resort Development Land and Water British Columbia Inc. REVELSTOKE – A new world-class all-season resort Master Plan has been approved for Mount MacKenzie near Revelstoke, Wendy McMahon, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, announced today. “The community has been waiting for this day since the 1980s,” said McMahon. “Through the combined efforts of all of those involved we will be home to B.C.’s newest all-season resort. We will create jobs and economic opportunities by attracting visitors into B.C.’s interior and enhancing the Golden-Revelstoke corridor as the Gateway to B.C.” The plan calls for a modern all-season resort with more than 16,000 bed units, guest service facilities, an 18-hole golf course, a multi-use trail system, 25 lifts and 100 ski and snowboard trails. The resort will boast the fourth largest vertical drop of any ski resort in the world. Approval of the plan came after extensive review by the public, local and provincial governments, and mediation to resolve issues around pre-existing tenures and land ownership. “This is only the beginning,” said Minister of State for Resort Development, Sandy Santori. “This development is one of many that will be realized as a result of the new All Season Resort Strategy, and the framework it lays out for streamlining high priority resort development so we can take advantage of the increased profile that will come with the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.” “This is an example of what can happen when parties come together. We have worked out effective land use solutions that will generate economic benefits throughout the region for years to come,” said Minister of Sustainable Resource Management George Abbott. “The City of Revelstoke is pleased to have reached agreement to sell the land and ski operation at Mount Mackenzie to Mount MacKenzie Resort Limited,” said Mayor Mark McKee. “MMRL has the vision and means to maximize the potential of this incredible mountain resource and contribute to the economic renewal of our region.” “The time is right for a new all-season resort in this area, and we are thrilled to have the master plan approved and all outstanding issues around land and tenure settled amicably so that we can proceed with certainty as we begin building the next world class resort for British Columbia,” said Hunter Milborne, chair of Mount MacKenzie Resort Limited. “We anticipate that revenue from real estate sales could boost the investment to $800 million.” “We are pleased with the terms of the master plan and agreement that will allow us to continue our operation in a new location and in a new lodge,” said Clyde Newsome, owner of CAT Powder Ski Limited. The Province and MMRL will now begin negotiations on a Master Development Agreement which is expected to be concluded early in the new year. The City of Revelstoke will approve an Official Community Plan to support the resort and extend its boundaries to include the controlled recreation area within the city. The pre-selling of real estate will begin in 2005. Phase I construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter. British Columbia’s resort industry includes more than 700 resorts, employs 26,000 people, and generates close to $5 billion annually in direct and related spending and tax revenues. Land and Water British Columbia Inc., the government corporation responsible for managing access to Crown land, has been given a mandate to stimulate resort-based tourism in B.C. and enable operators to compete more effectively in the international market.
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