Proposed High Tech Park

Technology park could create hundreds of jobs for Revelstoke
Melissa Jameson
Revelstoke Times Review, 1 October 2008, 1,5.

Citation Networks representatives say if they get the go ahead to build a technology park on Westside Road it could mean the creation of hundreds of jobs for Revelstoke.

The map shows the proposed location of the Westside Road Technology Park

“Several months ago we were approached by Citation Net-works for what I think is an exciting proposal to build a high tech park,” said Alan Mason, director of Economic Development for the City of Revelstoke.

As part of the approval process, Citation Networks held a public meeting to answer any questions about the proposed development at the Community Centre last Wednesday.

Citation Networks is a Vancouver-based company created in 1997 to identify and pursue sustainable economic opportunities in rural locations outside of the Lower Mainland.

Citation Networks president and chief executive officer Robert Sharkey said there are several reasons why they think Revelstoke is the ideal place to build a technology park. Some of those reasons include green electric power (BC Hydro), land (Westside Road locations), fibre-optics (Telus, Bell, Shaw fibre networks), and water (Columbia River).

Lifestyle, said Sharkey, is another reason why Revelstoke is the perfect location. “We took several months to look at a lot of communities in B.C. that had potential,” he said. Bruce Enegren, vice president said Revelstoke is unique in the world.

Tech Park proposal includes housing component

“It’s unprecedented. We have the opportunity to build a data centre right near a dam,” he said.

The technology park would house a variety of different businesses -- everything from software engineering to public relations firms. However, Sharkey said there would be a catalyst business.

“We’re not using the approach ‘build it and they will come.’ What we’ve created is a boot strap ten-ant to go first.”

That boot-strap tenant will be a world class data centre, which is a facility for housing thousands of servers that are connected to the Internet. Currently the market demand for data centres is three to one, says Sharkey.

“Demand is outstrip-ping supply for this type of space,” said Sharkey, who said the data centre alone could bring in 220 employees including network engineers, electricians and more.

There will also be an effort to give jobs to locals. “It’s easier if they’re al-ready here,” said Sharkey.

Of course, building a technology park which will result in hundreds of jobs isn’t easy when there is a housing issue in Revelstoke.

Citation Networks is also proposing to develop a second parcel of land -- the same parcel where a golf course had been proposed. Citation Networks plans for the second parcel of land includes building housing which would be for people working at the technology park and for others as well.

“We’re not saying what we’re proposing is going to solve all of the housing issues, but we’re not saying we’re going to make it worse,” said Sharkey.

Aside from housing, Citation Networks is also making an effort to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Data centres emit a lot of heat. Citation Networks wants to try and utilize that heat in organic greenhouses.

One of the questions asked was what the $420 million technology park will do for Revelstoke. “We’ve got a broad range of everything from trades to foods to marketing and engineering,” said Sharkey. “That should be good for a balanced growth in population.”

It will also encourage people who have gone to obtain a higher education to return to the community. Local businesses will also benefit, said Sharkey, as there would be a year round increase in business travel.

The above article is the property of the Revelstoke Times Review. Any opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the City of Revelstoke, nor does the City of Revelstoke guarantee any of the facts presented in this article.