Bishop Carasquero
Council · Revelstoke
Farwell 2 yrs
About
Hi there, my name is Bishop Carasquero, and I am running for council in Revelstoke, B.C. I have been living in Revelstoke since May of 2024 and have mostly worked in marketing, communications, and outreach roles for a variety of local non-profits.
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
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Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
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Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
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Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security.
Supportive
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Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Supportive
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Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
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Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels.
Supportive
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Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources.
Supportive
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Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
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Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
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Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
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Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents.
Supportive
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Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
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Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit.
Supportive
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Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
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Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
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Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
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Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
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Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Supportive
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
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Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water.
Supportive
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Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
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Develop and implement a water security plan.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
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Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal.
Supportive
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Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
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Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
Yes! Since moving to Revelstoke, I have worked in climate action spaces with Tourism Revelstoke on their Stoke Squad; with the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club by securing and actioning a $10,000 grant to organize a community alpine cleanup (we collected just over 300 lbs of garbage!) and add bear-proof garbage and recycling bins to our entrances; and with the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society as their Education and Outreach Program Assistant, leading public education workshops and invasive plant removals across the CSRD. In my free time, I am also a member of the Revelstoke Climate Coalition and the Revelstoke Rainforest Circle, working on grassroots issues such as engaging the community in sustainability-related events and advocating for better protection of the last remaining old-growth forest stands in Revelstoke's inland temperate rainforest. I also try my best to reduce my personal carbon footprint by using active transportation, buying locally, and composting!
Questions for Revelstoke
What actions will you take to better prepare the City of Revelstoke to mitigate, adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, including in areas of food security, land-use, water consumption, and wildfires?
I would work with the council to:
- Work on strengthening the unaddressed goals and objectives laid out in the Revelstoke Food Security Strategy 2022
- Work with the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation to test new silvicultural practices and push for the exploration of acquiring and stewarding forested lands that are economically significant to the community, such as areas around Mount Macpherson and Begbie.
- Commission a strategy to address future water demands under differing climate conditions and strive for more sustainable water usage across the city.
- Implement heavier fines for bylaw infractions related to water use if assessed as required by expert within city staff.
- Work with city staff to preserve forested areas and convert them into community recreation areas where feasible.
- Advocate to the province for more community FireSmart financial support.
- Continue to work with the Revelstoke and Area Emergency Management Program to develop appropriate measures to address an incoming wildfire.
- Become a certified bear-aware community
- Work on strengthening the unaddressed goals and objectives laid out in the Revelstoke Food Security Strategy 2022
- Work with the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation to test new silvicultural practices and push for the exploration of acquiring and stewarding forested lands that are economically significant to the community, such as areas around Mount Macpherson and Begbie.
- Commission a strategy to address future water demands under differing climate conditions and strive for more sustainable water usage across the city.
- Implement heavier fines for bylaw infractions related to water use if assessed as required by expert within city staff.
- Work with city staff to preserve forested areas and convert them into community recreation areas where feasible.
- Advocate to the province for more community FireSmart financial support.
- Continue to work with the Revelstoke and Area Emergency Management Program to develop appropriate measures to address an incoming wildfire.
- Become a certified bear-aware community
What will be your approach to working with and empowering governance committees, including the Environmental Advisory Committee, and to improving community involvement in decision-making for the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation?
If elected, I will undoubtedly serve on the EAC and encourage other councillors to do the same. Much of the current council's concern has understandably been dedicated to housing and other infrastructure projects. I want the mission of the EAC to ensure that what we invest in does not get destroyed by an extreme weather event by taking active adaptation and mitigation measures to protect the city. Much of this would be dedicated to properly FireSmarting Revelstoke.
As for the RCFC, I would push them to actively engage the community through annual open houses. This could grow everyone's understanding of their operations and show community support for alternative forestry practices that aren't solely concentrated on returning value to the city through harvests.
As for the RCFC, I would push them to actively engage the community through annual open houses. This could grow everyone's understanding of their operations and show community support for alternative forestry practices that aren't solely concentrated on returning value to the city through harvests.
How can the City of Revelstoke better support reconciliation and collaborate with Indigenous Nations?
Have a more active relationship with the Indigenous friendship society and the local nations, and urge the province to follow DRIPA instead of repealing it. Look to other municipalities that are leading in reconciliation and collaboration with Indigenous Nations. And remain patient; these processes can take years!
What role should the City of Revelstoke play in supporting a resilient local food system?
Find pathways to support the LFI's Food Security Coordinator and help advance related objectives and goals set out in the Revelstoke Food Security Strategy 2022
Bears are closely tied to Revelstoke’s identity and tourism messaging. What responsibility does the City have to ensure that this identity is backed by meaningful action and investment in human–wildlife coexistence?
We have a huge responsibility with our existence in prime bear country and wildlife habitat. We need to continue to collaborate with organizations such as Tourism Revelstoke, Mount Revelstoke National Park, Bear Aware and the Illecillewaet Greenbelt Society to help support education and better systems to protect bears from being habituated and harmed when roaming into human environments. This could be through cost sharing, outreach programming and policy/bylaw measures to help protect bears and our community.
How will you ensure that Revelstoke’s tourism growth is sustainable, reflective of community priorities, and balances the need for housing that is affordable and climate resilient?
I'd like to ensure community considerations are at the forefront of growth by holding more open houses and providing more avenues for community feedback to be heard by large-scale tourism providers. The growth of this town will depend greatly on community synergy; otherwise, development will eventually become more and more isolated from the community that it's occurring in.
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