Gary Sulz

Mayor · Revelstoke

Revelstoke 40 yrs

About

I have operated Brandon Bowers Funeral Home, Revelstoke since 1984, my wife Chrissie joined me in the business in 1990 and we retired in August 2023. I have been on council since 2014 and Mayor for the last eight years.

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.

~ Support electrification of new buildings. Neutral

✓ Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems. Supportive

✓ Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security. Supportive

✓ Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings. Supportive

✓ 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.

~ Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels. Neutral

✓ Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources. Supportive

✓ 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.

✓ Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being. Supportive

✓ Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater. Supportive

✓ Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents. Supportive

✓ Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife. Supportive

Land Use

We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.

✓ Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit. Supportive

✓ Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience. Supportive

✓ 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!).

✓ Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit. Supportive

✓ Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities. Supportive

✓ 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.

✓ Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water. Supportive

✓ Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure. Supportive

✓ 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.

✓ Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal. Supportive

✓ Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience. Supportive

✓ 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?

I have worked with city staff to replace gas powered equipment with rechargeable equipment where appropriate. Personally, I currently have my home heated with a Geothermal heat pump and back up electrical furnace. I own a hybrid pick up truck and a fully electric car.

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 have worked with City staff to assist food production in the community whether through access to city land or assisting new food producers to find land to utilize for their farming. I will continue to advocate for that. The City is implementing water meters to monitor water consumption and help residents to understand their personal consumption.
I have been working with council and the Wildfire Resiliency committee to continue the Fire Smart program and advocating for continued funding for this program with the provincial government. I have been working with the Minister of Forests, BCTS (BC Timber Sales) and Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation to plan a Fire Smart program around our community to lessen the effects of a potential wildfire

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?

The Environmental Advisory Committee is working to attend to environmental issues and events within the city. The other city committees enhance city work and give input to issues within the community.

Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation (RCFC) is a well-run sustainable company. We have forestry professionals and long-time advocates along with appointed councillors and Mayor on the company board. This board has guided RCFC to bring innovative sustainable solutions to harvesting (thinning and selective harvests). Revelstoke derives approximately 25% of workforce income (direct or indirect) from Forestry. Sustainable harvesting methods is the only way to keep this positive economic impact alive in our Community. RCFC also gives back financially, having gave back around $2 millions dollars to Revelstoke through grants and legacy funds since 2004. They also contribute $8000 annually in scholarships.

How can the City of Revelstoke better support reconciliation and collaborate with Indigenous Nations?

The city is working well with First Nations by building relationships and honoring the needs of the nations. Revelstoke was the first community in British Columbia to hire an Indigenous Liaison Officer who assisted with the relationship building and acknowledging the work required with First Nations. That position is now needing to be re-filled and the community economic development department are working to find the right fit for the city and the nations.

What role should the City of Revelstoke play in supporting a resilient local food system?

As mentioned before, the city will continue to work with food producers to assist with land, water and a place to market the food. We all know that fresh clean food is essential to keep our community healthy.

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?

I believe keeping human and bear interactions minimal is group effort with education and advocacy,. This is attained through city staff, Bear Aware and enforcement through Conservation and local RCMP. The city also needs to address fruit trees on city owned lands as well as encouraging local homeowners to harvest fruit at the appropriate time. The city will be rolling out Bear resistant garbage and compost bins to every residence and business in 2027 which should limit garbage and compost as as a bear buffet.

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?

Tourism will need to blend in with community priorities to maintain sustainability. The city will continue to work with our tourism partners to understand the needs of tourists, tourism businesses and resident requirements. Wastewater treatment is essential to meet growth and sustain what we already have. Housing development needs to meet all walks of life, especially those starting out and seniors looking to downsize. I am continuing to work with local professionals to meet those needs. The building code and local industry is working well to try to meet climate resiliency.

Campaign contributions

Public records from Elections BC — 19 contributions totalling $9,363.62.

2022 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

11 contributions · $7,600.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
STEVE BAILEY	Sep 30, 2022	$1,000.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
TARA BENSON	Sep 29, 2022	$1,250.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
PETER BERNACKI	Sep 30, 2022	$100.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
FRED BERUSCHI	Sep 27, 2022	$1,200.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
CAROL DOLLIVER	Sep 26, 2022	$300.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
GRANT FUOCO	Sep 29, 2022	$500.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
JASON KELDER	Sep 30, 2022	$500.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
MENGIA NICHOLSON	Sep 26, 2022	$300.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
PETER NIELSEN	Sep 29, 2022	$1,250.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
GARY SULZ	Sep 21, 2022	$1,000.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
NATHAN SULZ	Oct 5, 2022	$200.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE

2018 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

3 contributions · $763.62

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
GARY SULZ	Oct 9, 2018	$600.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
GARY SULZ	Sep 6, 2018	$100.00	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE
GARY SULZ	Oct 11, 2018	$63.62	MAYOR	REVELSTOKE

2014 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

5 contributions · $1,000.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
JENNIFER CORSON	Oct 24, 2014	$500.00	COUNCILLOR	REVELSTOKE
GARY SULZ	Oct 24, 2014	$200.00	COUNCILLOR	REVELSTOKE
GARY SULZ	Oct 8, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	REVELSTOKE
SCOTT SULZ	Oct 26, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	REVELSTOKE
DEB THIBEAULT	Oct 26, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	REVELSTOKE

Compiled & presented by

This questionnaire is being mediated by volunteers from the community of Revelstoke with support from the Revelstoke Climate Coalition and consultation from Wildsight Revelstoke, Revelstoke Local Food Initiative, Revelstoke Bear Aware Society, Revelstoke Rainforest Circle, Turtle Conservation Revelstoke and Protect our Winters Canada.

You can contact members of the organizing group through revelstokeclimatecoalition@gmail.com

Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.

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