Resilience, Relocation, Revelstoke
Revelstoke Barber Thrives, Marking One Year Since Fleeing Jasper Wildfire
Anonymous
Wade Rimstad fled the 2024 Jasper wildfire with little more than the clothes on his back. One year later, he owns Lucky Duck Barbershop in Revelstoke, B.C., and says he would not change a thing. "Such a lucky duck," he told Similkameen Spotlight.
Rimstad, originally from Edmonton, worked at Red Pass Barber Co. in Red Pass before the fire forced him out in summer 2024. His detour through B.C. became a fresh start — and a new business at 111 Connaught Ave. in Revelstoke, according to Summerland Review.
Fleeing Jasper With Smoke in the Rearview Mirror
When the Jasper wildfire swept through the region in 2024, Rimstad left his home in the Cabin Creek neighbourhood and headed west. He hit gridlock and thick smoke almost immediately, according to Arrow Lakes News. The roads were packed with other evacuees trying to get out.
Rimstad and friends considered settling in Canmore, Alberta, but the plan fell through. They camped for several nights in Naramata in the Okanagan. From there, they pushed north to Revelstoke, initially planning only a quick stop before continuing to Valemount, Penticton Western News reported.
A Quick Stop in Revelstoke That Became Permanent
Revelstoke was never the plan. But something about the mountain town clicked for Rimstad. He decided to stay. Within months, he had signed a lease for a commercial space at 111 Connaught Ave. and began setting up a barbershop, according to Kelowna Capital News.
The shop opened under the name Lucky Duck Barbershop — a nod to how Rimstad felt about his unexpected journey. The name stuck. So did the business.
Traditional Cuts Draw a Loyal Crowd of Local Men
Lucky Duck Barbershop found its footing fast. Rimstad focused on traditional-style haircuts — the kind many men say they struggled to find in the area. That niche drew steady local business from the start, Eagle Valley News reported.
After one full year in operation, Rimstad says the community has embraced him. He came to Revelstoke as a wildfire refugee. He stayed as a small business owner. "Such a lucky duck," he said again — and he means it.
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