Celebrating Tourism
By Patty Vadnais Executive Director Fernie Chamber of Commerce Fernie is well-aligned to take advantage of a provincial strength – tourism. The BC Chamber of Commerce surveyed B.C. businesses last fall and respondents overwhelmingly noted tourism, along with clean energy, as the future of the B.C. economy. The survey representing 1200 businesses of all sizes had representation from across the province. The B.C. Government in March announced an additional $50 million to the annual budget of Destination BC. Destination BC markets B.C. to the rest of Canada and the world. This investment shows the government’s commitment to tourism as an economic driver of B.C. Attracting visitors to B.C. appears to be working. In 2016, the province attracted a record 5,532,065 international visitors, an increase of 12.3 per cent. Locally, numbers at the highway
Special Feature
Visitor Information Centre were up 34 per cent in 2016 over 2015. As we welcome more and more guests, we are excited that our visitors will be getting a new experience as renovations were completed earlier this year giving the Visitor Information Centre a much needed update. Funding for the renovations came from the Resort Municipality Initiative, Columbia Basin Trust, and Accessibility Canada grants. The interior has been opened up to offer more space for showcasing Fernie’s diverse activities and attractions. The Chamber is working on creating an art wall featuring local artists including Angela Morgan, Eye of the Needle, Fernie Forge, Clawhammer, and Arts Co-op artists to name a few. Available on-site will be a walking tour map of galleries in the downtown core. A new digital kiosk has been set up with funds through the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust. This self-serve screen lists local activities, dining, shopping, history, weather, and road reports. Next steps for the Chamber include setting up displays on fishing, skiing, and biking. As an easy stop on Highway 3, we have noticed that a number of travelers enjoy stopping at the Visitor Information
Centre to stretch their legs, get off the road, and check their email or other websites. To address this need, the renovations included creating a welcoming sitting space for guests and locals. The space is equipped with plugs for recharging devices and free wifi. We are excited to see how this space will be used. Perhaps most interesting is what people come into the Visitor Information Centre to ask about. Nearly 50 per cent of guests asking for information ask about the trails. Kudos go out to the Fernie Trails Alliance for creating a beautiful and comprehensive trail map for locals and visitors alike. Products such as the Trail Map help our Information Counselors answer guest questions and give guests a great experience. The Chamber will continue to develop the displays and collect information for the Visitor Information Centre. We invite everyone to come out and see what is new. As the province continues to invite the world to B.C. and as Tourism Fernie invites them to our corner of paradise, the Visitor Information Centre will be ready to answer all their questions and direct them to Fernie’s thriving tourism businesses.
Beauty and Sleep…Guaranteed • Outdoor Hot Tub
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• Complimentary • Fitness Room
• Liquor Store • Massage Studio • Pet Friendly
• Boston Pizza
Wherever Life Takes You, Best Western Is There.® Fernie Mountain Lodge 1622 7 Ave, Fernie, BC 250-423-5500 Toll Free: 1-866-423-5566 www.bestwesternfernie.com Each Best Western® branded hotel is independently owned and operated.
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What makes a “Great Food City”? By Katie Hamar Events Coordinator Island Lake Lodge The editor of mega-publication Food & Wine Magazine has seven criteria: 1. Markets that make great ingredients accessible 2. Artisans dedicated to singular perfection (i.e. coffee, chocolate, ice cream) 3. An exciting wine scene 4. Sophisticated cocktail programs and bar chefs 5. A new generation of young chefs with fresh ideas 6. Destination restaurants 7. Unorthodox chefs Does Fernie qualify? Fernie’s small population does nothing to hinder its food scene. Rivalling metropolises with its eclectic mix of restaurants, the city offers Japanese, South/Central American, Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, Western-Canadian… not to mention the fusions! The food’s variety is not the only thing that makes Fernie special. What’s really exceptional for a city of its stature is the quality, the standard these foods are being prepared to. This comes back to tourism. Fernie is a world-class destination attracting travelers from around the globe. Lucky for us, some of these travelers become locals who treat the community to culinary delights from different countries, cities and grandmothers’ kitchens. The variety of our people is what makes Fernie’s food scene rich. Every Sunday in the warmer months, Fernie Mountain Market sets its stalls in Rotary Park. Local farmers sell justpulled-from-the-earth produce and meats free from hormones and additives. The vegetables and fruits are vibrant, imperfect and organic. The animals have been raised on small-batch farms within 100 miles. Most of the farms continue to supply throughout the winter. Accessible great ingredients? Yes. Okay, so Fernie has variety and local ingredients but is
anyone doing something the best? You bet. Beanpod is the only company in Canada that uses “bean-to-bar” craftsmanship and one of only a handful in the world. This means they import cocoa beans directly from plantations and roast, crush, heat and aerate the beans themselves using entirely traditional practices. It takes about five days to make one batch of fresh chocolate and you can taste the difference this care makes. Happy Cow is another local company that goes above and beyond for its product. The ice cream shop makes everything in-house starting with a French custard base, and uses gardenpicked berries and homemade ingredients as mix-ins. Fernie’s wine and cocktail scene is an important element of the city’s draw as a food destination. From Nevados’ extensive tequila and mezcal list (and incredible margaritas), Cirque Restaurant’s regular “Cocktail Throwdowns”, Yamagoya’s sake-infused libations and Infinitea T-Bar’s imaginative drink list, the food at your meal may come second only to the accompaniment. The Fernie Wine Club would surely agree. The excitement for dining out in Fernie is palpable by locals and tourists alike. Each winter brings a new generation of travelling chefs and bartenders with new concepts, methods and ingredients. The transience of Fernie’s culinary experts provides restaurants exposure to fresh ideas and keeps them close to the pulse of global food trends. Unconventionality is what keeps the city’s food scene current and exciting. Most of Fernie’s restaurants are within a couple of square kilometres but one gem resides in the backcountry, twenty minutes’ drive up a winding road through old growth forest. Nestled among spire peaks on 7,000 acres of untouched wilderness sits Island Lake Lodge. Here, the culinary team creates fine mountain cuisine sourced from local organic ingredients. Many of the dishes are garnished with edible plants foraged from the grounds of the surrounding forest. Slow-braised bison short ribs with red wine-cinnamon jus and truffled cheddar polenta are a local favourite. The lodge also houses an eclectic 3,000 bottle wine library. This June, Island Lake will hold its first annual Untamed Kootenays
Island Lake: A foragers paradise.
culinary event to which Head Chef Keith Farkas has invited two of Calgary’s celebrity chefs to join him in the kitchen. The weekend will include a presentation by the winemaker who created the lodge’s signature blends, an educational foraging hike, and two multi-course dinners. Okay, so Fernie has great attainable ingredients, artisans devoted to their crafts, a wine and cocktail scene that holds its own, ever-renewing originality, and destination restaurants. It’s about time Food & Wine gave us a call.
Celebrate Tourism Week!
Opening for the Summer Season June 9th Date Night Mondays
All Summer! Bring your partner up for a romantic dinner! Get 2 entrées, 2 glasses of bubbly and an appetizer to share. Just $79 per couple
Wine Tasting Wednesdays
All Summer! 5 course tasting menu perfectly paired with 5 wines from our diverse cellar. $99 per person Avoid disappointment - call ahead to inquire about reservations and availability. Check our website for spa specials, guided hiking, hours of operation and accommodation packages.
islandlakelodge.com 1.250.423.3700
Photo: Mike McPhee
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The factors of Fernie real estate By Todd Fyfe Fernie Real Estate Company Ltd.
to make high quality steel products. We are not known for thermal coal, (commonly used for heating and generating electricity.) OIL Tourism and real estate Although it’s not a local resource, oil is in Fernie go hand in hand. a primary driver in the economy for our One is regularly influenced neighbours to the east. Alberta loves Fernie, so by the other and both Fernie relies on oil. industries feel the effect CANADIAN DOLLAR of the economy, weather Foreign investment in Fernie can be tracked patterns and international quite simply by watching the value of the markets. The growth in Canadian dollar against the US dollar and the Fernie is undebatable. Fernie’s population is on Pound. When our dollar is low then Fernie is the rise and noted as one of the fastest growing on sale! small towns in B.C. New neighbourhoods SNOW are under construction and housing starts are Big snow big sales, big rain big pain. Although emerging across the city. We expect that more our seasons are beginning to equalize and people will want to make Fernie a permanent summer is a rapidly growing tourist season for part of their lives in future years. Fernie, big powder years have a positive impact Our clientele outside of the local community on the ski hill and Fernie area property sales. is primarily made up of buyers from Alberta, With 2017 well underway, our forecast for Real Estate in a mountain paradise. Photo: Fernie Real Estate Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the United States and real estate transaction volume in the Elk Valley is properties with a mountain aesthetic. Log homes, A-frame the UK. Their backgrounds are varied, ranging bullish compared to 2016. We are projecting an from empty nesters looking for a generational home to share retreats and secluded cabins are all popular styles while high increase in volume this year of 50 per cent over last year, and with their extended family to young professionals looking selling features in any house include; a wood burning stove/ with year to date single family and condo sales already up 48 for a lock up and leave to enjoy over the holidays and long fireplace, storage for ski gear, hot tubs, and of course dramatic per cent over last year, we believe the region is well on track to views for Fernie’s surrounding mountains. weekends. meet our forecast. Inventory levels continue to be quite low in There are many factors that affect the tourism and real most categories which will ultimately lead to increased prices Buyers coming to Fernie and the surrounding area are spoiled for lifestyle amenities in our mountain paradise. estate market in the Fernie Area. When all of these factors are and rates of sales. If you are considering a purchase this year, Historic downtown, the proximity to airports & borders, small performing at their peak, our market is super-heated and price get a good buyers agent to help you search out the property town lifestyle and of course world-class recreation activities inflation happens at a rapid pace. The beauty of this diversified and negotiate the right deal. It matters more today than ever are all key factors when choosing Fernie. Many want to escape group is that the market can remain stable or grow even when as we head into a sellers’ market. their city routine, others enjoy a part time mountain lifestyle conditions are not perfect in every sector. Whether local, out of province or international, people are and some just want to find a more balanced work/play lifestyle. COAL drawn to Fernie for its fantastic lifestyle. I guess you could call Not just any coal, but the best coal in the world for making it our locally shared economy. When choosing a property in Fernie, our tourism based clients look for properties within close proximity to their steel. The five active coal mines in the Elk Valley supply many favourite recreational activity. There is also a preference for steel mills around the world with the hot-burning coal required
Fernie Mountain Spirits 1641-7th Ave. Near Starbucks and Boston Pizza
Locally Owned Guide Service Cat Skiing • Fly Fishing • Wildlife Tours Local Rates 250..423.6704 1.877.423.6704 info@fernieadventures.com
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Fernie Alpine Resort continues to innovate and adapt guest offerings By Matt Mosteller Fernie Alpine Resort In today’s dramatically changing environment it’s important to adapt to grow tourism demand growth in our community. At Fernie Alpine Resort we not only have been refining and enhancing the skiing and riding experience but we are also working on offering new experiences. We must adapt- not only to keep our long standing guests but also to entice new guests, specifically focused on the Millennials. We have looked at behaviour trends with the Millennial segment; it’s exciting to see this age group’s interest in fitness and the mountain lifestyle - not only for the healthy benefits but as well for their interest in wanting to try new experiences. In light of the Millennial market, we’re focused on adding in additional activities to interest this segment - here are a few; Winter Backcountry Basics This two day course introduces the use of avalanche rescue equipment, ski touring equipment and uphill travel techniques, as well as mountain environment awareness and ski improvement. This all takes place in a safe, inbounds, avalanche controlled area (to be determined daily.) Fat Biking Winter fat bikes are the newest way to explore Fernie in the winter! A “fat bike” is a version of a mountain bike, with wide tires which provide extra traction and stability in the snow. Join a guide for a discover fat biking tour to learn the nuances of fat biking or join a Thursday evening Ride and Dine, guided by our staff and followed by a burger and beer at Cirque Restaurant at Lizard Creek Lodge.
Cross Country skiing clinics Discover the peace and tranquility of cross country skiing – our trails are groomed and trackset making them great for both classic and skate skiing. Cross country rentals as well as lessons and guided tours are available from the resort. Snowshoe clinics Snowshoeing is a great way to explore the trails in Fernie no special skills are required, just strap a pair of snowshoes on your boots and go for a walk! The resort offers full and half day tours daily, as well as a Snowshoe and Dine event on Tuesdays and Fridays each featuring a guided tour and a meal at Cirque Restaurant in Lizard Creek Lodge. Mappy Hour speaker series Mappy Hour is brand new to Canada! Started in New York, Mappy Hour now has chapters in multiple cities across North America – each event features a guest speaker to regale the audience with their personal tales of adventure. We’re proud to hold Mappy Hour events every few months in Calgary and recently our first one in Fernie was in April. Summer Mountain Top Camping Up your camping game by taking it to new heights on the new Lift Accessed Mountain Top Camping experience, the first of its kind in North America - offered Saturday nights throughout the summer. It’s of great importance we continue to broaden our mountain lifestyle offering to grow demand and also to provide new reasons for people to visit Fernie as many are looking for places to go that offer something different or that the market views as an exciting destination. We are always looking at new experiences as our team listens to guests, follows outdoor lifestyle trends and tests completely new experiences such as lift serviced Mountain Top Campinga first in North America. Tourism is very important to our
Mountain top camping.
Photo: Nicole Matei
community and we are very proud of our ongoing investment, development and long term commitment to Fernie. If you have any ideas or would like to try something you think our community would be interested in please let us know as we are keen to continue growth through innovation and adaption.
Your employees are your greatest assets Enable them to leave lasting impressions with your customers and generate more business with training provided through the Fernie Ambassador Program. The ambassador program drives visitor spending through in-depth knowledge of the destination ‘product’ and customer service training; ensuring a consistent delivery of a positive visitor experience.
Proud community partner organizing Griz Days and Sunday Social events Welcoming over 25,000 to Visitor Centres located on the Highway and downtown in the Fernie Museum.
“It is imperative my staff is knowledgeable in what Fernie has to offer. The Ambassador program equipped my team with destination knowledge and customer service skills to be able to go above and beyond for our guests. Improving the visitor experience is beneficial to everyone and this program is doing exactly that.” ~Marina Pauw, Owner/Operator, Fernie Super 8 #1 Fernie hotel, TripAdvisor
Ferniechamber.com/ambassadorprogram For more information contact the Chamber at 250.423.6868
STRENGTHENING COMMERCE IN FERNIE
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Describing Fernie. The Essence of Fernie’s ‘Tourism Brand’ Cool, small-town charm: Fernie’s funky main street with its turn-of-the-century brick buildings framed by post card-perfect mountains provides this rugged and unpolished little town with a unique charm. Mountain culture: From the pick-up trucks and mountain bikes that travel its streets, to the ski bums and guide shops that line them, Fernie’s distinct mountain culture is evident at almost every turn. Stunning scenery: Fernie is a magnificent outdoor setting from which to experience the beauty and majesty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Enduring history: Fernie has a rich history that is alive and thriving to this day. Authentic and real: Fernie is a casual, comfortable, and laid-back place where a local community still thrives. A community first, destination second, Fernie is not a packaged experience for the mass tourist. Adventurous and outdoorsy: Fernie is a place where adventure seekers, mountain enthusiasts, and outdoor recreationalists of all kinds come to experience the stunning natural surroundings and range of outdoor activities. Down-to-earth: Fernie’s people are humble, honest, natural, and welcoming with a resiliency that stems from their hard-working roots. Community-minded: Fernie’s people work together for the betterment of their town, its residents and its visitors. They take pride in their community and welcome visitors who share their values. Euphoric: Fernie is an escape from the hurried pace of every day life. It provides euphoric experiences to its visitors and residents through unique moments of anticipation, achievement and the beauty of its natural surroundings.
Building a Community Tourism Master Plan
Tourism Impacts Us All
Coming Soon to Fernie! Get Involved
Fernie’s Tourism Economy
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SALES, EMPLOYMENT, WAGES, TAXES
TourismFernie.com | info@TourismFernie.com
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Over 300,000 visitors come to Fernie every year
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Average spending by overnight visitors is $580 per trip
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Average length of stay is 3.4 nights
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Visitor Expenditures (not including 2nd homeowners) is estimated at $100,000 per year.
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Lodging revenues increased 9% in 2016 over 2015
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% of leisure visitors from: AB 49%, BC 16%, Other Canada 15%, Overseas 12%, USA 8%
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2017 is on track to be a banner year for tourism in Fernie
“Tourism is essential to the growth and sustainability of Fernie. Sharing our wonderful valley brings extra money in to provide jobs, more activities and amenities, better trail networks, more restaurants to choose from and so much more, making Fernie not just a wonderful holiday destination, but an awesome place for those of us lucky enough to live here!” Local business response as part of Tourism Fernie’s Value of Tourism Study Survey.
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Is the second homeowner part of Fernie’s tourism economy? By Jikke Gyorki Tourism Fernie
spent on purchasing the property, building a property, renovating it, paying property taxes, purchasing larger items in Fernie for their use, whether for their home or Tourism is an economy derived recreational purposes, etc. from the spending of non-residents In 2016, based on property tax roll data in Fernie, 34 within a community in which they per cent of properties are owned by non-residents. In are staying, whether for leisure the area surrounding Fernie just outside of municipal or business. Although there have boundaries (including the ski resort), RDEK data states been variations on what ‘distance’ that 50 per cent are owned by non-residents. RDEK someone lives from a community also states that the average assessed value of those to be considered a ‘tourist’, it properties is $442,934. In the City of Fernie the really is as close as the next town, average assessed value is $451,000. As per an article such as Sparwood, Cranbrook or the Crowsnest Pass. in The Free Press last January by Ezra Black, “…the Based on this, would many of Fernie’s second value of an average single-family residential property homeowners who use their property on a part-time is higher in the City of Fernie than anywhere else in the basis and have a permanent residence outside of Fernie Kootenay Columbia region.” This situation is brought be considered part of Fernie’s Tourism Economy? not only by the tourism economy but also because of The answer is yes. They would be categorized as the greater proportion of higher paying jobs available ‘Residential Tourists’ as per a research project titled within the mining and other industry economies in and ‘Understanding and Managing the Effects of Residential around Fernie compared to many other towns in the Tourism on Quality of Life in Fernie’ conducted by region. local Jeff Zukiwsky in 2009 as part of a province-wide There is no doubt that second homeowners in Fernie second homeowners and ‘residential tourists’ Alastair, Elayne and Torran Stewart enjoying Fernie initiative conducted through the Centre for Tourism (daughter Maren taking image). From Calgary, Alastair first visited Fernie as a tourist in 1979 and and around Fernie are a significant part of our local Policy and Research at Simon Fraser University. bought property in 1994. Photo: Tourism Fernie economy and have been for a long time. They help to The research project surveyed second homeowners generate local jobs, year-round sustainability for our in Fernie and determined that they stayed in Fernie an municipal boundaries increased this annual visitation number small businesses, enhancement of local amenities, tax average of 65 nights per year and were primarily from Alberta. to approximately 6,107. dollars for local services and much more. Why did they purchase property in Fernie? The top seven What dollar value is the second homeowner in Fernie to our reasons were: natural scenery, proximity to ski resort, healthy community and our tourism economy? The true amount is hard About Jikke Gyorki: environment, high quality of life, mountain culture, small town to confirm without a massive amount of money and resources Jikke has a Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality & Tourism atmosphere and hiking trails. Of the second homeowners to conduct a full study, however, based on some of Zukiwsky’s Management from Ryerson University and has been working in within the municipality of Fernie, the research project survey findings and those from Tourism Fernie’s Value of Tourism the tourism industry for 25 years. She has been the Executive also determined that annual visitation was estimated at 3,557. Study, it is estimated that second homeowners, in general Officer at Tourism Fernie since 2010, has a husband that works In a separate analysis by Tourism Fernie as part of the Value visitor spending alone, inject at least $16 million per year at Teck’s Fording River and two young children. Jikke can be of Tourism Study, second homeowners outside of Fernie into our community. This does not even include the dollars reached by email at jikke@tourismfernie.com
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Fernie: The definition of tourism By Mary Giuliano Mayor of Fernie The Oxford English Dictionary defines “Tourism” as “The theory and practice of touring; travelling for pleasure and the business of attracting tourists and providing for their accommodation and entertainment, the business of operating tours.” In The Free Press file circa early 1900s I read an article by noted photographer J. Spalding, the man responsible for many of the iconic historic images depicting scenes of early Fernie and area. In it he speaks about “Tourism” in this area as being something that was an attraction for those travelling abroad. He believed the pristine natural beauty of this area was an amazing draw. Many think Tourism in Fernie is a relatively new resource that basically came about since the ski hill became world known. In reality, people have been travelling and making this area a destination for over a century. Travellers came for the outdoor sports of hunting, trapping and fishing. There was such an abundance of fish in the Elk River that residents and visitors could go to any spot along the water in town and pull out 50 grayling at a sitting. Freezers were filled with wild game to tide families over the winter and wild huckleberries were so plentiful that both human and animals could feast on them. Although the population of Fernie hasn’t changed dramatically in the past 100 years, nature around us has been affected to a degree. Development of the wild areas surrounding town and logging has made a difference. Development was unavoidable as the town increased in size when it added tourism to an economy that had been predominately resource based for many decades. However, without this diversification of the economy Fernie could have withered as many towns dependent on one
resource often do. With the Coal Creek Mine closure and many of the service offices relocated to other cities such as Cranbrook and Nelson. Fernie needed something else to keep residents here and existing business viable. The new ski hill was a huge draw for neighbouring oil rich Albertans who found the three-hour drive relatively quick and easy. They built homes here, to which they could come on weekends. For many years winter was the time to be here to visit, to ski, snowboard or snowshoe. But soon enterprising folks realized competition for visitors was huge and a move was made to make the summers also enticing. There is no place more beautiful than Fernie on a clear day; majestic mountains against blue sky, green foliage, a clear river and thriving downtown with patios adorned with colourful flowers, all of which show summer visitors summer to Fernie and all that it offers. The British invented tourism, from the late seventeenth to the late nineteenth century, young British aristocrats completed their educations by making a tour of Europe, usually accompanied by an experienced relative, tutor or guide engaged to manage and direct the experience. For many, tourism means any number of trips to exciting places, meaningful conversations with interesting people, and new or repeat experiences that provide pleasure while encouraging personal growth. Fernie has been discovered by the world, which sees the natural beauty here and the high quality of life it offers. This is appreciated greatly. For a small town, Fernie offers a large arts and culture community, with several galleries, a music festival, and sports activities in all forms. There are events happening each week, with socials, cycling races and an amazing array of unique restaurants and shops to check out. Visitors contribute to keeping businesses open; they keep the downtown and highway busy, they help keep this town alive and thriving. As residents and business people we need to continue to appreciate and watch over this community and
Don’t miss the BEST day of your summer!
the river
or
the river
Fernie: Alive and thriving.
Photo: Phil McLachlan
do whatever possible to continue to diversify to keep this amazing small town here for future generations.
Park Place Lodge is a proud community supporter & tourism partner in Fernie.
Wild Mild
Now offering SUP tours!
1.888.423.7226 or 250-423.7226 www.canyonraft.com
250.423.6871 parkplacelodge.com 742 Hwy #3
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Tourism in Fernie By Jeremiah Pauw Fernie Super 8
We are lucky to live in such a beautiful place as Fernie. Most of us choose to live here because of the awesome quality of life and the real sense of community that Fernie offers. Fernie is blessed to have multiple industries supporting its economy. From commodity based industries like mining and logging to service industries like tourism which is the fastest growing industry in our local and provincial economy. Its benefits and the challenges affect Fernie’s economic, cultural and environmental issues in many ways. The positive effects of tourism within Fernie’s economy are many and include the growth and development of all of Fernie’s industries. Everyone benefits from tourism from big industry such as Teck to the local plumber. Restaurants, hotels and retail stores rely heavily on the tourism industry. Tourism has become Fernie’s key economic driver and has brought about the creation of employment and investment in our community unlike any other industry before. Since 2007 Fernie accommodators have been collecting a two per cent tax known as The Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) from their guests. MRDT gross collections have totaled $2.5 million. Under the leadership of Tourism Fernie which is a non-profit organization, Fernie has developed marketing initiatives totaling $5 million plus $2 million in additional value added marketing. The MRDT has also allowed Fernie to become an approved Resort Municipality (RMI) community. RMI funds go directly to the City of Fernie and are meant to improve tourism infrastructure and create events in Fernie. This program has improved resident’s quality of life with projects like the new boat launch,
Station Square improvements, the Ambassador program, Visitors Centre improvements and the walking bridge by Fairy Creek. Even Teck a multimillion-dollar company received $5000 from RMI funding to help them with the mine rescue competition. The list goes on. RMI funding and the MRDT are two huge benefits that Fernie enjoys and would not exist without the success of Fernie’s tourism industry There are lots of challenges linked to tourism especially in a community such as Fernie that is not used to such rapid change. In the last 10 years Fernie has gone from an obscure place on the map with lots of empty store fronts on 2nd Ave. to a vibrant busy world renowned destination. This has caused some growing pains in our community. Some residents do not like to see the increased traffic on the roads or the rising cost of real estate. Some residents resist change and want the “old days” back. They have legitimate concerns that Fernie will lose its sense of community just like Banff did. One of the biggest problems with Fernie’s rapid growth is the appearance of unregulated short term rentals like Airbnb and Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO). These illegal rentals drive up property values, exacerbate our affordable housing issue and ride the coattails of Fernie’s success. We must look to, and pressure our local government to make prudent responsible decisions that will steer Fernie on the path to success. Fernie has all the right ingredients to continue to be successful and competitive in the tourism industry. We are lucky to have some good organizations that have taken a leadership role in our tourism sector. Organizations like Tourism Fernie and the Fernie Chamber of Commerce are the most notable and deserve most of the credit for Fernie’s success in the tourism sector. It is important as a community that is we work toward a sustainable future that is best for all of our residents and tourism is a key ingredient in Fernie’s future.
See you along the way
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