Green Fernie

With the climate changing right before our eyes, visitors and locals alike are thinking of ways to travel and live more sustainably.

Whether you’re a full on eco-warrior or just like to know that communities are doing their best to be eco-friendly, you’ll be happy to know that Fernie has a plethora of green initiatives throughout town to keep this mountain paradise as natural as possible. Just this year, Fernie instituted a brand new recycling program that complements the existing door to door pickup program. Residents and visitors alike will notice yellow recycling bins placed throughout town as well as blue bins in every driveway. On top of that, the Fernie Transfer Station implemented a further reaching recycling system that accepts 76 additional types of items that the yellow bins do not. The recycling depot is a great place to get rid of all of your recyclable waste, including items like styrofoam, glass, plastic bags and plastic wraps. The transfer station also has a Reuse-It centre that allows residents to drop off items they no longer need and pick up new ones. If an item isn’t accepted at the transfer station, chances are it can be dropped off at the Bottle Depot, which on top of accepting bottle returns, also recycles a variety of electronic devices. The idea of reusing and recycling isn’t unique to waste though. Fernie has several thrift and consignment stores that give shoppers a sustainable approach to fashion. Since the fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to climate change, having secondhand options in town is a huge plus for the planet and for the pocketbook. Check out the Salvation Army Thrift Store located on Second Avenue, for a great selection of lightly used items. Gear Hub also has a consignment section, allowing people to pick up high quality used gear at a reasonable price. If buying secondhand isn’t really your thing, fear not. There are several stores in town that offer eco-conscious brands and products that are brand new. Edge of the World carries the Tentree brand, which uses eco-friendly materials and plants 10 trees for every purchased item. The Green Petal carries a huge selection of eco products ranging from reusable bags to metal straws and lunch kits. Freyja stocks several Canadian brands in their boutique made by manufacturers that are committed to sustainable business practices so you can

feel good about your new purchases. Retail shops aren’t the only ones getting in on the eco action though. Several coffee shops and restaurants in town are actively working to reduce their waste in any way possible. Big Bang Bagels has reusable mugs and asks you to stir your coffee with uncooked noodles. Freshies also welcomes reusable mugs and is constantly making efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. Island Lake Lodge has also been recognized with several awards for their green initiatives and is even a certified sustainable tourism partner. They make massive efforts to be sustainable about their energy use, waste management, ecosystem management, forest management, wildlife management and more. The lodge has a comprehensive plan addressing all of the ways they can mitigate their impact on the beautiful natural environment around them.

Brooks Creek Ranch prides itself on being completely offgrid leveraging solar panels and a microhydro power system while offering intimate and luxurious accommodations.

While initiatives by for profit companies are fantastic steps in the right direction, there are also a few nonprofits in the Elk Valley dedicated to saving the planet. Wildsight is responsible for several incredible green project in our community, including the Community EcoGarden. The garden provides gardening opportunities and community education through sustainable organic projects throughout the summer. Wildsight also spearheads the Apple Capture program, an innovative way to collect fruit that would otherwise go to waste. When fruit is left to rot on the tree at the end of the summer, it can attract bears and other wildlife so the apple program helps to connect fruit lovers with fruit trees. Fernie Fresh Food Share is also doing their part to reduce food waste by collecting food from grocery stores and restaurants that would otherwise go to waste and sharing it with those in need.

Fernie is a town actively trying to do their part for the planet in so many ways and there are a variety of programs and businesses keeping Fernie green.