o t e m o c l We
Sch e Ins dule ide
2015
Theme: Fire & Ice
Fernie’s Winter Festival
February 27 to March 1
Brought to you by THE FREE PRESS
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Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
THE FREE PRESS
Welcome to the 38th Annual
Griz Days Festival The biggest and the best Winter Festival Griz Days 2015 Fire & Ice
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riz Days is Fernie’s largest festival of the year and celebrates our love of winter and all things snowy! Staged around the mythical legend of a giant mountain man and his powder musket, the festival welcomes everyone to enjoy a weekend of events, activities and entertainment in picture-perfect downtown Fernie and at Fernie Alpine Resort, all held beneath a backdrop of breathtaking Rocky Mountain scenery. Featuring non-stop excitement, the festival has something for the whole family and your best friends too! Live music, a downtown parade, fireworks, Commit 2 Pain Rail Jam, craft fair, pancake breakfast,
‘Most Wanted’ Griz jail, street hockey tournament at Park Place Lodge, a family dance, Raging Elk Hostel dummy downhill, Extreme Griz competition and many more activities will attract crowds all weekend long! Incredible support from local businesses, individuals, community groups and civic organizations along with an amazing volunteer team blend together to make this a fantastic event for all to enjoy. 2015’s theme celebrates the excitement and fun of the ice and snow along with the fiery warmth of the people in our community. Celebrate, sponsor, participate, support... Join us February 27 to March 1 for Griz Days 2015!
City Hall 250.423.6817 501-3rd Avenue, Box 190, Fernie BC, V0B 1M0 www.fernie.ca
Happy Griz Days 2015
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce is again the proud organizer of the Griz Days Festival. By working closely with a committee of dedicated people, representing the different industries in Fernie, we were again able to incorporate a number of events into this year’s festival that showcase our winter spirit. The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the entire Griz Days committee and volunteers, The City of Fernie, and all participating businesses & organizations for your hard work & dedication to our annual festival. Thank you as well to all event participants and attendees!
Thanks for coming out, we hope you have a blast!!
FernieCHAMBER OF COMMERCE
102 HWY. 3 • Fernie BC 250-423-6868 • www.ferniechamber.com
Griz Days 2015 Fernie
Community Spirit! Welcome residents and visitors to Griz Days 2015! We hope you enjoy Fernie’s unique festivities and all the wonderful amenities our small town has to offer! Thank you to the many volunteers who make Griz Days possible!
Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
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Come and Experience a Legend February 27th to March 1st, 2015!
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s the legend goes, a baby boy was born back in the year 1879 in the midst of a cruel and bitter winter. It is said that the baby was born in a grizzly bear’s cave high in the mountains. Sometime later the resident bear awoke, mean and ravenously hungry. A terrible battle ensued between the two - one fighting for his life and the other for his dinner. Well folks, as the story continues the town’s people went into the mountain the very next day to discover the source of all the noise from the previous night. They looked high and low on the mountain then known as Snow Valley. Once one of the men thought he saw a little boy wearing a bear coat and hat nimbly leaping from rock to rock on the lofty peaks. His friends all laughed at him and jokingly accused him of seeing
things and the incident was soon forgotten. Just recently some of our avid ski-tourers were ascending the peaks above the resort area in the midst of a heavy snow storm. While taking a short breather, they happened to glance upward upon the peak they were climbing. There on the very summit stood the most fantastic sight. While of standard height, this man had shoulders six feet wide and carried an enormous musket eight feet long! The bulk of this man’s 300 lbs. was made to look even more awesome by the bristly grizzly coat he wore. A bear hat was pulled down shadowing his eyes. As the skiers watched, he stood shooting that giant musket into the clouds and still more snow fell from the clouds. This, of course, delighted the skiers who loved that special brand of powder snow.
The skiers schussed down the mountain and excitedly told everyone they met of their experience. Some of the town’s elders remembered the sighting of a little grizzly-clad boy so long ago and the discovery of massive bare-footed tracks high upon the snow covered peaks. In recognition and admiration of the man who became known as “GRIZ”, the town’s people held a festival. Sporting events, competitions, parades and gatherings. To this day the festival continues every March in tribute to our powder king. The best powder and packed snow conditions in the west also continue to blanket our mountains.
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Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
Griz Days parade Saturday, February 28 at 6:30 pm
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Kyle Hamilton photos
COMMERCIAL .ARCHITECTURAL. WEDDINGS CUSTOM FRAMING & PASSPORTS
e are looking forward to another exciting display with the annual Griz Days parade, with 2015 theme being “Fire&Ice”. This procession will have many of the favorite floats and walking groups from years past as well as some exciting new entries. Of course, the procession will be led by the Griz himself! Watch for the Most Wanted jail, local celebrities and beautiful displays. The route will begin at Spa 901 and make its way downtown on 2nd Avenue. Afterward, join us at the Aquatic Centre for many more activities including: music from DJ Jeff and Scenic Route to Alaska, food and refreshments, fireworks, and much more. So dress up in your most Griz-like attire and come on down for a front row seat!
Happy Griz Days!
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Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
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Get your Griz Pin! or go to JAIL!
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trength in collaboration - The Fernie Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce have a history of collaboration demonstrated in our communitycentered approach to the distribution and selling of Griz Pins for Griz Days. Fernie Rotary works with the Chamber to ensure that as many pins as possible are sold to raise funds for the Fernie Food Bank and other community organizations, this year being the Elk Valley Hospital Foundation. Raising funds and being able to support local charities is important to Rotary and over the years tens of thousands of dollars have been raised and distributed throughout our community; the Griz Pin has played a part in this success story. Rotary is a strong and dedicated partner with dedicated volunteers who spend many hours organizing, distributing and selling Griz Pins. Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce share the vision of wanting to help the Fernie Food Bank through this event and continue to work towards helping these groups accomplish their
Kyle Hamilton photo
goals. By purchasing a Griz Pin not only are you helping to support the Fernie Food Bank and Elk Valley Hospital Foundation but you also have a chance of to win $1,000 – good luck! 2015 Griz Pins can be purchased at the following businesses: Overwaitea, Ghostrider Trading, Giv’er, Freshies, Polar Peek, Post Office, Fernie Meat Market, TD Bank, Scotiabank, Home Hardware, 7-Eleven, Fernie Mountain Spirits, Canadian Tire and Mountain Pantry at Fernie Alpine Resort Griz Pins are also available at the Craft Fair at the Community Centre on Saturday, February 28th so come on down and join the fun! The draw will be on Friday, March 6th and the winning number will be released by the Chamber through social media (Facebook and Twitter), The Free Press and on The Drive radio. Emma Dressler, Rotary President Corien Sieders, Fernie Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
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Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
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Scenic Route to Alaska kicks off Griz Days fun by Sarah Kucharski
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dmonton-based indie folk rockers will be taking the scenic route to Fernie as the band Scenic Route to Alaska will open the Griz Days festivities with a fun performance. The trio have four years of festival performances under their belts and their positive on-stage energy will only be paralleled by the spirit of the Griz and the joy of the audience listening and grooving to their distinctive selfproclaimed “prairie indie” sound. Even the Griz would want to sing along with this group. The group has been nominated for Pop Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and has made waves in their native Alberta.
Submitted photo
Griz Days Most Wanted fundraiser
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by Andrea Horton
he Most Wanted Fundraiser is just that - a fundraiser. Each year local business people, well known citizens, or local celebrities, put their names forward to be ‘arrested’. In order for them to get out of ‘jail’ they must pay their ‘bail’ to the ‘sheriff’. These Most Wanted arrestees are volunteers. They collect cash for their bail (the amount of money they agreed to try and raise) from co-workers, colleagues, friends, and family in the name of the charity that is set to receive the funds for that particular year. This year, the Elk Valley Hospice (Fernie and area) will receive the full amount of funds raised - not just a portion or percentage - the entire amount raised from all of the Most Wanted volunteers. The funds raised by the Griz Days “Most Wanted” will allow the Elk Valley Hospice to provide more outreach to the community. They want to become more well known, to allow more people to access their services. We are here to help and it is important
that people know they can call us. Ultimately, hospice would like to open and staff the kiosk in the hospital as a key contact point for anything hospice related. Death affects everyone. From your youngest child who will never really know his father, to the oldest woman who has come to terms with life nearing the end. From the woman who has to part with her husband of 60 years, to the man who isn’t ready to say goodbye to his father, death touches everyone. Hospice helps. We believe in living until you die. We believe in dying with dignity. Elk Valley Hospice is dedicated to supporting our community during these uncertain times. Hospice volunteers can help guide you and/or your loved ones. We are here to help. You can catch the arrestees waving from behind bars in the Griz Days parade - 6:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 28, down Second Avenue in beautiful downtown Fernie. Give them a wave back and perhaps even a deserving high-five for their efforts!
Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
WANTED
Shred Kelly Posse
Bail: $400
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d e t n a W MoWsAtNTED WANTED
WANTED
Medicine Man Michal
Bail: $1000
te Jodie Playma Parker
Bail: $150
Joe of e Raging Hows
Bail: $300
D E T N A W ANTED W D E T N A W WANTED
re Horrible Ha
Bail: $150
ce
Baughan-Ka Duo
Bail: $200
the Lone Writer
Bail: $500
Open House Outlaw
Bail: $1000
ernie & Area) (F e c pi s o H y le al V the Elk All proceeds go to
See you at the Aquatic Centre Saturday after the parade for all the fun
e c I & e r i F Theme: Friday, February 27 10:00am - 5:30pm 4:00pm - 7:00pm 6:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Griz Wiz Scavenger Hunt – The Fernie Museum Novice Hockey Tournament at the Fernie Arena - Free Admission! Griz Days 2015 Country Stomp presented by The Elk Valley Hospital Foundation at the Fernie Family Centre, Dance and BBQ, music from the Ken McCoy Band. Band starts at 8:00pm, DJ all night, tickets $50 and includes BBQ plate. Contact ahaines@me.com or 250-531-3999 for more info. Fernie Museum Event – Road to the Olympics. Presentation by Canadian Olympic curler Kevin Martin. Limited invitations available at Fernie Museum. Fire and Ice Dance Party - Aquatic Centre Parking Lot - DJ Jeff McRae - Refreshment Garden 19+ - Concession - Commit 2 Pain Rail Jam preliminarieshosted by Commit Snow & Skate
Saturday, February 28 7:00am - 6:00pm
8:00am - 10:00am 10:00am & 2:45pm 10:00am - 5:30pm 9:00am - 2:00pm All Day 11:00am – 12:00pm 11:00am – 7:00pm 11:00am
11:00am – 5:00pm 12:00pm 12:30pm - 2:30pm 1:00 pm 2:00pm
4:00pm
Novice Hockey Tournament at the Fernie Arena - Free Admission! Christian Youth Association Pancake Breakfast - Fernie Community Centre Bridge Tournament - $25 includes 2 sessions and lunch Seniors Drop In Centre Griz Wiz Scavenger Hunt - The Fernie Museum Griz Days Craft Fair at the Fernie Community Centre Pulled Pork Meals for only $10 at The Fernie Hotel Extreme Griz Pancake Eating Contest at the Fernie Community Centre 16th Annual Classic Canadian Street Hockey Tournament at Park Place Lodge *Pre-register at The Pub, up to 10 teams, beer gardens and BBQ available Bacon Spectacular charity breakfast (pancakes, bacon, ham, sausage) at The Northern- all proceeds benefit the Heart & Stroke Foundation Bacon Spectacular games outside The Northern & Boardstiff on 2nd Avenue Baby Griz Crawl at the Fernie Community Centre Extreme Griz Competition at Fernie Alpine Resort Improve your Curling with Kevin Martin – $15 student, $25 adult Curling Clinic organized by Fernie Curling Club; Registration online at eventbrite.ca Search Fernie or at the Fernie Museum Bacon Spectacular best bacon dish/drink, professional & amateur categories Outside The Northern & Boardstiff on 2nd Avenue. Bacon Spectacular 3 Pound Bacon Eating Challenge! $5 entry fee - pre-register at The Northern or Boardstiff.
Parade
Saturday, 6:30 pm
Saturday, February 28
Hot Wing eating contest at The Fernie Hotel 6:30pm Griz Days “Fire & Ice” Parade down 2nd Avenue The Road to the Olympics – Draw 7:00pm Weight: Banquet and Presentation by Canadian Olympic Curler Kevin Martin 7 pm Fernie Curling Club; $50, contact the Fernie Museum for more information 7:00pm - 11:00pm Fire and Ice Dance Party - Aquatic Centre Parking Lot - DJ Jeff McRae - Live Music: Scenic Route To Alaska - Refreshment Garden 19+ - Concession - Crowning of Extreme Griz winner(s) - Commit 2 Pain Rail Jam finals (hosted by Commit Snow & Skate) Fireworks display! 8:00pm Griz Days Dance Party 9:30pm at The Fernie Hotel 5:00pm
t n e m h s Re f re G a rde n
Sunday, March 1
Novice Hockey Tournament at the Fernie Arena - Free Admission! 10:00am - 5:30pm Griz Wiz Scavenger Hunt – The Fernie Museum 1:00pm Raging Elk Dummy Downhill at Fernie Alpine Resort 2:30pm - 4:00pm Griz Days family dance w/DJ Jeff at the Community Centre 7:00am - 4:00pm
Scenic Route To Alaska
LIVE Saturday at the Dance Party
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THE FREE PRESS
Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
Stop the presses!
It’s Griz Days
THE FREE PRESS
We’ve got it covered!
Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
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Are you Griz enough?
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Free Press files
he Griz represents Fernie’s best qualities – fun-loving, at home in the outdoors, and someone who will do anything to get to Fernie’s fantastic powder. Every year mountain men and women from the community compete by proving their Griz Spirit in the hopes of being named Extreme Griz. This year’s event will kick off during the Craft Fair at the Community Centre with the traditional pancake eating contest at 11 am. After chowing down, the contestants will head up to Fernie Alpine Resort for the remainder of the competition. The events include snowshoe races, log sawing and tossing,
Jeep pulling, leg wrestling, a hockey shootout and more. And of course, no Extreme Griz competition would be complete without a little axe throwing! Becoming the Extreme Griz is all about embodying and embracing the values of a true mountain man or woman while showing off a strong set of survival skills. A great beard and costume helps too! Make sure you don’t miss the chance to see this year’s crop of Extreme Griz hopefuls as they battle it out on the mountain for the coveted title. The 2015 Extreme Griz winner will be crowned following the parade at the CP Station Square Street Party on Saturday night.
“Pigging Out” for charity
Free Press files
by Katelyn Dingman
T
here’s no such thing as too much bacon during Griz Days! Whether you’re throwing on a pair of track pants to prepare for the 3 Pound Bacon Eating Challenge or tinkering with bacon recipes for the Best Bacon Dish/Drink competition, there’s something for everybody during the Griz Days Bacon Spectacular…except for vegetarians of course. And what better way to warm up this winter than with
bacon? The festivities begin on Saturday morning with the annual bacon and pancake breakfast at The Northern. But don’t fret, unlike most pancake breakfasts, the Bacon Spectacular breakfast gives you time to sleep in and prepare your stomach for the challenge ahead. The breakfast starts at 11 a.m. with all proceeds going towards the Heart and Stroke Foundation. After filling up on bacon why not throw some? Boardstiff will be hosting a series of bacon related games, including pin the bacon on the pig, where participants will get a chance to whip slices of bacon at an adorable piggy painted on The Northern front window. See who can get the closest to hitting the painting! Don’t have the greatest arm for throwing? Make your way to the annual cook off instead! Local restaurants and home-grown chefs are invited to partake in a bacon cook off where unique bacon delights will be judged
based on the dish’s presentation, creativeness, baconness (so make sure there’s lots of bacon in your dish) along with an award going to the best single slice of bacon, the best bacon dessert, the best bacon drink and the best overall bacon dish. Warm up your ovens and stovetops, because this year’s contest is sure to be a challenge like no other. See if you can beat last year’s bacon sombrero, crafted by El Guapo! The best bacon dish/drink will be hosted outside The Northern and Boardstiff at 2 p.m. Not quite filled up on bacon yet? Head down to The Northern at 4 p.m. for the 3 Pound Bacon Eating Challenge! And don’t forget to slip on a pair of track pants and a bib. At just 13 minutes, last year’s winner certainly set the bar high. Bacon lovers can pre-register for the eating challenge at The Northern or Boardstiff. A $5 entry fee is required for pre-registration. And don’t worry about leaving the kids at home, the events are kid friendly, so bundle up your little ones and fill up on bacon and laughter during the Bacon Spectacular.
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Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
THE FREE PRESS
Annual Griz Days Craft Fair ~ Saturday, February 28th
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ernie Craft Fairs is delighted to be a part of the 2015 Griz Days celebrations. Our vendors have been preparing for this event for some time and will be showcasing the best of their goods on Saturday February 28th from 9AM - 2PM at the Fernie Community Centre. Organizer Tanya Malcolm is in her third year of producing the event and loves the Craft Fair family she has inherited. “Everyone is so incredibly supportive of my role, and all the vendors are so friendly and caring, not only towards me, but towards each other - it really is like being a part of a huge family!” The Griz Days Craft Fair also allows for other community organizations to join the family. The Fernie Christian Youth Group, Rotary Club, & Fernie Chamber of Commerce all come together, alongside Fernie Craft Fairs to make sure the event is a huge community success. For more information about the Craft Fair please visit www.ferniecraftfairs.com or connect via Facebook: FernieCraftFairs
Free Press files
Irresistible Deals
ENJOY GRIZ DAYS 2015
on beautiful décor Our store will be closing for the season...
ALL ITEMS ON SALE!
441 2nd Avenue | Next to IGS
LOOKING FOR FERNIE VISITOR INFO ONLINE? VISIT TOURISMFERNIE.COM Lodging • Events • Dining • Activities • More!
IT'S PLAYOFFS TIME! Check www.fernieghostriders.com for schedules, results and news. Go Riders!
Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
READY SET GO Start
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Your BABIES NOW by Katelyn Dingman
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till too young to walk on two feet? No worries! The Griz Baby Crawl caters to those still cruising on all fours. This adored event will be held at the Fernie Community Centre, and includes prizes from Grow for the speedier babies. Dedicated to the legend of the baby boy born high up in the mountains in a grizzly bear’s cave during a cruel and bitter winter, this event is sure to entertain. The crawl will be held during the craft fair on Saturday. These little crawlers are not required to register for the event, which will begin at noon. Free Press files
Apex Power & Automation
has been proudly serving the Elk Valley & Southern Alberta for over 11 years.
They’re excited to announce the opening of their BC Residential division.
Offering the same top notch service and quality, by people who care. Please call Apex Power and Automation for more information: 250.865.4349 or find us on the web www.apexpower.ca
ELECTRICALRS CONTRACTO
Have a safe Griz Days!
BC Office: #14 Iskut Rd., Elkford, BC • 250-425-5464 AB Office: 3775 14th Ave. N, Lethbridge, AB • 403-394-9393 www.apexpower.ca
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Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
THE FREE PRESS
The Raging Elk Dummy Downhill by Katelyn Dingman
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rivers start your engines! The Raging Elk Dummy Downhill is back for another year of fun in the snow, and although these cardboard contraptions don’t really have engines, they sure do get a lot of speed. Innovative engineers spend countless hours building a unique dummy that is mounted on a snowboard or skis and raced to the finish line. Whether it’s a ship, a plane or even Rudolph gliding down Fernie Alpine Resort’s hill, this event is awe inspiring. With the goal of getting the most possible air, the dummies are hurled off a giant jump by the Timber Chair. Ever seen a boat glide through the snow, fly through the air and come to a halting crash? Here’s your chance! Judging for this event caters to the spectacle of the inevitable crash, the design, construction and creativity of the dummy as well as the distance it flies. All funds raised during the event are donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
THE DETAILS
When: Sunday, March 1 at 1 pm Where: Fernie Alpine Resort at the bottom of the Timber Chair Free Press files
Annual Classic Canadian Street Hockey Tournament
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rab your sticks and pucks, this Griz Days festival is calling for ice, and lots of it. And what’s a Canadian winter without our beloved hockey pastime? Park Place Lodge will be hosting their sixteenth annual Classic Canadian Street Hockey Tournament on Saturday, February 28. So suit up in your toques and mitts and head over to the back of Park Place Lodge for some fun on the rink. You only need four adult players per team to compete in the tournament. Each team is guaranteed to play at least two games and the event is hosted in an elimination format. And don’t worry about having to fix yourself a meal after a long day of playing! A food and refreshment garden will be set up to fuel both players and spectators. Players are required to pre-register for the tournament, as spaces will fill up quickly. Registration is free and players can register by calling 250-423-6871 or dropping into The Pub at Park Place Lodge. Free Press files
Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
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Thank-You to the 2015 Griz Days Sponsors. We appreciate your support.
FernieCHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Est. 1898
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ill Dummy Downh
Griz Days ~ Fire & Ice ~ February 27 to March 1, 2015
Griz Baby Crawl Griz Competition
Griz Days 2014
The
Griz
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