Community
FEATURE RESIDENT
Terry Nelson by KRISTA TURCASSO Many years ago, Terry Nelson came into our office and asked if we could help him publish a book. We had recently published the Fernie Mountain Bike Guide… written by me and designed and laid out by my partner in crime,Vanessa. Terry wanted something similar but hike-specific using the information he had been compiling for years. It was an enthusiastic ‘yes,’ we gave him some direction, and didn’t hear back from him until 2018. The Fernie Trails and Natural Plant Compendium was published early the following year. This spring, the book was updated and reprinted as it had sold out! And now Terry is working on his newest book which shares his love and passion for big trees. I’ve known Terry for some time, as his wife Laura was instrumental in my discovery of mountain biking and Terry would often join us on our rides. These adventures are etched in my memory, as Terry would provide historical and environmental context as well as comment on the flora and fauna along the way. I also had the opportunity to volunteer alongside him on the Fernie Trails Alliance board, and his vision and passion for the mountains and trails is inspiring. So, just how did Terry grow into this mountain biking, trail loving, tree-hugging author? While Terry was born in Victoria, he has lived all over Canada as his dad worked in industrial supplies and would create businesses where big projects were underway. In 1978, they moved from Calgary to Fernie where he finished his last two years of high school. Terry’s extended family lived in the Kootenay region and Kaiser Coal was expanding, so it was a good fit.
One of Terry’s good friends was Cam Kennedy, and he met his future wife Laura Kennedy one summer when she was home from University. “Laura has a different story, but I was in pursuit,” he tells me. “Laura says she picked me out of the crowd at the grand march and everything else is history!” Laura had plans to travel with a friend throughout Australia and New Zealand, and when that friend backed out Terry stepped in. “We travelled for a year
Laura Nelson Photo together, it was true test of a relationship,” he says with a laugh. They moved in together when they returned, renting Terry’s stepfather’s house on 6th Ave. “Ryland was born in 1985, we got married in 1986 and then we moved to Vancouver where I went to school for Surveying.” Their second son, Luke was born in 1988 during Terry’s second year and he remembers it being difficult for the family. “Two young kids, me in school as a mature
