WELCOME HOME YOUR GUIDE TO MOVING TO FERNIE JACQUELINE FIELDHOUSE - 250-423-1194 WWW.SOLDINFERNIE.COM - JACQ@SOLDINFERNIE.COM RE/MAX ELK VALLEY REALTY
HELLO! FERNIE From the soundless cast of the fly-fisher seeking wild cutthroat, to the fearless run of the winter warrior cutting powder atop the summit, to the focused athlete pushing their limit on foot, bike, or whitewater Fernie is home to those who live without limits. Fernie is a pioneer town, with an unyielding character that was built by the wealth of coal seams hammered into purpose since the Jurassic Age. Fernie is fixed upon the Elk River. From the alpine waters of the Elk Lakes, near the continental divide, the Elk River chatters through the townsites of Elkford, Sparwood, Hosmer, Elko, and Fernie. Swollen by tributaries the abiding Elk tracks its course through the backbone of the Elk Valley joining Kootenay River and profiting Lake Koocanusa. It is this mountainous venue and the river that feeds the valley that makes this land legendary. In the last years of the 19th century prospectors William Fernie and Colonel James Baker established the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company, then pushed for Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to open the Valley to the world. Fernie was formally established in 1898, and incorporated in 1904 due to its proximity to the mighty coal crop. In the early days hardy miners pitched their temporary lodgings in the future townsite; supply shops sprung up and living began in what would eventually become known as “Old Town”. The town itself holds a unique appeal due to two devastating fires that leveled buildings in 1904 and again in 1908. Undeterred, leaders of the day ordered construction materials to be fire-resistant and thus, out of the ruins, grew a Victorian wonderland of slate, granite, and bricks along broad avenues with dramatic mountain vistas.
Each person who finds their way along the
Elk Valley to Fernie embraces the untamed
It is this uncommon blend of beauty, industry, and recreation
lifestyle of nature, absorbs the cultural
that has attracted unique townsfolk and built an enthusiastic
opportunities at the cherished Arts Station,
tourist following. Fernie is a thriving community of almost 5,000
or simply sits and watches the world go by.
full-time residents; this doubles during ski season. The coal mines that gave Fernie life continue to provide with five open-
What each has in common is: they write
pit mines that pump a third of the world’s steel making coal into
their own lives.
the market. What’s more, a sustained growth in tourism has matured beyond the ski hill to include fishing, mountain biking,
Welcome to Fernie, the adventure is
whitewater boating, camping, and glacier exploration.
yours…
#SOLDINFERNIE
MOVING TO FERNIE WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU GET HERE
SET UP YOUR UTILITIES Before you take possession of your new property (yay!) you'll want to contact BC utility companies to notify them of your possession date and set up an account and service to commence in your name uopn possession. Nothing worse (and believe me, it's happened) than moving in to no heat and find yourself living by candlelight for the first few days. Rustic but not fun :) If you have bought a condo or townhome your utilities may be included in your strata fee and you can skip this step. Talk to me and I'll let you know if this means you. You can find contact info for BC utility companies below.
BC UTILITY COMPANIES BC HYDRO (HYDRO) http://www.bchydro.com 1800 BCHYDRO (1800 224 9376)
FORTISBC (GAS) http://www.fortisbc.com 1866 436 7847
TELUS (INTERNET, PHONE, TV) http://www.telus.com 1888 811 2323
SHAW (INTERNET, PHONE, TV) http://www.shaw.ca 1888 472 2222
ROGERS (PHONE) http://rogers.com
CONDO/TOWNHOME/STRATA OWNERS You will need to contact your property manager and provide your contact details.
DON'T FORGET... DO YOU HAVE HOME INSURANCE IN PLACE ??
GETTING SET UP
FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS MOVING FROM OUT OF PROVINCE
BC MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN (MSP) All BC residents (you are a resident if you spend more than 6 months a year in BC) are required to apply for a BC Medical Card to access medical services in BC. Visit or call at: 1-800-663-7100 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drugcoverage/msp/bc-residents
Vehicle Insurance and Driver's license All motor vehicles in BC are required to be registered and insured through ICBC, a provincial government enterprise. Out-of-province vehicles will need to have an inspection prior to applying for insurance. You will also need to transfer your old driver's license to a BC license within 90 days of moving to BC. For more info visit :www.icbc.com or Westland Insurance 512 2nd Ave 250-423-6851 or Western Financial Group 691B 2nd Ave 250-423-6831
bc services card
Shout out to RJ Schultz for beautifully capturing the Fernie I love. Check out his imagery Rjschultzphoto and @rjschultz19
A BC Services Card is an all-in-one program that functions as a piece of government issued id, your driver's license and BC Medical Care Card. Apply for one at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/govern ment-id/bc-services-card
Get yourself a post box Fernie does not have door to door postal service. You will need to get your self a post box. Visit the Post Office on 3rd Ave and request to open a box. Did you know you can request for no Junk Mail? Do it!
Like reading? Permanent residents can apply for a library card by providing proof of residence in Fernie. Our library is a beautiful space to spend time. Check it out.
EFILTHGIN
Northern Bar and Stage -live music venue, best
place to shake your tush The Royal -funky beats and cheap
drinks Infinitea -laid back, excellent
vegetarian food and live
music The Pub -Fernie's true local
hangout The Arts Station -keep an eye out for what's
happening here. Events
such as the Indie Film
Festival, Fall Concert Series The Vogue Theatre -classic movie house.
Watch for special events
FB Groups Fernie Mountain Bike Club Volunteer Fernie Fernie Trails Alliance Fernie Women on Wheels Fernie Bike Shuttles Fernie Ride Share Fernie.eco Fernie Pride Society Elk Valley Garage Sale Fernie Mom's (and dad's)
Buy and Sell Fernie Facebook Gear
Exchange Forums fernie.com ourfernie.com Links The Fernie Fix tourismfernie.com fernie.ca
FFUTS ENILNO
NUF ROODTUO
GNIPPOHS
Buy a Nordic Pass & xc-
ski Fernie Provincial
Park to Fernie Alpine
Resort & enjoy a cocktail
at Cirque or book
raceltte at Birch
Meadows and enjoy a
moonlit xc ski one way
from FAR with friends Bike Lazy Lizard to
Island lake Lodge,
reward yourself with a
beer at the top before
the decent back to town Evening townie ride
along the dyke from
town to James Whyte
Park and enjoy a
riverside picnic and a round of disc golf Hike/snowshoe to Fairy
Creek or Castle Mtn
DOOF
SETIRUOVAF
YM Best Gifts Coal Town Goods Green Petal Best Women's Apparel Freyja Best Snowboard Shop Edge Of The World Ski/Bike Shops Gear Hub Straight Line Guide's Hut Ski Base Hairdressers I Love Lysh - Sarah or Justina Sparrow Hair Pet Store Barkside Books Polar Peak Fernie Heritage Library Kids Stuff Grow
Breakfast Big Bang Bagels -made in-house bagels for
lunch on the go Blue Toque Diner -dine-in and hearty Lunch Lunchbox -healthy++ for eating-in or
grab to go The Brickhouse -try the Crunchy Chicken
Burger Dinner Nevados -South American tapas Yama Goya -for sushi lovers Himalayan Spice -authentic South Asian fare for dine-in or take
away
insider tips & Fernie-isms "EVERYWHERE is within short
walking distance!"
"Volunteer with abandon. It's a
great way to meet people and
become a part of the
community, no matter how
long you decide to stay" "Don't mess with Adam, the parking guy
at the ski hill ... he means business"
"Adam is the only person in town you
don't want to mess with. Bring him a
coffee on cold days"
"Take time to discover all of Fernie's
recycling programs and use them.
Check out the re-use center aka "the free mall" at the dump"
"Be ready to meet
people who will take you
on adventures with
views that take your
breath away."
"Winter must-haves: Yaktrax and rubber boots. Year round must-haves: plaid."
"Fernie is home to some
beautiful wildlife. Keep your
garbage locked up and only put
garbage out on garbage day,
not the evening before" "Fav day of the year is
volunteering for the annual
Diggler Race. If you're tough
enough...race it!""
"Life slows down in a small
mountain town. It’ll take a bit to
adjust. But it’ll be the best move
you’ll ever make! ESPECIALLY if
you're coming from a large city."
"You're not a number
anymore. People will get to
know your name."
"Ray the plough man drinks white rum"
"No matter what you do for work,
your life will be better than most
people's vacations."
"Don't be suprised if businesses
aren't open until after noon after
a 20cm dump. It's a real thing: the 20 cm rule"
"I'd pat 'moving-to-Fernie-self'
on the back and say that it's
possibly the best decision I
ever made!" "Random strangers will say "hello"
when you pass them on the street.
Before long you'll find yourself doing it
too" "You will regret not buying your
potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner at least
a week in advance"
"You can make rubber boots
warmer with insulating
insoles and save some cash
on expensive winter boots." "Have no expectations, an
adventurous spirit and say "yes"
to all the crazy ideas people will
have... everything can be done" "3 am at 7-11 is most entertaining"
"Upgrade your shred
gear to Goretex if you
have the dollars" "Sure you can by your skis, bike, etc
online for cheaper, but, it's the guy
next door who you're helping pay
his rent and raise his family.
"Learn to love dogs, as in
Fernie you are outnumbered"
"It is considered acceptable
to stop in your vehicle
anywhere, anytime and chat
with a friend. Everyone will
just drive around you." "Knee high boots, elbow deep mitts and
always keep a shovel in your car."
" I remember responding to a sales
person's greeting with a big city brush
off. And then realizing that it was
totally unnecessary because people
here are too laid back for the hard sell
and I was being an jerk by default"
haha Neil is "the-man" at Fernie Home Building Centre"
"No matter how "on time" you
were before, "Fernie time" will
suck you in and you'll have to
accept being late once in
awhile"
"Buy a snowblower." "Don't be tempted to go too far down
Cokato Rd in the winter"
"It's okay to blow off your morning meetings if it's
snowed +20cms." "You can't ever be in a rush at the
grocery store. It's Fernie's social
network. Be prepared for it to
take an hour longer than
expected"
Thank you for business & your trust It was lovely getting to know you and helping you realise your valley real estate dreams!
Jacq