ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PROJECT FUNDERS
Fernie’ s Tourism Master Plan Task Force is grateful to acknowledge the many organizations and individuals who participated and supported the development of this plan. The Tourism Master Plan( TMP) is also proud to acknowledge the Ktunaxa and their homelands. The Ktunaxa occupied the area now recognized as Ȼaqahak – Thick Forest( Fernie) for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers.
Fernie’ s Tourism Master Plan( TMP) was spearheaded by Tourism Fernie in partnership with local tourism stakeholders and community organizations. Through the TMP Task Force, Whistler Centre for Sustainability was hired as the project consultant to guide the process, conduct stakeholder engagement and develop the plan in partnership with Tourism Fernie. This plan has been informed by members of the local and regional tourism industry, the community as a whole, and the Strategic Framework for Tourism in B. C. developed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the funders including Columbia Basin Trust, Tourism Fernie, City of Fernie, Fernie Chamber of Commerce and the Regional District of East Kootenay, and all who supported through in-kind donations towards meeting space, advertising, public awareness and lodging needs, such as Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge, Park Place Lodge, the Fernie Fix and the Fernie Free Press. Thank you also to Destination BC and Kootenay Rockies Tourism for their support and input.
The TMP Task Force further recognizes all the many residents, business owners, property owners and non-profit recreation, cultural and environmental groups and organizations who participated in the process through workshops, surveys, focus group sessions, public open houses, interviews and meetings starting late 2018 and throughout 2019. A special thank you to the Task Force for its time, expertise and passion, Mike McPhee for having the initial vision and Jikke Gyorki for the on-the-ground work in all aspects of the process alongside Dan Wilson, including the writing, updating and editing of the plan.
TOURISM MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Task Force Chairs: |
Kurt Saari, Nevados Restaurant & Tourism Fernie Chair |
Shelley L’ Estrange, Best Western PLUS & Tourism Fernie Board Member( til’ 19) |
TMP Project Manager: |
Jikke Gyorki, Tourism Fernie Executive Officer |
City of Fernie CAO: |
Michael Boronowski | Norm McInnis( til’ 19) |
City of Fernie Mayor: |
Ange Qualizza / Alternate: Troy Nixon, Councillor |
RDEK: |
Mike Sosnowski, Area A Representative |
Industry & |
Scott Gilmet, IGS Group & Tourism Fernie Board Member | Mike McPhee, Island Lake Resort Group |
Accommodators: |
Andy Cohen, Fernie Alpine Resort | Derick Berry, Fernie Central Reservations |
Chamber of Commerce: |
Brad Parsell, Executive Director | Patty Vadnais, Executive Director( til’ 19) | Sheila Byers, Past President |
Environment: |
Lee-Anne Walker, Elk River Alliance |
Randal Macnair, Wildsight |
Culture: |
Ron Ulrich, Fernie Museum & Heritage Fernie |
Trails: |
Krista Turcasso, Fernie Trails Alliance |
TMP Lead Consultant: |
Dan Wilson, Whistler Centre for Sustainability |
TMP Supporting Consultant: Susan Rybar, Vardo Creative |