the corner of 3rd Ave & 5th St as a new community library. George had loved libraries since childhood. He joined the renovation board and worked every angle he could think of to resource the restoration project – securing funding, enlisting advice from local business and trades persons, salvaging materials from the former high school along with“ Hippie Pete”, and even facilitating a private plane to bring an architect to Fernie to work on the project. Following George’ s death, the community of Sault Ste. Marie sponsored an award in George’ s memory. The George S. Majic Spiritus Award has been presented to an unsung Fernie community hero every year to this day.
Anne also loved libraries and became a volunteer when she first moved to Fernie. She has been a library booster ever since, attending and supporting the Fernie Heritage Library in many ways. She doesn’ t join boards or committees, instead preferring to undertake specific tasks. Bring her a job, she says, and she will get it done. From junior golf to church restorations, she has had a hand in many local endeavours. In 2014, she worked to resurrect the Fernie Community Choir with 20 initial members. The Choir now boasts around 50 choristers and performs concerts twice a year in Fernie.
Local author Keith Liggett first approached Anne about joining a local writing group. Reluctant at first, she eventually agreed as a way to express her gratitude for all the gifts she had received while mourning George. Starting five years after George died, she slowly accumulated 22 short stories and vignettes. With the help of her nephew, a poet, a publisher, editors, and a design team, she turned her collected writings into a cohesive book. 20 years later, the book is finally in print and available from Polar Peak Books and Fernie Heritage Library. Bring tissues.
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