INITIAL PROJECT COMMITTEE & ENGAGEMENT
Tourism Fernie, with support from Savage Marketing, developed a project committee that would help support and advise during the engagement process and resulting outcomes. Additional support for the engagement was also provided by the Whistler Centre for Sustainability, the consultant for Fernie’ s Tourism Master Plan.
Members of the initial project committee, as detailed below, where appointed based on areas of expertise, their roles with organizations related to the project and availability. A committee Terms of Reference was developed. The first meeting of the committee was in December 2020 and their support continued until the priority actions were developed by the end of 2021.
• Jikke Gyorki – Executive Officer, Tourism Fernie
• Dan Savage – Engagement Consultant, Savage Marketing / Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club
• Dave Richards – Representative for the Fernie Trails Alliance
• Lee-Anne Walker – MA Environment & Mgnt / Representative for the Elk River Alliance
• Joe Caravetta – Inspector Kootenay / Boundary Region, Conservation Officer Service, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
• Scott Gilmet – Director of Sales & Marketing, Park Place Lodge, Griz Inn, Cornerstone Lodge
• Pat Gilmar – Coal Creek Heritage Society
• Nicole Matei – Fernie Snowmobile Association
The engagement process began with the creation of a resident, NGO and business survey targeting Area A constituents. It was also determined early on that Area B constituents should also be surveyed as many of popular areas utilized by locals and visitors of the region are in Area B of the RDEK. The survey consisted of approximately 15 questions and provided an opportunity to win a prize for participating. The questions included input on recreation and tourism in the front and backcountry of Area A, not in the municipalities.
The surveys were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic which required all engagement to be conducted virtually. Four online surveys were developed using Survey Monkey. The surveys were published and distributed starting in March 2021 and directed to unique stakeholder groups: Area A / Elk Valley Residents, Area A / Elk Valley Non-Profit Organizations, Area A / Elk Valley Businesses and Area B Residents. Awareness of the surveys were via a news release, email and posts from RDEK, Tourism Fernie database and support from other groups such as Elk River Alliance, Fernie Trails Alliance and others.
The engagement process also involved meetings with various experts and stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development, Ktunaxa Nation, along with the role of the project committee to review the results of the engagement and information and to create a strategy with sustainable goals, focus areas and recommended priority actions associated with key values.
Engagement concluded in May 2021. The four online surveys generated 581 responses, of which 350 where from Area A residents, 203 from Area B residents, 28 from non-profit organizations and businesses.
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