At a whopping 94 pages the largest ever Summer Fernie Guide hits the displays for the long weekend. The increased size is directly related to Fernie’s positive business climate and advertisers recognizing the Fernie Guide is the visitor’s “First Choice� for information on Fernie.

The 2007 Guide features improved editorial and maps including Island Lake Lodge’s new Trail Map, the Summer Adventure Map featuring even more lakes and summer facilities, and the City Map printed on an extra gate-fold.

This largest ever Summer Guide leads into the 10th Anniversary issue of the 2008 Winter Fernie Guide.

In addition, the Fernie Summer Map will join the Fernie Guide on the shelves for the long weekend. For a digital look at the new products view: 2007 Summer Fernie Guide or 2007 Summer Fernie Map

Steep, the ski movie that many hope will be winter’s celluloid answer to Riding Giants, the documentary that chronicles the history of big wave surfing, premiered over the past two weekends in New York at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Chronicling the history of big mountain skiing, from the early ’70s exploits of Teton County ski mountaineer Bill Briggs and Chamonix’s Patrick Vallencant to heli-assisted first descents in the wilds of Alaska, the promise of the film has been tantalizing skiers for years.

Here is what the Tribeca film folks say about it: “Whether it’s jumping out of a helicopter hovering above the powdery slopes of Alaska’s mountain ranges or trying to outrun an avalanche in the French Alps, Steep traces the legacy of extreme skiing from its early pioneers to the death-defying daredevils of today.”

The Steep folks themselves say, “It started in the 1970s in the mountains above Chamonix, France, where skiers began to attempt ski descents so extreme that they appeared almost suicidal. Men like Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant were inspired by the challenge of skiing where no one thought to ski before. Now, two generations later, some of the world’s greatest skiers pursue a sport where the prize is not winning, but simply experiencing the exhilaration of skiing and exploring big, wild, remote mountains.”

To see a trailer, go to www.thedocumentarygroup.com

As the North American ski season rolls on, it’s now time to start thinking about the upcoming ski season down in South America. Ski Portillo, Chile’s season is scheduled to run from June 16 - October 6, 2007. Ski weeks begin at $1,600 a person at Hotel Portillo and include seven nights’ accommodation, seven-day lift tickets, and four meals daily.

Named one of the Top 10 Ski Resorts in the World, Portillo is the oldest and most exclusive resort in South America and combines old-world elegance, breathtaking scenery and epic skiing.

Portillo is an intimate resort that accommodates only 450 guests a week, offering an exclusive and hassle-free winter vacation. There are no lift lines or crowded slopes, and stretches of untouched terrain and freshly groomed runs beckon skiers of all abilities.

Portillo receives an annual average of 450 inches of snowfall and nearly 300 days of sunshine.

Despite the demand for real estate development, Portillo owner Henry Purcell chose to forgo the gains from growth and has adopted a no-sprawl ethic. Purcell’s philosophy is to maintain the pristine beauty of Portillo, including the Lake of the Incas, which is Portillo’s centerpiece. There is only one main hotel with no condominiums or shopping centers. There are no TVs in guest rooms to encourage a social atmosphere. In a world quick to commercialize, Portillo proudly remains unique, private and grand.

The Fernie Child Care Society was set up to address the shortage of licensed, accessible, quality child care in Fernie and the surrounding area. The Fernie Child Care Centre will provide day care services on a part time or full time basis for 30 children.

The City of Fernie is a rapidly changing community with a large number of children needing quality child care. The City of Fernie is undergoing transition and residents face increasing living costs. The lack of available child care and the number of children needing quality child care is on the increase. Realizing this need, a few individuals created the awareness in the community, held an initial meeting which was extremely well attended and from there the group has formed a board of directors and meets every week. The process is long and will not happen over night; grant applications, sponsorship proposals, fundraising efforts, the legalities of creating a non-profit society, finding a location, licensing and finding qualified, licensed child care providers are just some of the steps to be taken.

Through the hard work and dedication of the team of people involved, through the support of The City of Fernie and efforts of community members who are donating their time, skills and services, this initiative will be achieved and the community will be able to proudly say that it was achieved by the willingness and support of the community.

Donations are vital to the Fernie Child Care Society. To offer your support, please contact Ronan Mac Con at ronan_maccon@hotmail.com

“Community members are invited to participate in an upcoming workshop. Information about the study will also be posted on the City’s website and community members should feel free to contact the people listed below with their concerns and ideas.”

Why does the City want to develop a housing strategy?

Fernie is a community in transition. Since the expansion of Fernie Alpine Resort in the mid 1990s, more than 600 new housing units have been built in the City. During this time, real estate prices have risen dramatically in response to the high demand for second homes and recreation properties. The non-resident “shadow� population has grown while Fernie’s permanent population has declined. At present, long-time residents, and those seeking to relocate to Fernie to work permanently or seasonally, are experiencing difficulties finding appropriate housing.

These trends echo the experience of well-established communities that have shifted from a resource-based economy to one strongly influenced by tourism. While tourism has many benefits, including stimulating the local economy, attracting new businesses and facilitating redevelopment, there can be a downside when long-time residents, newcomers, and workers needed to support the local economy can not obtain appropriate housing. The City of Fernie recognizes the need to examine the socioeconomic changes that are occurring in the community, and to take measures to ensure that both residents and newcomers can obtain appropriate housing and contribute to a strong and vital local economy.

Why has CitySpaces been hired?

CitySpaces Consulting has been providing community planning, research, and consultation services in large and small communities throughout Western Canada since 1986. While we provide a range of services, we have specific expertise in the area of affordable housing research and policy development. This has been achieved through working with communities that have experienced significant population growth pressures and communities transitioning from resource-based to tourism/resort-based economies.

Why do we need your input?

In order to develop an affordable and attainable housing strategy, we need to establish what the terms “affordable� and “attainable� mean to Fernie, which members of the population have unmet housing needs, and why this is happening. We also need to determine the best way to address the issues and determine who is responsible. This requires a community-wide conversation.

What is the process?

The initial phase of the study involves focused interviews with City Council and Administration, the Official Community Plan Steering Committee, business owners, major employers, health and social service industry representatives, realtors, bankers, developers, and resort operators.
Following this phase, a community workshop will be held to confirm our initial findings and hear what the community has to say.

The information we collect from our interviews and workshops will be used to create a roadmap for action. Before this is complete, we’ll report back to the community to ensure we’re on track.

What is the timeline?

The City of Fernie and CitySpaces aim to have a strategy in place before the fall. This is an aggressive timeline requiring support and input from the community.

How can you continue to be involved?

Community members are invited to participate in an upcoming workshop. Information about the study will also be posted on the City’s website and community members should feel free to contact the people listed below with their concerns and ideas.

Who to contact?

Ann Kjerulf, CitySpaces Consulting
• Toll Free: 866-687-2281 x 226
• Email: akjerulf@cityspaces.ca

Bruce Lennox, Director of Planning, City of Fernie
• Phone: 250.423.2258
• Email: bruce.lennox@fernie.ca