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Nothing in Fernie says "winter is here!" better than snowfalls, the Holiday Kick-Off event and opening day approaching! As everyone waxes their skis and boards, lays out snow shovels and tunes up the snow blower, the blissful days of playing in the snow and enjoying holiday cheer fill the air!
At Tourism Fernie, the team is excited to share the season with you and help your business and organization be successful! So...for all existing members of Tourism Fernie 2026 membership fees are waived for the year! The hard work each of you put into making the tourism economy successful should be rewarded! So thank you all!
| | #FERNIESTOKE WINTER SHUTTLE 2025-2026 | | The #Ferniestoke Winter Shuttle Service is set to begin on opening day! Buy passes today! Great as a gift! | | |
The new SHUTTLE APP (via the App Store and Google Play) is required to ride the shuttle, purchase & redeem tickets, find stops and track the shuttle live.
Operations for the 2025-2026 winter season are set to begin on December 5, 2025 (tentative - based on ski resort opening day).
| | | NEW FIELD HOUSE TO BE BUILT IN FERNIE | | |
Building a new Field House in Fernie took a giant step forward October 28 when city council endorsed lease and operating agreements for the facility.
The agreements, between the city and the Elk Valley Field House Society, allow for the construction and operation of a Field House on the site of the decommissioned outdoor rink. The agreements are the culmination of several months of discussions between the society and the city.
The 60-year lease will allow the Field House Society, comprised of volunteers from a multitude of local groups and organizations, to build and operate an accessible space for physical activity, social interaction, and community events. The operating agreement stipulates the Field House will primarily be used for recreational purposes and for events and gatherings and that the society shall be responsible for the operation, cleanliness, maintenance and repair of the Field House.
Elk Valley Resources (EVR) generously donated $1 million project earlier this year. The project has also received $525,000 in Resort Municipalities Initiatives funding, tourism funding from the Province via the City of Fernie. Tourism Fernie has also contributed $40,000 to the project at the outset. At the October 28 council meeting, Fernie Youth Soccer Association announced it will be donating $10,000.
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Tourism As Economic Driver Highlighted at SIRES
Destination BC’s Erica Hummel, Director of Destination & Industry Development, joined a panel at the Southern Interior Regional Economic Summit (SIRES) in Salmon Arm from November 3–5, 2025. The panel, titled The True Value of Tourism: Beyond the Visitor, brought together leaders from Destination Canada, the Tourism Industry Association of BC, Indigenous Tourism BC, and Tourism Kamloops.
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Lodging Data Update for Fernie
Year-to-date (YTD) lodging numbers for January - October are in. The charts above show % occupancy and average room rates for Fernie area hotels compared to the same time last year and other destinations.
By the season, last winter was very strong, and last spring was down primarily due to the reduction of corporate bookings and impacts on business and consumer confidence with the political events down south. Since spring, we have had a strong summer and fall season. Many hotels are indicating strong corporate business until the holiday season.
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Fernie Fills My Cup Results
The Fernie Fills My Cup campaign wrapped up with strong results this fall. Tourism Fernie received 62 submissions for the gift card incentive, with 11 deemed ineligible, and saw over $23,000 in confirmed bookings tied to the promotion.
In total, participants booked 140 room nights, averaging 2.7 nights per stay. Tourism Fernie distributed 51 gift cards from 25 local businesses, representing a total value of nearly $5,000 - a great boost to the local retail community.
If you have any questions or suggestions for next year's Fernie Fills My Cup promotion, please email brona@tourismfernie.com.
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Tourism Fernie's Social Media Success
Tourism Fernie is celebrating another social media win this month, with our Holiday Kickoff reel earning a prize during CrowdRiff’s monthly Social Media Trends Webinar. This recognition follows the recent viral success (almost 300,000 organic views) of the community-driven “human chain” reel showcasing the move of Polar Peak Books to its new location.
Adding to the momentum, Tourism Fernie has officially surpassed 30,000 followers on Instagram, a milestone made possible by the creative talents who have shaped Tourism Fernie's social presence over the years: Jack Viney, Nancy Stevenson (Gillis), Vince Mo, Emily Williams, Lizzy Reimer, and now Kate Wienburg.
| | | | MEDIA COVERAGE FOR FERNIE | | Influencer Campaign: @traveltalesoflife | |  | |
MountainWatch.com (AUS):
Road Tripping BC's Powder Highway - Part 3 Fernie
| | | 2025-2026 VISITOR RESOURCES | | |
Tourism Fernie produces a wide selection of brochures, flatsheets, flyers, calendars, maps, and activity guides.
Brochures & Guides are regularly stocked around town. Need a resupply? Email: rebecca@tourismfernie.com.
We encourage you to embed or link these on your websites or include in your newsletters. Email brona@tourismfernie.com if you need assistance.
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Our current & updated range of brochures and guides includes:
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The Fernie Winter Town Map is now available online to embed and share.
The maps are currently being printed and tear-off map pads will be distributed around town in the coming weeks. Please contact us if you would like a supply!
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Winter Trail Grooming App
The Fernie Winter Grooming Collaborative continues to work together to support grooming on local trails thanks to all the trail groups and their groomer, plus funding and support from Tourism Fernie and the City's RMI tourism funding from the Province.
This year the Nordic Pulse trail grooming app will be used by groomers to provide up-to-date info! Download today!
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Congratulations on 25 years, Ghostrider Trading Co!
Brenda Birrell and Kay Chesley opened Ghostrider Trading 25 years ago as a women’s clothing and souvenir store, which has grown and expanded to include menswear and kidswear, along with a whole store dedicated to Fernie gifts and souvenirs.
To celebrate, starting this weekend with the #fernieholidaykickoff and continuing through to Christmas, every purchase at Ghostrider Trading will get you added into a weekly draw to win one of 25 prizes.
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Go2HR Training Courses
Go2HR offer a wide range of industry-leading training courses online. Train your staff, improve your service, and elevate your product to the next level with Go2HR's extensive selection of programs.
Go2HR's courses include FOODSAFE, Supervisor Training, Food & Beverage Training, WHIMS, EDI, Communications, Operations Management, SuperHost, Leadership, and more. Please allow the link below a few moments to load.
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New Outdoor Recreation Research Profile from DestinationBC
DestinationBC's sector research profiles now include Outdoor Recreation, Cycling, Skiing, Indigenous Tourism, and more.
Highlighting unique traits within each sector, the reports include demographics, statistics, and definitions that can help hone your business, provide insights for grant applications, and offer useful considerations for growth strategies.
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Membership with Tourism Fernie is only $200/year! Membership helps support tourism in Fernie, includes a variety of opportunities to market your tourism product, provides voting rights at the AGM and additional support throughout the year.
To discuss your membership or to join, please contact christine@tourismfernie.com
Updates or new events, photos, or specials to add? Contact: rebecca@tourismfernie.com
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We welcome business updates from you that we can share in future e-newsletters. We also send a monthly e-newsletter to visitors promoting Fernie - if you don't already receive that email and would like to be added to the mailing list, please email info@tourismfernie.com.
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Perez McKenzie Immigration Consultations
Offer ongoing! For anyone that has foreign staff on their team and is interested in learning more about how to support your employee through different work permits or permanent resident pathways – this is for you!
Click the link for information regarding the Immigration Consultation session with Perez McKenzie and how to book a session. Tourism Fernie will cover the cost of an initial consultation at a value of $250.
| | | | | Industry Events & Consumer Shows | | December 5 I Opening Day (tentative) | Fernie Alpine Resort | | | December 15 I City of Fernie - Council Cafe | Fernie Senior's Centre | | | January 18, 2026 I The Wedding Fair | Edmonton | | | January 25 - 28, 2026 I TIAC IMPACT Sustainability Conference | Victoria | | | February 1, 2026 I The Wedding Fair | Calgary | | | February 16 - 22, 2026 I BC Heritage Week | | | February 17 - 19, 2026 I International Indigenous Tourism Conference | Edmonton | | | Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2026 I The Outdoor Adventure Show | Calgary | | | March 4 - 6, 2026 I BC Tourism Industry Conference | Kelowna | | | March 21 - 22, 2026 I The Outdoor Adventure Show | Calgary | | | April 14 - 15, 2026 I BCHA Summit | Nanaimo | | | May 20 - 22, 2025 I ORCBC Conference | Kamloops | | |
TOURISM FERNIE STAFF DIRECTORY
Have a question or update? Let us know!
From left to right:
Kate Wienburg, Social Media Content Creator & Co-ordinator | Kate@tourismfernie.com
Rebecca Hall, Admin & Marketing Co-ordinator | rebecca@tourismfernie.com
Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer | jikke@tourismfernie.com
Corien Sieders, Destination Management & Development Manager | corien@tourismfernie.com
Broňa Kekenakova, Marketing Manager | brona@tourismfernie.com
Christine Grimble, Media/Travel Trade & Projects Manager | christine@tourismfernie.com
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We gratefully acknowledge that we do our business on the homelands of the
Ktunaxa Nation, Qukin ʔAmakʔis, and we honor and respect their ancestors of the past.
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The Official Corporate E-Newsletter for Tourism Fernie Society. Supporting the tourism sector through marketing and destination management initiatives.
Phone: 1-250-423-2037
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