TOURISM IN FERNIE INDUSTRY EVENT | |
Tourism Fernie Industry Event, AGM, Keynote Speaker & Social
Thursday April 3rd, 2025
Keynote Speaker: Greg Klassen, Senior Director, Skift Advisory
Today’s World & Achieving Your Unique Competitive Advantage
Greg has been in the business of tourism for...well a very long time. He is the co-founder of Twenty31 Consulting in 2015, acquired by Skift in 2023. Prior to his work in tourism consulting, Greg was CMO and Senior Vice President of Strategy and then CEO of Destination Canada for over 13 years. Greg is dedicated to helping tourism operators and destinations achieve their own unique competitive advantage by leveraging strategies that drive their business forward.
In those rare moments when Greg is not thinking about tourism, he can be found practicing tourism at destinations around the world. But his favorite place to be is his Island cottage. Greg holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University and a degree in Economics from the University of Victoria. When not traveling, Greg lives in Vancouver.
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AGENDA
PART 1: Speaker, AGM, & Tourism Fernie Presentations
Bayleaf Restaurant @ Fernie Golf Course
10:00am: Check-In & Coffee Networking
10:30am: Official Welcome & Opening Remarks - Honourable Mayor Milligan & Chair of Tourism Fernie
10:50am: Tourism Fernie Presentation, Updates, & Q&A
11:50pm: Complimentary Buffet Lunch
12:20pm: KEYNOTE Speaker: Greg Klassen, Skift Advisory
1:30pm: Tourism Fernie Annual General Meeting
2:00pm: Exciting Local Business Announcements
2:30pm: Closing Remarks & Optional Networking; cash bar available
PART 2: Celebrating Tourism Social & Local Flash Updates
Fernie Legion Branch #36, 551 1st Ave
4:30 - 6:30pm
Complimentary appies, drink, door prizes, networking, cash bar. All welcome including tourism business employees
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Register at TourismFernieAGM.com by March 24th!
All Welcome - Free to Attend!
**Please note that registrations made online between Feb 11 - Mar 10 were not recorded correctly due to a technical error. Please re-register at the link**
| | | TOURISM FERNIE WINS AT BC TOURISM AWARDS 2025! | | |
The 2025 BC Tourism Industry Awards were held at a gala reception on March 6th in Vancouver to recognize and celebrate the excellence, leadership, and innovation in British Columbia’s tourism industry.
Held alongside the BC Tourism Industry Conference and hosted by the Tourism Industry of BC, the conference brings together industry businesses, organisations and changemakers to further develop BC's $18.5B Tourism Industry.
Tourism Fernie won the Professional Excellence Award, beating out Tourism Kelowna and Sunshine Coast Tourism in the final round. Jikke was a finalist for the Tourism Woman of the Year Award along with Amy Thacker of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, and Talaysay Campo of Talaysay Tours, who won the award.
| | INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR FERNIE | | |
Mountain Life Magazine:
Faboulous Fernie
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Swagger Magazine
BC's Legendary Powder Highway: The Ultimage Ski Safari Swagger Magazine
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Influencer Visit: @dawnnpark
| |  | SKImag.com: 6 Canadian Ski Destinations to Visit Right Now! | | | PACIFICAN FUNDING RECEIVED - TOURISM GROWTH FUND | | | | $126,000 for improvements at the Fernie Visitor Information Centre, and to develop an exciting new HWY #3 Dinosaur Tour with Sparwood and Cranbrook! | | | |
AmbassadorWILD, along with Sparwood Chamber of Commerce, Sparwood Museum & Tourism Cranbrook, are developing a new tour highlighting the region's fascinating paleontological history along the Crownest Highway.
This new funding will support educational products and training, and the design and installation of a replica fossil display in Fernie. Improvements to the Welcome Zone at the Fernie Visitor Information Centre and new interpretive signage will also be implemented. This project is supported by the Tourism Growth Program, operated by PacifiCan:
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The Tourism Growth Program is a key component of the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, which charts a course for long-term growth, investment, and stability in Canada’s tourism industry.
- In 2023, the B.C. tourism industry generated $22.1 billion in revenue.
- PacifiCan is the federal economic development agency dedicated to British Columbians. PacifiCan works with partners who are building innovative businesses, creating quality jobs, and supporting inclusive growth throughout our province.
- Part of over $4.8 million in funding from PacifiCan to attract more visitors to B.C. and bring B.C. products to more markets around the world.
"The travel trade plays a key role in converting global interest in British Columbia into bookings that directly support export-ready businesses in every corner of the province, while helping visitors experience all that BC has to offer. This new PacifiCan funding will allow Destination BC to strengthen connections between our tourism operators and global travel trade specialists, bringing more visitors to more communities, creating jobs, and driving long-term growth for BC’s visitor economy."
~ Meredith Moll, Director of Partner and Market Development, Destination BC
| | FERNIE SKIING HERITAGE HALL OF FAME 2025 | |
Class of 2025 Inducted into the Fernie Skiing Heritage Hall of Fame
On March 7, 2025, Fernie hosted a banquet to honour five new inductees into the Fernie Skiing Heritage Hall of Fame. The event acknowledged the passion, dedication and impact of each contributor, and their impact on the local and national snowsports community.
Mike Delich, Chair of Fernie Skiing Heritage and 2024 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame inductee, expressed his gratitude to the attendees and honorees, stating, “Fernie’s community spirit and kindness welcomed these new members and their outstanding achievements in Fernie snowsports.”
2025 INDUCTEES:
Fernie Nordic Society - Pioneer
Dr Ron Geddis - Builder
Katie Anderson, Freeride World Champion - Sport Leader
Tyler Werry, World Cup Ski Racer - Sport Leader
Rod Timm, Dedicated Ski Coach - Sport Leader
The Fernie Skiing Heritage Hall of Fame is on permanent display and can be visited at Slopeside Lodge at Fernie Alpine Resort.
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STOP PRESS! Congratulations to our Fernie Nordic Society racers, who are cleaning up at the 2025 Nordiq Ski Nationals in Canmore!
Ella Fuller kicked things off on a high on March 17th, making history with the top spot in the U16 Girls Interval Start Free, plus Bronze in the Descent and Queen of the Climb races, and more gold on March 18th in the U16 Girls Sprint Heats Classic!
.Louison Dubief had a banner day in the U20 races on March 19th, claiming gold in the Queen of the Climb and Interval Start Free, and silver in the Descent.
Congratulations to all the FNS racers! More results TBA!
| | | TOURISM FERNIE UPDATES & MEMBER NEWS | | |
TOURISM FERNIE welcomes you & our newest members!
Our membership year is underway and 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? Please email rebecca@tourismfernie.com.
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New owner at Canyon Raft
After 30 amazing years, Blair Craig & Lynn Muller are ready for retirement and will be handing over the reins to Adam Howie, a long-time raft guide who has been a casual employee with the company for the past few years.
Congratulations, Canyon Raft Company, and thank you for all your support for the community!
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Welcome New Member - Basecamp Resorts
Breaking ground in 2025, this new resort will be a unique offering in Fernie.
Systemic Architecture and Basecamp Resorts are collaborating to develop three hotel buildings and eleven spa buildings in their gateway location along the course of the Elk River. Crisp, clean lines and building massing characterizes the design approach.
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City of Fernie supports new Canada Day plans
At the March 11th Regular Council meeting, Council approved a partnering agreement with Fernie Service Clubs (including 3300, Rotary, Legion, Elks, Lions, Seniors) to organise and host Canada Day Celebration 2025.
The City of Fernie will support with $7,000 plus marketing, personnel, and road closures.
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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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The Ferniestoke Winter Shuttle buses are still rolling for the season with a new App with live tracking and digital ticketing!
Daily daytime service runs through to closing day at Fernie Alpine Resort. Daily evening service runs to the end of March.
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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.
| | | | | Important Dates & Industry Events | | March 29 - 30 I The Outdoor & Adventure Show - Calgary | | | April 3 I Tourism in Fernie Industry Event, AGM & Social | | | April 7 - 12 I Mountain Travel Symposium - Snowmass, CO | | | April 7 - 11 I Canadian National Tourism Week | | | Apr 22 I Fernie Chamber of Commerce AGM | | | April 22-23 I BC Hotel Association Summit - Vancouver | | | Apr 25-27 I Assn of Kootenay Boundary Local Government Convention | | | May 6 I KRT Emergency Preparedness Crisis Communication Workshop | | | May 18 & 25 I Australian Snow Travel Expos - Melbourne & Sydney | | |
TOURISM FERNIE STAFF DIRECTORY
Have a question or update? Let us know!
From left to right:
Corien Sieders, Destination Management & Development Manager | corien@tourismfernie.com
Rebecca Hall, Admin & Marketing Co-ordinator | rebecca@tourismfernie.com
Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer | jikke@tourismfernie.com
Christine Grimble, Media/Travel Trade & Projects Manager | christine@tourismfernie.com
Lizzy Reimer, Social Media & Content Coordinator | lizzy@tourismfernie.com
Brona Kekenakova, Marketing Manager | brona@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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