Fernie, British Columbia

Coordinates: 49°30′15″N 115°03′46″W / 49.50417°N 115.06278°W / 49.50417; -115.06278
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Fernie (disambiguation).

Fernie
City
The Corporation of the City of Fernie
Downtown Fernie, looking south
Downtown Fernie, looking south
672
Highways Hwy 3
Websitefernie.ca Edit this at Wikidata
Fernie's welcome sign

Fernie is a city in the

Regional District of East Kootenay
. A substantial seasonal population swells the city during the winter months.

Fernie lies on the Elk River, along Canada's southernmost east-west transportation corridor through the Rockies that crosses the range via the Crowsnest Pass, 40 kilometres (25 miles) to the east. As the largest and longest-established community between Cranbrook and Lethbridge, Fernie serves as a minor regional centre, particularly for its fellow Elk Valley communities.

Geography

The city of Fernie, BC seen from Three Sisters mountain

Fernie is the only city-class municipality in

Lizard, and Fairy Creeks—rise in its side valleys
and join the Elk either within or in close proximity to the townsite.

To the north of the city lie Mount Fernie, Mount Klauer, The Three Sisters and Mount Proctor. To the northeast is Mount Hosmer, to the east is Fernie Ridge, to the southeast is Morrissey Ridge (and its notable outcropping, Castle Mountain) and to the southwest are the various peaks of the Lizard Range. Fernie gives the name to the Jurassic-Age Fernie Formation. The Lizard Range is home to Fernie Alpine Resort, one of the largest ski resorts in Canada, and Island Lake Catskiing, a resort.

History

The Three Sisters and Mount Proctor, as seen from central Fernie

While the slopes of the mountains are the present focus of economic activity, until comparatively recently residents of the area were more interested in the mountains' innards. The vast Crowsnest Coal Field lies just to the east of the city, and Fernie owes its origins to nineteenth-century prospector William Fernie, who established the coal industry that continues to exist to this day. Acting on pioneer Michael Phillips' twin discoveries of coal and the Crowsnest Pass a few years earlier, Fernie founded the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company in 1897 and established a temporary encampment near Coal Creek. The Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in the valley the following year, and a townsite emerged parallel to the railway line slightly north of the initial encampment, or "Old Town."[3]: 80 

On May 23, 1902, a coal mine explosion killed 109 miners at the Crow's Nest Coal Mining Company.

internment camp for prisoners of war was set up at rented premises in Fernie from June 1915 to October 1918.[5]

Underground coal

Fernie Beer
from Brewery Creek (mountain spring water).

Like most single-industry towns, Fernie endured several boom-and-bust cycles throughout the twentieth century, generally tied to the global price of coal. The mines at

Elkford that sprang up much closer to these new mines. Today, Teck Resources operates four open-pit mines, shipping out unit trains (often with more than 100 cars) along the Canadian Pacific Railway through Fernie to the Pacific Coast, where the coal is loaded onto freighters at Roberts Bank Superport in Delta
.

Flathead Valley avalanches

The Flathead Valley avalanches were two avalanches that buried 11 snowmobilers near Fernie on December 28, 2008. The avalanches ultimately claimed the lives of eight of the riders.[6]

Architectural heritage

After a disastrous fire levelled much of the downtown core in 1904, the fledgling municipal government passed an ordinance requiring all buildings in the area to be built of 'fireproof' materials like brick and stone. Consequently, a new city centre rose from the ashes sporting brick buildings along broad avenues that would have looked more at home in a sedate and refined Victorian city than a rough-and-tumble frontier

Dresden-style firestorm
that melted brick and mortar and essentially erased the entire city in an afternoon. There were few casualties however and for a second time, a stately brick downtown core rose from the ashes. Today, these historic buildings, most of which still stand, are a treasured and distinctive feature of the community.

Sports

Summer in Fernie is generally far quieter than the winter months, though mountain biking, fly fishing and golf are increasingly important tourist draws.

Club League Sport Venue Established Championships
Fernie Ghostriders
KIJHL
 Ice hockey Fernie Memorial Arena
1991
3

Fernie Memorial Arena disaster

On October 17, 2017, there was an

Sparwood, British Columbia during the 2017–18 KIJHL season until the City of Fernie decided what to do.[7][8] The City of Fernie decided to replace ammonia for a synthetic refrigerant prior to the 2018–19 KIJHL season and moved the team back to the Fernie Memorial Arena.[9]

Notable people

The following people were born, raised in or reside in Fernie:

Local media

Newspapers

  • e-know - East Kootenay news online weekly
  • Fernie Fix - monthly glossy magazine
  • The Free Press - weekly paper

Radio stations

  • 107.9 FM - 2Day FM, modern adult contemporary
  • 103.5 FM - CJAY 92, active rock
  • 99.1 FM -
    The Drive
    , active rock
  • 97.7 FM -
    CBC Radio One
    , public news/talk
  • 92.7 FM -
    B104
    , country

Cable television

Rogers Communications operates a cable system serving Fernie. The cable system offers most major channels from Vancouver and Calgary, as well as local programming on Rogers TV channel 10.

Schools and colleges

School District 5 Southeast Kootenay operates the following public schools in Fernie:

The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique operates one Francophone school: école Sophie-Morigeau primary school.[10][11]

Private schools:

  • The Fernie Academy (Grades K-12)

Post-secondary:

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fernie had a population of 6,320 living in 2,597 of its 3,256 total private dwellings, a change of 17.1% from its 2016 population of 5,396. With a land area of 15.11 km2 (5.83 sq mi), it had a population density of 418.3/km2 (1,083.3/sq mi) in 2021.[12]

Ethnicity

Panethnic groups in the City of Fernie (1986−2021)
Panethnic
group 		2021[13] 2016[14] 2011[15] 2006[16] 2001[17] 1996[18] 1991[19][20] 1986[21][22][23]: 97 
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 5,465 88.43% 4,680 90.79% 4,030 92.43% 3,900 94.09% 4,265 93.74% 4,710 97.82% 4,660 94.24% 4,845 94.44%
Indigenous 270 4.37% 300 5.82% 200 4.59% 165 3.98% 145 3.19% 55 1.14% 220 4.45% 120 2.34%
East Asian[b] 175 2.83% 55 1.07% 20 0.46% 65 1.57% 110 2.42% 40 0.83% 35 0.71% 55 1.07%
South Asian 115 1.86% 25 0.48% 0 0% 10 0.24% 25 0.55% 0 0% 30 0.61% 100 1.95%
Southeast Asian[c] 95 1.54% 60 1.16% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Latin American 30 0.49% 25 0.48% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.22% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.19%
African
 20 0.32% 0 0% 50 1.15% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Middle Eastern[d] 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.21% 0 0% 0 0%
Other/Multiracial[e] 0 0% 10 0.19% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% — — — —
Total responses 6,180 97.78% 5,155 95.53% 4,360 98.02% 4,145 98.29% 4,550 98.68% 4,815 98.31% 4,945 98.66% 5,130 98.88%
Total population 6,320 100% 5,396 100% 4,448 100% 4,217 100% 4,611 100% 4,898 100% 5,012 100% 5,188 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Religion

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Fernie included:[13]

Climate

Fernie has a cool and wet

chinook winds and being to the west of the continent, Fernie's winters are mild for its latitude in North America
, although the climate is a lot more continental than coastal British Columbia.

Climate data for Fernie
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.0
(59.0) 		15.5
(59.9) 		21.0
(69.8) 		28.9
(84.0) 		33.0
(91.4) 		36.1
(97.0) 		36.0
(96.8) 		36.0
(96.8) 		33.0
(91.4) 		28.0
(82.4) 		18.3
(64.9) 		12.5
(54.5) 		36.1
(97.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.7
(30.7) 		1.6
(34.9) 		6.5
(43.7) 		11.9
(53.4) 		16.9
(62.4) 		20.6
(69.1) 		25.1
(77.2) 		25.1
(77.2) 		19.3
(66.7) 		11.6
(52.9) 		2.9
(37.2) 		−1.9
(28.6) 		11.6
(52.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.2
(22.6) 		−3.8
(25.2) 		0.8
(33.4) 		5.4
(41.7) 		9.9
(49.8) 		13.6
(56.5) 		16.8
(62.2) 		16.3
(61.3) 		11.3
(52.3) 		5.5
(41.9) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		−6.1
(21.0) 		5.3
(41.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −9.6
(14.7) 		−9.2
(15.4) 		−4.9
(23.2) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		2.8
(37.0) 		6.6
(43.9) 		8.4
(47.1) 		7.4
(45.3) 		3.3
(37.9) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		−5.0
(23.0) 		−10.1
(13.8) 		−1.0
(30.2)
Record low °C (°F) −39.4
(−38.9) 		−40.0
(−40.0) 		−32.8
(−27.0) 		−20.0
(−4.0) 		−11.0
(12.2) 		−2.2
(28.0) 		0.0
(32.0) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		−18.3
(−0.9) 		−24.4
(−11.9) 		−32.2
(−26.0) 		−41.7
(−43.1) 		−41.7
(−43.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 139.3
(5.48) 		88.0
(3.46) 		97.8
(3.85) 		92.8
(3.65) 		91.8
(3.61) 		110.0
(4.33) 		67.0
(2.64) 		51.9
(2.04) 		75.8
(2.98) 		115.7
(4.56) 		179.1
(7.05) 		117.7
(4.63) 		1,227.1
(48.31)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 55.8
(2.20) 		41.5
(1.63) 		60.6
(2.39) 		80.0
(3.15) 		88.8
(3.50) 		109.8
(4.32) 		67.0
(2.64) 		51.9
(2.04) 		75.4
(2.97) 		109.4
(4.31) 		123.0
(4.84) 		39.0
(1.54) 		902.2
(35.52)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 83.5
(32.9) 		46.4
(18.3) 		37.2
(14.6) 		12.9
(5.1) 		3.1
(1.2) 		0.2
(0.1) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.4
(0.2) 		6.4
(2.5) 		56.2
(22.1) 		78.7
(31.0) 		324.9
(127.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 15.0 11.0 12.8 12.5 14.5 16.1 10.0 9.2 9.2 12.5 15.0 13.3 151.0
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 4.9 4.4 8.6 11.2 14.2 16.1 10.0 9.2 9.2 11.7 9.2 3.6 112.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 12.0 8.2 6.4 2.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.6 7.7 11.4 50.7
Source: [24]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

  1. ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Fernie, City [Census subdivision], British Columbia and Alberta [Province]". 8 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census - East Kootenay A, Regional district electoral area [Census subdivision], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]". 8 February 2017.
  3. ISBN 0-7748-0636-2
  4. ^ ""Fernie BC Coal Mine Explosion May 1902"". Archived from the original on 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  5. ^ "Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars, Library and Archives Canada". 11 June 2014.
  6. ^ "7 Bodies Found after Canadian Avalanches". CNN. 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  7. ^ "B.C. ice rink where 3 people died remains closed due to safety concerns | CBC News".
  8. ^ "Fernie rink still closed as RCMP investigation continues into deaths of three men".
  9. ^ "Calgary company chosen to replace refrigeration plant at Fernie arena". Calgary. 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  10. ^ "Carte des écoles Archived 2015-08-17 at the Wayback Machine." Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique. Retrieved on 22 January 2015.
  11. ^ Home page. L’école Sophie-Morigeau.
  12. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  14. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  15. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  16. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  17. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-04). "Electronic Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-03-29). "1991 Census Area Profiles Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  20. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-03-29). "Data tables, 1991 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (24), Showing Single and Multiple Origins (2) - Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  21. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-27). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part A". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  22. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-27). "Data tables, 1986 Census Census Profile for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 Census - Part B". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  23. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "Canada's aboriginal population by census subdivisions from the 1986 Census of Canada". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  24. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data". Environment Canada. 25 September 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2016.

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1920 Encyclopedia Americana article Fernie.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fernie,_British_Columbia&oldid=1208942275"