Fernie & Elk Valley
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Fernie & Elk Valley Cultural Guide spring-summer 2019 ELKVALLEYCULTURE.COM | TOURISMFERNIE.COM spring-summer 2019 | ISSUE #11 A GUIDE TO ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE IN FERNIE & THE ELK VALLEY Featured Spring-Summer Events 5 The Arts Station 6 Spring-Summer Cultural Events 8 Fernie Art Walk 12 Featured Artist: Marla Deboon 15 Feature Mountain Markets 17 Culinary Notes on Fernie: Chef Jay Squires 18 Fernie Museum 20 The Communities Fernie Heritage Walk 22 of the Elk Valley Fernie Heritage Library 24 The Ktunaxa 25 In the heart of the majestic Canadian SPARWOOD lies in the middle of Coal Mining in the Elk Valley 26 Rocky Mountains, the Elk Valley is a the valley and is the first community Sparwood Mural and Mine Artifacts Walking Tour 28 hidden oasis of verdant landscapes, reached on entering from Alberta. The charming towns and abundant town’s name is derived from the local Iconic Summer Photo Locations 30 recreation. For over 100 years, trees that were used for manufacturing Attractions Listings 32 pioneers have travelled to the region, spars for ocean vessels. The town Coming This Fall 34 first in search of valuable minerals, and was founded as a new home for the Bisaro Cave—Heiko's Trail 36 now seeking a sanctuary focused on residents of the temporary communities family, community and the beautiful of Michel and Natal. Several art murals View the Cultural Guide content and past issues online outdoors. Mining still forms the base can be seen here, depicting the strong at ElkValleyCulture.com of a thriving economy that has now connection to coal mining, with some diversified and welcomes a variety of by Michelle Loughery who was born Cover Image Painting By: Melanie MacVoy artisans, small businesses, and an active in the area and went on to become a year-round recreational and cultural world-renowned muralist. tourism industry. Pop: 3,784 | Founded 1966 FERNIE is the largest and oldest of the 3 main communities in the Elk At the head of the valley is ELKFORD, Valley. A town rich in heritage, award- a small town with a passionate arts winning architecture, and spectacular community. Writing, painting, scenery, Fernie charms and delights photography, and pottery are among all ages. Whether strolling century- the popular endeavours, and well- old Historic Downtown, exploring known glass artist Katherine Russell the unique geography, visiting artists has a working studio here. Elkford is and artisans or revelling in the packed the gateway to the Elk Lakes Provincial cultural calendar, there’s something for Park, a remote protected area bordering everyone to enjoy. Alberta’s Kananaskis Country. Pop: 5,249 | Founded 1898 Pop: 1,752 | Founded 1971 Incorporated 1904 Credits: Writing by Rebecca Hall. Writing, editing and layout by Jikke Gyorki. Design by Nancy Stevenson & Claris Media. Images by Vince Mo, Raven Eye Photography, Kevin McIsaac, Jikke Gyorki, Sparwood Chamber, Sparwood Museum, Fernie Museum, Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History, Matt Kuhn, Mike McPhee, Elkford Market, Mark Gallup, Kyle Hamilton, Chris Istace, Disrict of Elkford Photo Credit: Vince Mo Vince Credit: Photo 2 tourismfernie.com #ferniestoke 3 YOHO NATIONAL PARK BANFF NATIONAL 1 PARK Golden Ban 93 Calgary StopKOOTENA byY the Elkford, NATIONAL SparwoodPARK and Fernie Visitor Centres to learn more about FEATURed Spring-Summer Events For more details visit ElkValleyCulture.com/Events these areas! 2 BBQ CHEF CHALLENGE A CULTURAL WEEKEND PANORAMA SATURDAY, MAY 26 MOUNTAIN IN FERNIE RESORT 2:00 – 6:00 PM AUGUST 9-11, 2019 Elkford, Fernie, and ROCKY MOUNT STATION SQUARE, FERNIE One of the biggest arts & culture Sparwood Visitor Elkford Celebrating the taste of Fernie and weekends in the valley kicks off Information Centres ALBERT the start of the summer culinary with Wapiti Music Festival on BRITISH(VIC) are part of the BC calendar, the BBQ Chef Challenge August 9-10. Black Pistol Fire, 45 A COLUMBIAVisitor Centre Network. 95 brings together a dozen of Fernie’s Carmanah, Nuela Charles and amateur and professional chefs for a Cranbrook Country-Roots band throwdown over the grill. Each chef The Parsons will take to the stage, Visitor CounsellorsAIN are Sparwood TO CALGARY > will prepare unique dishes to sample; plus many more. ready to tell you about the try them all for the ticket price of S 3 Discover local galleries and studios local must-sees, where to $50 which includes 2 drink tickets. Cranbrook Fernie as they open their doors as part of stay, where to eat, where the Columbia Basin Cultural Tour, 3 LA to hike, where to bike, K then take in the annual Show N’ E K what to try and more. Stop KO Shine in Historic Downtown on CANUS Sunday the 11th. For kids, there’s by any one of the three Elk 93 the Griz Kidz Howl at the Moon Valley Visitor Centres for A U.S.A Campout – a fully supervised over- personalized assistance. night camping adventure at Fernie Alpine Resort on the 10th, and on MONTANA ELKFORD VIC the 11th experience Fernie’s great- IDAHO CANADA DAY WEEKEND est children’s festival Bibbity Bob- PH: 250-865-4015 JUNE 28 – JULY 1, 2019 750 Fording Drive bity Boo at Rotary Park – a carnival HOURS: Wildcat Days in Elkford June 28 of colour, activities, music, stories, Until June 30: Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm & 29 features great family activi- bubbles and more. Fernie’s July and Aug: Daily, 9am-5pm ties, fireworks, farmer’s market, the Mountain Market happens Grass Smash Volleyball Tourna- alongside the festival. SPARWOOD VIC ment, an unveiling of glass artist PH: 250-425-2423 141 Aspen Drive Katherine Russell’s latest work HOURS: and more. Until May 16: Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm Canada Day Festival in Fernie July May 17 - Sept 2: Daily, 9am-6pm 1 features the Annual Cardboard Boat Race on Maiden Lake, live FERNIE VIC music on stage, the Fernie PH: 778-519-0748 102 Commerce Road Mountain Market and tons of fun HOURS: family events on the grounds at Until May 16: Mon-Fri, 9:30am-5pm City Hall. May 17 - Sept 2: Daily, 9:30am-5:30pm 5 The Arts Station Where Art, Culture & History Converge Wednesday Evening Outdoor Concert Series A vibrant and engaging space for the A HARDY TOWN – PERMANENT the year. Tickets can be found on international indie, roots, blues and creative community in Fernie featuring SCULPTURE Eventbrite.ca or contact the Arts more. The event is free to attend, and all disciplines of the arts for visitors In the grounds of the Arts Station, A Station for more information. there’s beverage gardens, food trucks and locals alike. The Arts Station has a Hardy Town is a permanent sculpture and a kid’s craft tent to keep everyone varied program of entertainment and Live theatre hits the stage this spring; satisfied. Limited seating, patrons are commemorating the Great Fire of One-woman play To See or Not to activities throughout the year including 1908. The work is a collaborative welcome to bring their own lawn chairs. live concerts, screenings, workshops, See; Homecoming by Ruth Bieber on effort from artist Michael Hepher April 27-28, is the intensely personal Summer Club Cre8 is regular program theatre, art shows, and creative classes and metalworker artist Paul Reimer. for all ages. story of an immigrant family in post- of creative fun for kids aged 5-12. Fun Although the devastating fire of war rural Alberta. As Bieber is blind, and interactive art projects will keep August 1908 razed the town in just the audience has the option of wearing kids occupied, with morning and/or LIVING HISTORY IN A 90 minutes, no lives were lost. The a blindfold to experience the artist’s afternoon options available. Half days HERITAGE BUILDING artwork reflects the impact the fire had world, and participants are invited back are $28 and full days are $56 per child, From 1898 to 1964, the Canadian on Fernie’s architecture and the City to watch the following day’s afternoon with sibling discounts available. See Pacific Railway station was the ordinance that followed, directing all show without blindfolds at no additional weekly calendar P.10 for dates. economic and social hub of the future construction to be of fireproof cost. The Performance includes a community. The current station material. This sculpture is a testament discussion following the show. 16+ The foyer gallery features a series building was completed in the spring to the tenacity of the people of Fernie event. Tickets $16-22 on Eventbrite. of temporary exhibitions by local of 1909 after an earlier incarnation who rose up through the ashes to artists, with free opening receptions burned down in the Great Fire of 1908. rebuild and endure, and a reflection of On May 25, MomGuilt/DadGuilt held on the last Thursday of every The CPR donated the disused building the town that fell but was not fallen. is a hilarious sketch/comedy improv month. Shows remain on display for to the City of Fernie and in 1987 the show about the wonderful, exhausting, approximately four weeks. Fernie Arts Council began the four- confusing, ridiculous world of parenting year process of moving the building presented by Cranbrook’s Comedy onto a new foundation and completely Circus Collective. Recommended for renovating the dilapidated structure. 19+ due to mature content. Doors at The former waiting room became the 7pm, Tickets $16-22 on Eventbrite. foyer gallery and every other space The hugely popular Wednesday found new life as studios, event space, Outdoor Concert Series returns every and even a restaurant. The Arts Station UPCOMING EVENTS Wednesday evening in July & August opened in 1990 as an indispensable The Arts Station is a cultural hub for from 5:30pm-9pm.