Fernie & Elk Valley
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Fernie & Elk Valley Cultural Guide Fall 2019 ELKVALLEYCULTURE.COM | TOURISMFERNIE.COM fall 2019 | ISSUE #12 A GUIDE TO ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE IN FERNIE & THE ELK VALLEY Featured Fall Events 5-6 Culinary Notes on Fernie 7 Fernie Art Walk 9-11 Ghost Stories of Fernie, Tales from the Past 12-14 Fernie Museum 16-17 Fernie Cultural Attractions 18-19 Sparwood Walking Tour 20-21 Ktunaxa Story 22 Fernie Library 23 Fall Events Calendar 24-26 Featured Business - Soco Soaps 27 Arts Station 28-29 Featured Artist – Shannon Parnall 31 Industrial Heritage – Mine Rescue Competition 32-33 Fernie Walking Tour 34 Featured Winter Events 35 View the Cultural Guide content and past issues online at ElkValleyCulture.com While in Fernie be sure to pick up a copy of the latest Fernie FIX Magazine for more details on what’s happening in Fernie and local stories. Cover Image Painting: Growing Strong by Mimi Sahlstrom Mimi Sahlstrom is based in the Elk Valley, but is originally from Stockholm, Sweden, where she completed a BA with a Major in the History of Art in 2000. She is a visual storyteller, crafting romantic landscapes and portraits with magical realism. facebook.com/MimiSahlstrom/ tourismfernie.com #ferniestoke The Communities of the Elk Valley In the heart of the majestic Canadian SPARWOOD lies in the middle of Rocky Mountains, the Elk Valley is a the valley and is the first community hidden oasis of verdant landscapes, reached on entering from Alberta. The charming towns and abundant town’s name is derived from the local recreation. For over 100 years, trees that were used for manufacturing pioneers have travelled to the region, spars for ocean vessels. The town first in search of valuable minerals, and was founded as a new home for the now seeking a sanctuary focused on residents of the temporary communities family, community and the beautiful of Michel and Natal. Several art murals outdoors. Mining still forms the base can be seen here, depicting the strong 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 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 Claris Media. Images by Vince Mo, Raven Eye Photography, Jikke Gyorki, Sparwood Chamber, Sparwood Museum, Fernie Museum, , Matt Kuhn, Kyle Hamilton, Disrict of Elkford, Joni Laberge, Cryptic Hive, Fernie Alpine Resort, Nancy Stevenson. Photo Credit: Vince Mo Vince Credit: Photo Stop by the Elkford, Sparwood and Fernie Visitor Centres to learn more about these areas! Elkford, Fernie, and Sparwood Visitor Elkford Information Centres A L BER (VIC) are part of the BC T 45 A Visitor Centre Network. 95 Visitor Counsellors are Sparwood TO CALGAR Y > ready to tell you about the 3 local must-sees, where to Cranbrook stay, where to eat, where Fernie 3 L A to hike, where to bike, KE KK what to try and more. Stop O CANUSA by any one of the three Elk 93 Valley Visitor Centres for U.S.A personalized assistance. ELKFORD VIC PH: 250-865-4015 750 Fording Drive HOURS: Sept–June: Mon–Sat, 9am–5pm SPARWOOD VIC PH: 250-425-2423 141 Aspen Drive HOURS: Sept 2-Oct 14: Mon-Sun, 9am-4pm Holidays: 10am-3pm Oct 15-Dec 22: Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm, Closed Holidays FERNIE VIC PH: 778-519-0748 102 Commerce Road HOURS: Sept 4-Dec 2: Mon-Fri, 9:30am–5pm featured Fall events For more details visit ElkValleyCulture.com/Events FEST IS BEST! The Elk Valley pulls out all the stops with a month (and more!) of festivals celebrating the arts, music, cuisine, heritage, culture, diversity, harvest, community and friendship. From the vibrant jewel-tones of the fall foliage in mid-September through to snowfall at the end of October, these festivals show our corner of BC at its very best. Schedules and locations may vary – see individual websites for full details and updates. For full calendar of events, please see P24. FERNIE CHAUTAUQUA & FALL FAIR THURSDAY 19TH – SUNDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER An annual celebration in the heart of Historic Downtown Fernie including interactive events, exceptional live music, children’s activities, heritage connections and culinary highlights. SPARWOOD FALL FOOD FAIR Explore Fernie with historical guided FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH walking tours, Community Picnic BBQ & Dance, Heritage and Art on Taste the season! Some of the best food the Lawn, Heritage Doors Open, Art trucks from around the region will be After Dark Gallery & Culinary tour, the serving up a variety of cuisine from 11am Sunday Fall Fair and the annual Cultural until 8pm, with refreshment garden and Dinner. live music. ferniechautauqua.com | wildsight.ca/ Sparwood Chamber of Commerce events/ferniefallfair. Tickets available 141A Aspen Drive Sparwood online – many events are free! 250-425-2423 ferniechautauqua | #ferniechautauqua sparwoodchamber 5 painting at the Royal. Events kick off with the Flag Raising & Reception at City Hall with plenty for all ages to enjoy throughout the week. ferniepride.ca/elk-valley-pride-festival /ferniepride | /fernie_pride_society | @fernie_pride_society #ferniepride SPOOKWOOD! THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31ST Sparwood’s spookiest night of the year! GILLBILLY Put on your scariest outfit and scare up FRIDAY 27TH – SUNDAY 29TH a scream or two at the haunted house SEPTEMBER (kid-friendly version also available). A weekend of old-time music, feasting, There will be activity stations, caramel jamming and fly fishing hosted by the apples & treats, headless horseman The Old Type Music Society. Not & stilt-walker and a scarecrow interested in fishing? Bike, hike or competition. enjoy historic downtown Fernie for this Sparwood Chamber of Commerce weekend of fun in the fall. Headline 141A Aspen Drive Sparwood Performance from Del Barber. 250-425-2423 | /sparwoodchamber oldtypemusic.com/gillbilly /Oldtypemusicsociety. New Pricing! Weekend Passes: $50 earlybird, $60 regular. ELKFORD HOME ROUTES/ CHEMIN CHEZ NOUS Enjoy a series of intimate performances ELK VALLEY PRIDE FESTIVAL featuring French and English-speaking TUESDAY 9TH – SUNDAY 14TH musicians from around North America OCTOBER right here in the heart of the Canadian A unique mountain experience Rockies. The season kicks off with embracing our diversity! 6 days and Charlie A’Court from Nova Scotia on nights of friendship and connections October 25th and Quote the Raven hosted by the Fernie Pride Society. A from Newfoundland on November festival for, about, and with the local 20th. Dates continue in 2020. and visiting LGBTQ2 community and Homeroutes.ca | Mountain Meadows their allies. Meet and party with Drag Golf Club | 815 Hwy #43 Royalty and LGBTQ author Nancy Jo /homeroutes Cullen, spend a day enjoying biking, hiking, yoga and crafts at Pride Central For tickets and further information, and take in the glitter party and body please contact Cindy Hesje 250-425-5989 6 CULINARY NOTES ON FERNIE A TASTE OF THE ELEMENTS Warm, dry fall evenings are perfect for enjoying patio time as the sinking sun paints the sky in stripes of mandarin, rose and lavender. Taste the sunset when you sample the cocktails at Cirque, Island Lake or Fernie Distillers, where handcrafted spirits are carefully concocted with fruits dried in-house and fresh foraged herbs. For Fernie’s only rooftop patio experience head to The Curry Bowl for delicately spiced satay and Pad Thai, or after a day on the river, the Bridge Bistro is the place to be for fish and chips and a pint of FBC beer. In Historic Downtown Fernie, streetside patios remain on 2nd until Mid-October, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy them before winter arrives, or settle in beneath infra-red heaters at the garden patio at Nevados and be transported to Latin America with a house specialty Uno Mas Margarita. If you just can’t wait for winter, meet Fernie’s newest locals at Kodiak Lounge and soak up the excitement for snow! POSTPONED TILL SPRING 2020 The creative minds at Cryptic Hive mark the change in the seasons with an evening of hyper-sensory dinner theatre. From the moment you arrive at the Annex Park location you’ll be immersed in an experience designed to stimulate the senses based on the 5 elements of Fire, Air, Water, Earth and Spirit. Costumed oracles will guide guests through the forest to the 20-metre geodesic dome, fully video mapped by Beama Visuals. Within the tastes will include curated cocktails dome, every aspect will contribute to from master mixologists and tapas- the elemental story including aerial style dining from some of Fernie’s best acrobatics from Circus Acts Insomniacs current and former culinary wizards. and visual theatrics from Made in Full details including tiered pricing to Alchemy, sound from Melo.nade and be announced, visit fb/cryptichive. costumes from BellaV.