Page 1 Resort Municipality Initiative Annual Report 2016 Submitted by City of Fernie July 30, 2017 Page | 1 1. Project Progress 1.1. Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) Context The City of Fernie has participated in the RMI program since 2009. The RMI program has spanned two terms: Term One: 2007 to 2011 and Term Two: 2012 to 2016. In 2015, the RMI program was extended by one year to December 31, 2017. As such, each RMI community revised their Resort Development Strategy (RDS), which identifies the community’s vision, goals, and projects in support of RMI program objectives for the 2015-2017 term. 1.2. Resort Development Strategy Vision The community’s RDS Vision is: “Fernie is a world class destination that draws new and returning visitors, that encourages visitors to stay longer and spend more, and that provides tourism services and infrastructure which reflect the cultural, recreational, environmental and economic values of the community.” 1.3. Resort Development Strategy (RDS) Goals The table below lists the City of Fernie’s 2015-2017 RDS goals. The table gives a high-level understanding of the progress of RDS goals. Resort Development Progress on Resort Development Strategy Goals Strategy Goals No Change Some Progress Extensive Goal Achieved Progress 1. Increase visitor traffic in Fernie’s historic downtown; X 2. Increase commercial accommodation overnight X stays and revenue; 3. Increase number of events and festivals; X 4. Increase local tourism economy; X 5. Increase private investment; X 6. Expand recreational opportunities and accessibility for a wider X demographic; 7. Increase visitor traffic from the business and professional X sectors; 8. Improve recreational infrastructure and services; X 9. Improve visitor infrastructure and services. X Page | 1 1.4. Project Details The following section describes progress on the individual projects in greater detail. The financial breakdown for the projects can be found in Appendix 1. Project Term Revised 2015-17 RDS Project Title Festival & Event Development Project description Events were developed and facilitated through partnerships with the Fernie & District Arts Council, Fernie & District Historical Society, the Fernie Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations with a target of six to eight sustainable tourism related events annually. RMI funding was also available on an application basis to allow Fernie and area to be responsive to new opportunities that have the potential to build our resort economy. It is anticipated that RMI funding provided through this project will be leveraged by the recipient to take advantage of emerging opportunities. RMI funds may also be allocated to invest in festival and event infrastructure if deemed beneficial in achieving project goals. Project rationale This project will support tourism related initiatives and objectives identified in the 2010 Cultural and Heritage Tourism Strategy and will allow for existing events to be further developed and new event/festival opportunities to be implemented. Applications for events are evaluated by the Resort Development Strategy Advisory Working Group who make recommendations to Council for their consideration of approval. Project status Underway Milestones Actual Start Date 2016/17 Completion Date 2016/17 Operational Date or other Major Milestones Project activities for VICTORIA AVENUE SUMMER SOCIALS This year we continued with 2015’s format to the the reporting year socials. Each of the four Sundays, had a theme which supported the organizations invited out as well as the activities on the street. This in-turn made the streets lively, full of action and benefited a local non-profit by way of fundraising BBQ. We brought back the bouncy castle, giant chess, checkers, horseshoe, ladder ball, and bean bag toss. Additions were badminton and giant dominos. These items along with music, fundraising BBQ and other activities kept people on the street throughout the day. WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES The Arts Station sponsored 7 concerts as part of the Wednesday Night Concert Series. Internationally recognized band, The Cave Singers played to a crowd of over 600 people. Other groups such as the Po’ Rambling Boys, The Raven & the Fox, and the Sealegs turned out equally impressive crowds. The Wednesday Night Concert Series has proven to be a summer staple event to both the tourists passing through and the community. Stakeholder Victoria Avenue Summer Initiatives Committee (comprised of six community/business Involvement stakeholders) met every two weeks from May to August organizing the events. Page | 2 The Wednesday Concert Series and Craft Fair series had a volunteer committee of three work in conjunction with the Arts Station. Project Outcomes to Sunday Socials: date July 10 – Artsy Fartsy 200-220 Head count between 1:30pm and 3:30pm (Overnight Stays: 1 night (4); 2-6 nights (10); 7 or more nights (12) July 17 – Sports Day 100-150 (Overnight Stays: 1 night (2); 2-6 nights (2); 7 or more nights (4) July 31 – Wapiti Pre-Party 75-125 (Overnight Stays: 1 night (2); 2-6 nights (7); 7 or more nights (7) Aug 14 – Show & Shine 225-300 (Overnight Stays: 1 night (1); 2-6 nights (0); 7 or more nights (1) The Chamber conducted a participant survey the results of which supported the event. Wednesday Socials The 5th Annual Sunday Socials were a success. The event appeared to draw larger crowds than last year and more organizations wanted to become involved. and Patios were full and lively, businesses such as Elevation, Polar Peek, The Northern and Edge of the World noted being busy with customers. Average attendance was 150 people and 1,350 people served over the summer Communication Advertised in Fernie Fix, Chamber On Line Event Calendar, Local Papers, Tourism Fernie and Activities social media accounts. Project activities for FERNIE 3 ALL-MOUNTAIN STAGE RACE is a three-day classic mountain bike stage race held the reporting year on Fernie’s single-track bike trails organized by the Fernie TransRockies Society. The event schedule included: Day one, Saturday June 27th, the three- and one-day solo, and U13 and U16 races were staged from The Cedars where riders raced on trails at Fernie Mountain Park, Fernie Alpine Resort and Island Lake Lodge. On day two, Sunday June 28th, the event moved to the Fernie Aquatic Centre where bikers enjoyed the Castle Mountain and Ridgemont trails. Day two also featured the popular Kids’ Bike Rally. This event is in its ninth year and was free for kids aged three to nine. On day three, Monday June 29th, the event continued for the three-day soloists at the Fernie Aquatic Centre where riders rode the Montane and Ridgemont trails. The Fernie Aquatic Centre proved to be a great venue, eliminating vehicle and train traffic concerns, while enhancing business in the Downtown. Stakeholder The Fernie 3 event was organized by the nonprofit TransRockies Society with participation Involvement from local bike organizations, businesses and Tourism Fernie. Project outcomes to Demographics date Total Participants: 326 riders Event No. of Riders Fernie 3 166 Women Open 17 Page | 3 Women 40+ 5 Men 50+ 24 Men 40+ 46 Men Open 54 Youth U13 14 Youth U16 5 Markets Percent of total riders No. of riders Fernie 12.5% 21 British Columbia 12% 20 Alberta 65% 108 Saskatchewan 5.4% 9 Montana 3% 5 Idaho 1.2% 2 England .6 1 Participant Survey Feedback (Partial) How was your Fernie 3 overall experience? Excellent 69% Good 24% Poor 7% How was the value of the Fernie 3? Excellent 50% Good 38% Poor 12% Will you be returning next year? Yes 44% No 6% Don’t know 50% Survey Comments Course marking was very good, start/finish setups were great with fruit, water, free beer, food truck, announcer; courses were excellent, live timing=world-class, final banquet was perfect. Really appreciated the on-sight mechanic! Suggest adding in Phat Bastard - Red Sonja - Mt Proctor trails once the bridge over Fairy Creek is built by the FTA. Also, worthy of consideration is bringing back Project 9. Loved the BEER! Need more Food trucks (I know they were all in Elkford this year) It was great. I wish there was more gnarly descending on all three days. Trails chosen were too difficult - similar to last year. Page | 4 More food trucks, ice cream and cold drinks at the finish of stages. Really enjoyed the beer garden!! Great Event! Day 3 could have been a bit longer. We’ll keep coming! Communication The Fernie 3 website was integrated with Fernie.com, Fernie’s highest traffic website, to Activities ensure the highest possible online presence. Fernie.com news features, newsletters, and Facebook and twitter feeds were leveraged each month to spread event news and results. Fernie 3 Facebook page with 1263 likes was used to Like sponsor pages, event news and results. Page | 5 Pedal, Canada’s Cycling Magazine, ran a post event feature on the Fernie 3. Riders were provided with a racer package published by the Free Press and 5000 copies were inserted and distributed throughout the Elk Valley. Mountain Biking BC, a Tourism BC website, featured the Fernie 3 in their events schedule. Tourism Fernie featured the Fernie 3 in their events schedule. Project activities for GRIZ DAYS took place March 4-6, 2016. The festival featured events all across town and at the reporting year Fernie Alpine Resort. Joining old favorite events like the Extreme Griz and Dummy Downhill were new events like Griz Pub Crawl and Ski with Griz. Griz Days also launched a website this year - www.ferniegrizdays.com and started a magazine that went out three weeks prior to the event which contributed to better event attendance all weekend. Page | 6 Stakeholder GRIZ DAYS PLANNING COMMITTEE Involvement Martin Brock Geof Hare Sharon Switzer Sheila Byers Andrea Horton Karen Tse Vanessa Croome Merrin Ozols Stacey-Ann Jones Cla Aysha Haines Jeni Pearson Renné Hooper Rebecca Hall Sydney Salvador Patty Vadnais Griz Days is a community wide event.