Featured Community Events - April

Cross Country Ski Lunch, April 3
Before you put your cross country skis away for the year there is still one more even that you don't want to miss. On Saturday, April 3 the end of year fun race and lunch is happening at Island Lake Lodge. This event will include a ride up and down in a snowcat, a relay race around the lodges for kids, a race around the lake for adults, and a delicious lunch provided by Island Lake Lodge. Plus there will be prizes! The Schedule is as follows:
10:00 am snowcats leave from the parking lot to bring people up to the lodge
11:00 am kids race starts
11:30 am adults race starts
12:30 pm prizes and lunch (burger lunch provided by Island Lake Lodge - to include a child and vegetarian option).
2:00 pm snowcats depart to bring people back down to the parking lot

Costs are free for Jackrabbit kids, $35 for Nordic Society member adults, $45 for non-member adults, and $10 for non member kids. Lunch only (you're fit and you want to ski up and down instead of taking the cat) $15.

The Fernie Nordic Society hopes to see everyone there! Visit www.fernienordic.com for more information.

The Annual Mr. Fernie Competition, April 3
This popular event began at the Eldorado years ago and now takes place at the Underground, below the Brickhouse Bar & Grill. In this event, ten contestants compete for the coveted title of Mr. Fernie. There are awesome prizes for first, second and third places. Also, prizes will be given out throughout the evening for those in attendance in between performances. There’s never a dull moment, between the crowd and the performers, and each year the creativity, humour and effort out does the year prior.

No boys are allowed to enter prior to midnight. Once the competitors are done and the winner is announced, doors will open to the public. A great event you won’t want to miss, contact Paula at the Brickhouse for more details or to enter the competition. 250-423-0009, paula@thebrickhousefernie.com. Cover charge is just $5 at the door, and ladies interested in enjoying the evening must be there by 9pm.

EKCCU Community Award, April 8 and 9
Attention all EKCCU members. Cast your vote for the coveted Community Award on April 8 and 9 and support the cause that you feel is most worthy in Fernie. This is a program dedicated to community, donating $100,000 over four years. Here are this year’s finalists:

Elk Valley Hospice – They will use the funds to purchase two beds that will go in the care rooms at the Elk Valley Hospital, and enhance their grief circle or support group for people mourning the loss of a loved one. The beds will greatly increase the comfort and care for those patients, while the support group will help those left behind to move forward. With the aging population this support is more than ever.
Nelson Car Share Co-op – The group will use the funds to purchase a truck for the Fernie branch, “A Truck for Everybody”. The group sees that this will benefit the community, the environment, the City’s infrastructure, and also encourage responsible vehicle use.
Fernie Heritage Cemetery – Their plan is to create a local historical site in the cemetery and help further develop their interactive website. They will also be working on section B at the cemetery, cleaning headstones along with enhancing their website to facilitate use of the cemetery.
Fernie Mountain Bike Club – This group has developed a mountain bike skills progression park. The funds would be used to build the second phase of the park, an area for people to practice their skills in a controlled, safe environment. This will be the last final push for the cash needed to finalize the project, and they are aiming for the end of spring to have the park complete.
Fernie Museum – The Fernie & District Historical Society has been busy the last year renovating the BC Hydro building for the anticipated Museum. With these funds they will purchase four interactive touch screen displays where we can showcase Fernie’s history in new and exciting ways and maximize their space in the Museum.

For more information visit www.ekccu.com or head to EKCCU April 8 and 9 and speak to the finalists directly.

Powder, Pedal, Paddle Relay at Fernie Alpine Resort, April 10
Another local favourite – the PPP has been going strong since 1984! Teams of one to five people ski, bike, paddle and run in a fun (and sometimes quite competitive) relay race. Followed by a great dinner for all competitors and a celebratory party for competitors over the age of 19 at the Griz Bar, the PPP is a great way to end the ski season.

Registration and rules are available at www.skifernie.com. There is always an abundance of prizes, even for categories such as Creative Team Name and Best Costume. Come out for fun and experience the variety of recreational opportunities available in Fernie.

Initiation into the Medicine of the Four Sacred Elements, April 16-18
RAW, a Retreat and Wellness Centre in Fernie, is hosting this retreat among others this spring. This will be a life enhancing, deeply personal experience based in honoring the Mother Earth, learning and practicing prayer with and for the Mother, learning to deepen your connection with and understanding of the natural elements, and more in depth exploration of simple truths.

Experience and feel the most powerful healing benefits of the earth energy including the fire, air and water. This is the sacred medicine of the four elements of life on earth and is about giving back, serving, praying, helping and receiving all for the future of our children and the Mother Earth. The Retreat includes three traditional sweat lodge ceremonies with Sandro, a Traditional Mayan Sweat Lodge leader from Mexico. Beginning Friday afternoon