Janet Kuijt

Janet Kuijt is one of Fernie’s first transients, arriving in 1991 alongside the first Australian ski bums to grace our slopes. Like so many that visit this valley, she came for the winter, enjoyed it so much decided to experience one summer…and never left. She worked for the Fernie Snow Valley Ski School, and has taught various courses through the College of the Rockies over the years (tourism, computer courses, Spanish), originally intending on training to be an interpreter for the United Nations. Living in Fernie made her realize that she wanted to “live life” rather than repeat what someone else has already said. “Fernie is a really great place for living life. It has a really nice balance of working hard and playing hard,” she says with a smile. She decided to finish off her education and became a teacher.

Janet is now going into her third year teaching at Fernie Secondary School, which she has thoroughly enjoyed. Previously her involvement has been tourism based. “I remember putting on the first mountain bike race ever, the Griz Growler.” She laughs as she explains a jump they added at the bottom going into the little pond next to the Griz Inn. “Tourism is very fun, but through the Leadership Program and the ‘luck’ of getting a job at the high school I get to see our future – the kids, their thoughts and energy…they’re trying to figure out and champion their own future which will affect us. It’s really optimistic, fun and positive. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be involved with this group of students,” she adds.

Janet is the teacher sponsor of the Leadership Program at FSS. “Really leadership is an idea coming from the students and involves the causes and projects they want to champion,” she says. “It’s a pretty unique thing and survives purely on the energy of the students. It’s open and always current, highlighting what’s important to them now. It’s been really fun!’

While this program allows students to be involved in the community, it also provides an opportunity for the community to understand, listen and learn from the next generation. Their initiatives create awareness, inspire change and promote participation. A great example is the yearly Trash Bash, happening this April around Earth Day.

Janet and her husband Steve are known for their environmental stewardship, but when asked she is quite modest. “We’re fairly green,” she says. “We put our garbage out every week with an aim to have only one bag of garbage, most of our composting goes to our chickens, we attempt to grow a garden in the summer time (it’s very shady), and do a lot of recycling.”

“But maybe it’s not so much us as it is being a part of Fernie. There is a huge amount of family clothing and equipment recycling. We probably didn’t spend any money on our kids in the first five years due to swapping with other families. It has always amazed me - you can live so inexpensively but live so richly. Rich connections, adventures, etc. Entertainment as well…hiking, biking, canoeing, swimming. We can have such a small impact in Fernie. And we talk with the girls when it’s better to drive the bus or bike to school. All of the little things add up!”

And Janet is right. It’s simple and perhaps easier in Fernie, so why not go green in 2010?

1. When did you arrive in Fernie and what brought you here? I came in the fall of 1991, and after traveling around the world I realized that I wanted to see what it was like in different parts of Canada. Being a ski bum, I wanted to go somewhere with bigger mountains and better snow than Thunder Bay. Fernie was the place. After the winter it was so beautiful I tried one summer, and I’ve been here ever since.

2. Where did you first live in Fernie? I shared a house on Ridemont Lane with four farm boys from Carmen, Manitoba. (Minnow, Eric the ski tech, Rusty the cat driver and Mike.)

3. What was your first impression? The authenticity and friendliness of the residents. My first week here I met Fred, the butcher at Overwaitea and had told him about a job interview with the ski school. The next day someone kept yelling my name from across the street, but not knowing anyone in town I just kept walking. Finally after the third call I turned around and there was Fred, asking how the job interview went. I gave him a thumbs up and he replied, “Great, I’ll see you around!”

4. What keeps you in Fernie? The beauty of the people, the valley, and the adventures we all participate in just outside our front door.

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory? They probably all revolve around being outside or skiing powder with my husband, with Sue Boyd in the Powder 8’s, or this year ski touring with our daughters pre-season.

6. What is your favourite time of the year in Fernie and why? Any Fernie powder day because everyone is just so happy!

7. Where do you see Fernie in 5 to 10 years? I truly believe still setting the bar as the top town to live in world wide. People really care and are really passionate, so it will always be a top town – somewhere people visit and wish they could live.

8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals? An early morning run with my dog and friends and late night storybook reading with my family.

9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. I’m really, really lucky – (it double as a good mantra too!)

Quote to live by: Our small and daily gests of kindness will make the world of difference.