Vanessa Raber

Time was tight and dollars short this December as the Historical Society worked towards finishing the new museum space. “Our prayers were answered when this young, energetic girl approached us for her internship,” says Laura Nelson. Vanessa Raber had finished University in Germany and when her boyfriend, whom had heard a lot of great things about Fernie, decided to move here for the season she decided she would come along and complete an internship for her Sociology Degree.

“I couldn’t find anything paid, and one day I was in Freshies and started talking to Kim. She suggested calling Laura Nelson. I sent her an email and within a couple of days I was working on the Museum Project full time,” says Vanessa. The beginning of Vanessa’s internship involved long days doing jobs such as painting, sanding and cleaning. Once the renovations were complete, she spent a lot of time scanning images and updating the database. “I went through every photo and made sure data was included to accompany them…dates, locations, anything that would add to the image.”

The Historical Society was starting to feel bad about not being able to pay Vanessa. Here they had a hard working individual truly making a difference, and they didn’t have the funds to reward her. At around this time the University of Montana contacted the Historical Society regarding an oral history project with a fund of $3000. The purpose of the project is to learn about U.S./Canadian border crossing experiences of Fernie residents before and after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City. Vanessa began interviewing individuals this spring, with these accounts helping to understand how changes in border regulations and enforcement affect border communities and how Fernie community members have encountered socioeconomic opportunities and constraints in how the border operates. This project is being conducted in cooperation with a Finnish researcher, Dr. Minna Piipponen of the University of Eastern Finland, to compare border experiences of American and Canadian border residents with those of Finnish and Russian border residents. It will result in one or more academic articles about transnational borders and how they influence border communities, along with the video portion adding to the Museum’s archives.

In the short seven months Vanessa has lived in Fernie, she been exposed to elements of this community many living here for ten times that long have never encountered.

“At first I thought, oh m god there is only one business section and night time is so quiet! But as I started working at the museum and getting to know people I saw how valuable it was to live here and how amazing Fernie is,” she says.

Vanessa quickly recognized that Fernie is a special place. “People who live or have grown up here care so much about Fernie. They are willing to do whatever it takes to keep it as beautiful and as strong as it is,” she adds. “Tourism has two sides. It brings in a cultural mixture and money, but it can also ruin the identity a place holds and Fernie is holding on tightly to this.”

It’s amazing how in such a short time in our community Vanessa has grasped what’s at its essence and has come to cherish this Fernie factor as much as those that have lived, worked and played here for years. Another factor that didn’t escape Vanessa’s notice is Fernie Time. “Everything is late here! Like an appointment, project, or meeting. I’ve been trying to figure out if that’s Fernie, Canada, or just a small town.” Vanessa, it’s Fernie!

1. When did you arrive in Fernie and what brought you here? November of 2009 and my boyfriend Scott brought me here!

2. Where did you first live in Fernie? Silver Rock Condos, and we’re still living there in West Fernie. We found it on the Internet, it sounded good and the price was right.

3. What was your first impression? That it was small and quiet.

4. What keeps you in Fernie? This project I am working on, and the ability to complete my internship.

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory? Besides the beautiful sunrise from our balcony, or some amazing views from hiking or skiing, last week when we found out we could keep on working here we became aware of the fact that we had made the right the decision to come here and that Fernie was the place for us to be.

6. What is your favourite time of the year in Fernie and why? I can’t answer that question - I haven’t experienced summer yet! I’ve been told summer is the most beautiful time of the year and I’m excited for the sun and heat.

7. Where do you see Fernie in 5 to 10 years? I don’t think there will be a huge change, just from my experience with people here. They want to protect their identity and what they are. When I see a project like the Museum Project, it shows that people are working to make Fernie more beautiful and better. But it will stay the same otherwise.

8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals? Coffee and homemade granola with three different types of fruit and yogurt.

9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. Maybe for people here it would be surprising to know that one and a half years ago I wouldn’t have been able to be away from my family and friends, but now I feel as free and as happy as ever before.

Quote to live by: Change the world, it needs it!