Fernie Fix News

Welcome to the premier hub for Fernie news, culture, and community stories. Here, you will find an expansive collection of articles capturing the unique spirit of the Elk Valley—from deep dives into local history and mountain recreation guides to health tips, business spotlights, and arts coverage. Whether you are keeping up with local initiatives by the Columbia Basin Trust or looking for the ultimate Kids’ Guide to Summer, our curated features connect you directly to the people and places that make Fernie, BC so extraordinary.

Elk Valley Community Volunteers Remove 943 lbs from the Local Watershed

Submitted by Fix on October 14, 2026.

This year, 631 volunteers came out across the Elk Valley for the Elk River Alliance’s (ERA) annual shoreline cleanup, removing 6,156 pieces of garbage from the watershed. For the first time, ERA weighed everything collected, totalling 943 lbs of trash. Think the weight of a grand piano; that’s a lot...

Ugly and Proud

Submitted by Brina Schenk on October 14, 2026.

When someone finds out I’m an artist, I often hear about their own experiences with art. Most people talk about only being able to draw stick figures—I hear that the most—but then there are those who have either given up their creative outlets or feel overwhelmed in starting again. The truth is, as...

Happy Fishing

Submitted by Shelby Knudsen on October 11, 2026.

As I mentioned in last month’s musings, my oldest daughter is graduating from high school this year, and a chronic unease has settled into my bones. Not only because the next step is the fleeing of the nest—although that’s a big part of it—but also because this poor kid is losing sleep over fast...

Obsession

Submitted by Andrew Vallance on October 7, 2026.

Some years ago I wrote a review for The Whale. It is a dark, depressing movie which, while technically superb, gives a cynical view of humanity and asks its audience to watch for almost two hours as an incurably decent character is not only tortured by his inner demons, but is also mistreated by...

Coast's Creatures October 2026

Submitted by Erich Stoffels on October 7, 2026.

Fish Lake - Lure Larch, South Country. Terry Nelson photo

Fish Lake Circumnavigation

Submitted by Terry Nelson on October 5, 2026.

Western Larch - “Lure Larch” Larix occidentalis 900+ years old Diameter = 1.51 m Height = 38.9 m (broken top) Crown = 11.0 m As with most big tree seeking adventures, a bit of getting lost, driving around on roads with no idea where they go, and then finding hidden treasures seems to be a common...

The Winter Arc – Silly Name for a Great Idea

Submitted by Meredith Root on September 30, 2026.

There are very few social media fitness or health trends that are worth exploring. In general, social media – which is essentially an extension of conventional media - is filled with anti-science advice, quick fixes, and promises that sound too good to be true. But there is one that caught my eye a...

Shaw Nielsen

Submitted by Fix on September 30, 2026.

I am a Fernie based illustrator and aspiring ski bum. I draw a lot of maps and also create illustrations for magazines, universities, advertising, food packaging, murals and books. My illustrations are usually silly and whimsical, but I also draw more serious conceptual illustrations for newspapers...

2026 Municipal Election

Submitted by Fix on September 25, 2026.

According to Civic Info BC, voter turnout was 54.59% in our last municipal election in 2022... which according to statistics, is higher than average, but I really think we can do better! What a privilege it is to vote and to have a say in what happens in our community. To be able to attend meetings...