BUSINESS WALK

Business voice in 2025

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2025 Business Walk!

Your insights were invaluable in helping us gain a deeper understanding of how businesses are doing, the challenges you’re facing and ways we can support you best.

Thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time and helped capture the voices of Fernie’s business community.

Review the report findings or watch the presentation recording to learn more

Read the Business Walk Report
Business Walk Appendix

This Business Walk was conducted with the help of grant funding from Community Futures East Kootenay.

Reach out to members@ferniechamber.com with any questions or for more information

WHAT IS A BUSINESS WALK?

It’s an informal, 10–15 minute, visit to ask every Fernie business a few simple questions about how your business is doing.

The goal is to better understand your current challenges and successes so we, as your Chamber and community partners, can better support you.

These visits will help us:

  • Identify current challenges and opportunities in the business community
  • Strengthen relationships between business owners and local decision-makers
  • Share information about programs and resources
  • Track the overall health of Fernie’s business climate

No appointment needed – just a friendly drop-in with local volunteers.

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How It Works

Timeline

July 10 – Mid September   Various dates from 10 AM – 4 PM 

Mid October    Special BBB took place at Ski Base to share the findings of the walk

Locations

We are planning on visiting all the different areas of Fernie. 

  • Downtown
  • Highway Frontage
  • Ghostrider
  • Annex
  • West Fernie
  • Stanford / Ski Hill

Business Participation

How to participate? 

  • Walk-in informal chat: Talk with us during our visit – If we visit your business, please take a few minutes to speak with us. No appointments needed. We are coming to you.
  • Online Survey: if you are unable to talk to us when we stop by, you can express your voice online by completing our survey
  • Home-based: Please participate through the online survey

Why participate?

  • Make your voice heard
  • Share your challenges and successes
  • Help guide future Chamber and City initiatives

🌟 🌟 🌟 YOU CAN WIN: 🌟🌟🌟

Complete the survey, online or in-person and you’ll go in the draw to win:

  • 1 Year Free Fernie Chamber Membership (Core or Connect)
  • 2 x Tickets to the 2025 Fernie Business Excellence Awards

Earn 2 more entries by posting about the business walk and tagging @ferniechamber!

Online Survey

Additional Information

Please read the below information:

  • We’ll send a reminder closer to your area’s walk date.
  • If you won’t be available or need to reschedule your in-person visit, please email members@ferniechamber.com.
  • All responses are confidential and reported only in summary. If there’s a question, you’re uncomfortable with, just let us know and we’ll skip it.
  • This part of the Business Walk is for data collection only. We won’t be answering unrelated questions during the visit. The Fernie Chamber will follow up separately with anyone who requests it. This helps us gather as much input as possible while respecting your time.

A Community Driven Effort

This 2025 Business Walk was led by the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Community Futures East Kootenay.

Fernie Chamber Logo