Resources

The Fernie Chamber strives to provide members and potential members with key resources to support them and their business’s success.

Running a business in Fernie requires a valid business licence from the City of Fernie.  Check out their website to review the Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw and complete the Business License Application.  There are also inter-municipal business licenses available to operate in neighbouring communities Sparwood and Elkford.

Small Business BC helps British Columbia’s entrepreneurs grow successful and sustainable businesses through expert business advisors, educational services, easy-to-use free resources and engaging community events.  They also provide practical business seminars and online education to develop your business skills and strategy to run a successful business.

Led by a volunteer Board of Directors and a dedicated staff, Community Futures East Kootenay (CFEK) helps to foster strong, resilient local economies. CFEK promotes economic development and the creation of jobs and wealth in our region by providing small-business loans for start-up, expansion or the purchase of existing businesses.  In addition to financial support, CFEK offers a variety of business-related services, including knowledgeable, professional business consultation and access to training for entrepreneurs and their employees.

The Basin Business Advisors Program (BBA) supports and inspires entrepreneurship and builds economic capacity in Columbia Basin communities (like Fernie) by strengthening and supporting existing businesses and agriculture producers.  They provide free, one-to-one, confidential business advisement and assessment services to commercialized businesses assisting in creating and sustaining jobs and/or bringing wealth into the Columbia Basin region.

The Women’s Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organization devoted to helping BC women start, lead and grow their own business.  We provide business loans up to $150K, with access to an additional $100K through a partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

Finance, Insurance & Legal Services

Check out our Business Directory here.

Tourism Fernie was established as a non-profit society in November 2007, with the purpose of executing effective tourism marketing, programs and projects that increase local tourism revenue, visitation and economic benefits for Fernie and surrounding area.  #FernieStoke

Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s tourism industry through a combination of global marketing, destination development, industry learning, cooperative community-based programs, and visitor servicing. Destination BC receives approximately $52 million each year, out of a Provincial investment of about $140 million in BC’s tourism ecosystem as a whole. These investments help to improve the visitor experience, support businesses and communities, and strengthen BC’s worldwide reputation as a destination of choice.

Kootenay Rockies Tourism (KRT) is one of BC’s five official Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMO) and is under contract as a representative of Destination BC (DBC), the Provincial Destination Management Organization (PDMO). KRT has operated since 1978 and represents over 700 tourism businesses and operators. This includes resorts, accommodation properties, wellness retreats, golf, ski, adventure, communities, retail, food & beverage, transportation, arts & culture and attractions.

Since 1925, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has connected businesses of all sizes, from all sectors and from all regions of the country to advocate for public policies that will foster a strong, competitive economic environment that benefits businesses, communities and families across Canada.

Fernie 2020 Community Profile Report.

The Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute, at Selkirk College, is a regional research centre with a mandate to support informed decision-making by Columbia Basin-Boundary communities through the provision of information, applied research and related outreach and extension support.

Established in the mid-1960’s, regional districts were created to meet service needs for the rural areas and to partner with municipalities within their boundaries on the provision of services that are more regional in nature.  The Regional District of East Kootenay Area A surrounds the municipal boundary of the City of Fernie.

Ktunaxa (pronounced ‘k-too-nah-ha’) people have occupied the lands adjacent to the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers and the Arrow Lakes of British Columbia, Canada for more than 10,000 years.  The Traditional Territory of the Ktunaxa Nation covers approximately 70,000 square kilometres (27,000 square miles) within the Kootenay region of south-eastern British Columbia (including Fernie) and historically included parts of Alberta, Montana, Washington and Idaho.

Fernie Alpine Resort is home to 142 ski runs in 5 alpine bowls set across 2,500 acres in the dramatic Lizard Range – less than a 10 minute drive from downtown Fernie.  The resort offers world-class skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and hiking and mountain biking in the summer.

Set across 7,000 acres of pristine wilderness on the outskirts of Fernie, Island Lake Lodge is a special place deeply rooted in the local history of the Elk Valley and home to 800-year-old Cedar, Spruce & Douglas Fir Trees.  Island Lake Lodge offers outstanding accommodations, dining, a day spa, cat skiing in the winter, and hiking in the summer.

Interior Health is a regional health authority in British Columbia.  It is one of the five publicly-funded regional health authorities, serving the southern interior region of BC – including the Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie.

The Fernie Arts Station operates out of the original site of the Canadian Pacific Rail train station at 601 1st Avenue, Fernie that was built in 1908.  The facility is operated by the Fernie & District Arts Council who aim to provide a variety of opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in, and appreciate the value of, arts and cultural activities.

The Fernie Museum promotes the living landscapes and cultures of Fernie and the Elk Valley-Crowsnest Pass region through the museum and archives’ feature exhibitions, permanent collections, public programming and community engagement.  It is governed by the Fernie and District Historical Society; the Society was founded in 1964, was incorporated in 1976 and has Canadian charitable status.  Located at 491 2nd Avenue in downtown Fernie, BC.

The Fernie Heritage Library is Fernie’s hub for literary and literacy activities.  The library is housed in the magnificently restored historic post office building, originally built in 1909 – located at 492 3rd Avenue, Fernie, BC.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce established the Canadian Business Resilience Network to bring together its vast network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, and over 100 of Canada’s leading business and industry associations, including the Business Council of Canada, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and the Retail Council of Canada, to help the business community prepare, persevere and ultimately, prosper as we collectively face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contact tracing – an important tool to help diagnose people who may have COVID-19 sooner and prevent the virus from spreading in your community.

Self Isolation – When you self-isolate, you stay home and avoid contact with other people. This important step helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits can provide you with up to 15 weeks of financial assistance if you cannot work for medical reasons.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) – As a Canadian employer who has seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your employee wages, retroactive to March 15, 2020.

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) – Canadian businessesnon-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021.

  • Mental well-being during COVID-19

WorkBC helps people find jobs, explore career options and improve their skills. We also help employers fill jobs, find the right talent and grow their businesses.

Work in Fernie is a workforce attraction website and job board for Fernie and area. This is a free tool for employers to use, simply create an account and start posting you job opportunities!