With the signing of a 25 year lease with the City of Fernie, in February 09, the BC Hydro building is officially in the care of the Fernie & District Historical Society. This distinctive heritage treasure in the heart of the historic center of town is the perfect place for Fernie's new Museum & Information Centre. A vibrant addition to Victoria Avenue's attractions, it will help to ensure our downtown continues to be the centre for business, arts and culture in our community.
Check out updates on the progress of the Fernie Museum Project here.
Check out a photo gallery of the renovations progress here.
The restoration and renovation of this building for a permanent museum is "The Fernie Museum Project". Some of the most exciting aspects of this project are for enhanced programming, services and exhibits. The project will create gallery space suitable for local, regional, and touring art, and historical exhibits. Presentations of current and early history through a variety of mediums with input from old and new citizens are envisioned, making this facility a vibrant gathering place to share stories that celebrate our diversity and our connections shaped by the powerful landscape we live in.
An important part of our community function is to provide information to the people of Fernie as well as to visitors from around the world. In our current temporary location we respond to over 200 requests for archival information and see over 9,000 visitors annually. Fernie’s new Museum & Information Centre will be an important welcoming place for visitors to learn what Fernie and its businesses have to offer for recreation,entertainment, shopping, accommodation and services. Visitors can also learn about the generations of people who shaped the character of the town - how their common experience related to coal mining, logging and landscape created a solid community, whose hardships and achievements continue to impact Fernie today.
The first floor will house a core exhibit on Fernie's early history, as well as changing exhibits on various themes, and the Fernie Visitor Information Centre . The second floor will be a gallery/exhibit space suitable for local and touring art and historical exhibits. The basement will be used for collection and preservation of artifacts and archives.
The Fernie and District Historical Society is pragmatic about the scope of the project, having created achievable phases, and refinishing rather than replacing to keep costs as low as possible. At this point, the board has completed the strategic planning process, branding , and has developed a new website, enhancing the visibility of the Fernie Museum and the project that lays before us, and our membership drive is going extremely well. Community involvement begins this May with a survey, available online and at various locations in town. The code review analysis is completed, and upgrades are necessary to achieve fire/safety and handicap access code requirements to create a safe work environment and public space for staff/volunteers, citizens/ visitors where we can deliver programs, services, and exhibits.
Many local professionals have already donated their valuable time and expertise to the project. We'd like to thank Nick Vale, Arthur Sombrowski, Andrew Buchan, Sylvia Ayers, Marko Maryniak, Angela Morgan, Patti Emmerson, and Randal Macnair. The help of these generous and resourceful individuals is much appreciated.
We are in the grant writing process right now.One of these is a provincial grant for matching funds, where we can leverage our existing building fund. The Society is currently looking for partners for funding at the local level, including government, business, and citizens. We are a non profit organization with charitable status and can issue tax deductible receipts.
Fernie’s incredible community spirit and determination has worked its magic on other projects like the Arts Station and our Heritage Library. We invite and encourage input from citizens for this project. Together, we can create a living history, and in doing so, we can ensure that Fernie’s heritage and distinct character figure prominently in the vision for Fernie’s Future.
To make a tax deductible contribution, volunteer time or services, or to become a member, please contact us at the present Museum location or:
By Phone - (250) 423-7016
By Email - history@ferniemuseum.com
Our Website – www.ferniemuseum.com ( online donations and memberships available)
