Poll: Should the community show RCR more support?

I think what does Fernie more harm than good is not necessarily potential tourists reading the truth about Fernie and about RCR, but the attempts to hide it, sweep it under the carpet and to over-hype Fernie in a marketing bonanza that portrays it overseas as something it's absolutely not.

We've already seen this just now with a UK group 'gutted' at the decision to remove man-made jumps from the Terrain Park after they elected for Fernie to be their destination.

Perhaps if they'd known some of the truth about Fernie beforehand, they wouldn't have bothered coming - for sure that might damage the community if the tourist dollars dry up, but what price the harm being done by the high expectations and false promises that never get delivered to the tourists. Think that makes them want to come back any more when they realise they've just been victims of marketing bullshit in Europe (and presumably elsewhere, but I only know the situation from a UK and Europe marketing perspective).

I think it's a bit too late to debate whether the community should or not support RCR...

A number of years ago the hill was sold to RCR, which in turn brought housing prices up. The cost of living here is much too high for what the community can afford to sustain. Employees who were at the hill were slowly "phased out" (to be politically correct) and replaced with a bunch of people whose job it was to "improve" the hill, manage the upgrades, and further develop the area - of course all these "new" positions paid something along the lines of the BARE MINIMUM. Setting an example would have been the right thing to do, but instead we were swarmed with a new marketing style that - don't get me wrong - has attracted more people and brought in more tourist dollars, but at what cost? Now salaries are still the same as what they were years ago, but the cost of living has increased tenfold...

Now that prices are at an all time high, and many locals have chosen to sell, we're left with a problem where it's impossible for someone who was born & raised here to buy a home in their own community... The least the company could do is to set an example or standard by paying half-decent wages - to start - to then hopefully drive the local economy to a point where it can be sustained.

Prices are up, skiing time is down... Pass prices are up, what you get for your money has again, gone down... I'm beginning to see a pattern here, and I believe the time has come for RCR to start listening to what people have to say instead of bluntly ignoring the criticism - constructive or not.

They had their chance, and over the years they've proven to us that the support that should have been given has been lost in the transition from ski-town to over-hyped let-down (on the marketing side of things).

I feel as though this community has seen it's fair share of false promises, and that no matter what is said about community support, it's their turn to fess-up & show some interest in what people have to say.

I'd much rather see some kind of Community Development Committee established (with RCR's direct involvement) around here to work WITH the evil villain instead of against it, but I seriously don't see that happening anytime soon.

In the meantime, this is one of the few outlets people have for their frustrations, seeing as though nobody at RCR gives a flying rat's ass, it would be seen as only natural that people speak out in some form or fashion.

If it were up to me, I'd just tell them to stop pissing in the wind, but I know that won't get us anywhere... We need to pool together to figure out a way to fix things before it all gets out of hand, or to the point where neither side is willing to work with one-another.

In your intro on the poll questionnaire, you ask if "negativity is hurting tourism"

To be fair, I'd say that to a certain extent it's REALISM that may affect tourism, not the negativity surrounding the current bashes we're reading about on ourfernie...

At the basis of the current problem, we're faced with an issue of misrepresentation

RCR gets way more support buy this community than it deserves.
The future of this ski hill is take from the masses and cover their RCR asses.

Is Fernie what it was 20 years ago, I hope not! I could complain that the lift ticket in Zermatt has sky rocketed since the 12.00 per day I first paid; but we do need to be realistic. RCR or any other ski operator/developer is in business to make a profit and will only be able to continue operating if they are successful. Had RCR not stepped in the year they did it is quite possible that Fernie would not have opened that season or possibly seasons thereafter. I applaud RCR for their vision in a very difficult business.

Is RCR all it could be? No of course not but it will never achieve that position without our support. Support which includes lots of positive feedback, some constructive criticism and an abscence of negative attitudes and RCR bashing.

I understand that many of us might prefer the current expanded size of FAR along with a 15.00 lift ticket, night skiing, a gondola,a nice 4 bedroom in town for $150.000 and free beer. Unfortunately this is a dream and most of us recognize that change is inevitable. If you were still able to buy that $150,000.00 house in Fernie today, I assure you that would mean the mountain had long since ceased operating. We don't get to choose whether change is going to happen or not; only how we will react to it. And yes, change is often difficult. There are days I wish I could bring the unrealistic dreams and expectations of some into reality by complaining but since that will never happen lets buckle up, support RCR and make Fernie the best it can be. The choice is ours.

I came to Fernie for the powder and I stayed because of the people. Both are still great. Thanks RCR and Fernie.

Ron

The short answer to the question is no.

Even the supporters of RCR do so on the basis that they are business here to make money so they can't be expected to have too much concern for the community.

Fair enough but this cuts both ways. If RCR are just in it for their interests then it is only right that the community, customers, users ( you choose the term) should look after their own interests. Where the interests conflict then fight for your own point of view and let the other guy worry about his. Not my favoured approach but if that's the game they are playing then two can play it.

I pay, I ride. There's your support. Do I care whether its RCR or Intrawest? Not really. Are there things the owners could do to encourage my entusiastic support? Probably. Am I passionate about offering my enthusiastic support to a corporation? Haven't tried it. What would I get in return? Would we develop a meaningful relationship? Would it cost me more money?

I am not clear on why FAR owes any duty to the community of Fernie. Like all corporations, RCR is only legally beholden to shareholders, directors, and governing laws. But that doesn't mean that they cannot be influenced.

FAR is beholden to seasons pass holders (within the limit of their contract). These passes undoubtable represent a significant portion of FARs revenue. Lose these passholders, and the General Manager at FAR had better replace the revenue within the corporate fiscal year, or risk losing his/her job. If you want to have a meaningful discussion with RCR, collect your pass-holders together around one or two specific requirements (e.g. maintain lifts later into April).

FAR has no discerable housing strategy, but for Fernie's various lodging options, and the price of lodgings have outpaced the rate of pay. This puts some strain on the quantity and quality of FARs potential employment pool. As a reputation grows of outlandish rents or poor conditions, this problem gets worse. Accordingly, FAR is beholden to the landlords of Fernie, who house their workers, to keep accomodations suitable and rents low. Landlords could collect around one or two specific issues (e.g. hill/town transporation improvements.)

Fernie has territorial expansion plans, along with new competition from Island lake. Expansion would involve Provicial oversight and approvals, and it is one area where the community has some sway. Look at how many decades local opposition and heli-sking permits prevented development at Jumbo Glacier. Local land use groups could collect around one or two issues (e.g. trail building and access).

Any leaders out there know how to collect one of these or other key groups together around a common goal?

Like some others who've posted here, I have difficulty understanding why some people think that RCR owes them or the community anything. RCR is a business like any other and if you don't like their product then spend your money elsewhere. If you're unhappy with their new "menu" then ask for a refund. RCR is not a community service. It's not publicly funded organization. It's not an essential service. As far as I know it's a private company that doesn't report its financial results, so we have no way of knowing if they operate at a profit or a loss locally, despite what some people believe.

Should the community support RCR? That's an individual choice. If I like their product I'll buy it but that doesn't mean I have to go around telling everyone how great RCR is. Likewise, if I don't like their product or business practices them I'm free to not spend my money there. That doesn't mean that I should publicly protest against them. Hell, if I don't like a restaurant I just won't eat there. I'm not going to picket the joint just because they decided to stop serving french fries with my favorite burger. Some might argue that RCR is different because it has a local monopoly. But there are plenty of businesses in Fernie that essentially have local monopolies, and if you don't want to do business with them then you have to travel out of town to the competition.

If people truly want service aimed at the community, then the community should show support for competition.
In a capitalist society, it's only ever the currency that has influence.
Throw your collective weight behind any competition that may challenge their dollars. How can the community help Island lake?
What about the alternative hill that's been discussed?
Did anyone see how Silver mountain started? They sold lifetime memberships and put up only one chairlift.
They also limited the number of people allowed on the hill each day. First come first served.
Projects like this will be needed before the local hill realises where its bread is buttered.
You will soon see who really supports the local community.

The truth still remains though, that a small town like Fernie can't expect to enjoy investment in the ski hill and not see prices climb in the residential areas.
Even without the ski hill, prices would have risen astronomically anyway with the current real-estate bubbles.