So you think you're a local.....eh?

A person whose permanent residence is Fernie.

someone who lives, works and plays in Fernie , its really a simple definition... or like mtnrat said, someone whose permanent residence is here in Fernie.

I'd go along with the view that it's someone whose permanent residence is Fernie - they make a home here and live here year-round, irrespective of whether they buzz chainsaws, ski, were born here or own their own home here.

It'd be cool to think that locals would contribute to the community but I'm sure there are some people who were born here, lived here for decades but who don't really 'contribute' in any way other than living here and working in the local area.

So, yeah, live here the vast majority of the year for sure.

If we're going to put timescales on living here, I'd say maybe 2-3 years. I don't think you need Fernie birthright to be considered a local.

no doubt aboout it, FSS grad bomber jacket in the closet.

I feel local. I live local, I work local, I shop local (don't have a car, so I shop really local) volunteer local, play local.

There's different grades of local. I'm new local, there's a lot of us around. There's also a lot of old locals who were born here. We all have lots to give the community. As far as rights go (in terms of who gets first call on affordable housing, who decides Fernie's future, etc) I'd have to say the old locals should have first rights. If you were born here it should be easiest for you (of anyone) to get to stay here.

I grew up in a small community though, so I do have a good idea what works and what doesn't. Us new locals are sometimes more passionate about preserving whats here, and sometimes notice the value a little easier, cos we've seen the flipside and where it can go if it's not preserved (I said SOMETIMES, before you all jump down my throat). It's really great when that gets recognized, and it's great when we can all work together. I want a house too, so I can stay here and be a local yokel.

unless your great grandpa was beat up by/or beat up a hutchinson, you are not a local...

if you have no idea who the hutchinsons are you are definately not a local...

no disrespect to the hutchinson family, i just know that they have been here for almost as long as the mountains...

(posted in jest and in fun)

Yep, you can just substitute Joinson or Letcher in there as well and you are talkin.

They say home is where the heart is...
I didn't choose where I was born, I didn't choose where I grew up. The place I grew up has changed so much, I don't even recognise it any more. I chose Fernie. When people ask where I'm from, I say here. With a qualifier on where I grew up. So I guess I'm a new local. How long do you have to be here to not add a qualifier? I don't know.

snowy, you would be a local to me. I actually have a lot of trouble with those who put timelines on what is or what is not local. If you live here, pay taxes here, list Fernie as your residence on your tax return, you are local to me.
I have been here close to 20 years, and there are those that will argue I am not local. I have friends who have kids that were born here, and those kids are not considered local, because there parents are not in mining or logging.
It also amazes me that whenever there is a public open house, somebody always opens their opinion with "I was born here, as were my parents and grandparents". This opening salvo is intended to tell the audience that because they have X number of generations in "The Valley", their opinion holds more weight than others.
If you live here full time, you are local.

Thanks mtnrat!