Culturally, Fernie is an interesting community. The promise of outstanding recreational opportunities has led to the emergence of a somewhat Bohemian element in the population that often finds itself at odds with those who see Fernie as the epitome of all things blue-collar. Ski season brings a large transient population, including a disproportionately large Australian community, which adds a quasi-cosmopolitan feel to the workaday streets. The prospect of large-scale development has often polarized the community politically, with many residents fearing outside developers will destroy the community's character in their efforts to make it more tourist-friendly (in other words, more like Whistler).
