Saturday March 7th was the culmination of many years of planning and work for the Fernie Nordic Society. President Megan Lohmann hosted the grand opening of the Elk Valley Nordic Center with guests Mike Sosnowski, Nic Milligan, Martin Vale, Mary Giuliano, and guest of honor Olympiad Beckie Scott. With a membership of 600, many parents and children came out to enjoy the opening event and participate in ski lessons.

Megan Lohmann, Nic Milligan, Mayor Giuliano and Becky Scott

Years ago when Councillor Patrick Burke initiated the idea of a Nordic Centre to council he was turned down time and again. Patrick persisted, council agreed and with support from friends including Doug Wermer and Cheryl Stomps, they enlisted Olympiad Beckie Scott to sit on the Nordic Society Advisory committee. “Miss Scott was a great help towards getting the Nordic Society up and running”, says Patrick. That was in 2006, a snowmobile and groomer was purchased in December of that year with the $33,000 they raised from corporations, small businesses, individual sponsors, City of Fernie and in kind donations.

It hasn’t been an easy journey Patrick says however right at the start interest was high. “When we started, we did not know the word failure. We collected memberships before we even had money to buy the equipment for grooming and I remember the Lottery Corporation came through with a large grant that provided us the funds to get the snowmobile and groomer in early December 2006. Doug Wermer and Cheryl Stomps and other original board members worked tirelessly to make it a success. Doug and Cheryl worked with Beckie Scott who was on the Fernie Nordic Society advisory committee and I am sure worked many of the kinks in getting a successful Nordic Society up and running. It was not an easy task and many did not believe it was possible. But we were all on a mission back then and if we got money for the sled and grooming equipment we were determined to have a Nordic Society and groomed trails for the people and families and visitors of Fernie. We had a small membership fee, but if you couldn’t afford it, we would waive the fee so you could enjoy the winter with others. We set up ski swaps where people could afford the cross country ski equipment and local merchants donated funds and specially brought in equipment for people to rent at a low cost. One story was when Big Blue was stolen. I remember the RCMP on foot and Doug Wermer on cross country skis chasing the snow mobile thieves up Coal Creek and Doug finally finding it in the big red barn. That was a day of high adventure for all and Doug was the hero of the day. Because of the damages we actually stopped grooming on the lower valley trails but cross country skiing continued on Island Lake trails and the ski hill”.

Below is an excerpt from a news story provided by Patrick:

May 12, 2007 Beckie Scott at Fernie Blackstone

Olympic skier Beckie Scott visits Fernie’s XC Ski Trails Beckie Scott, the most decorated cross-country skier North America has ever produced visited Fernie last week to continue her role as Advisor to the Fernie Nordic Society. Beckie retired from active competition last year following a career which featured Olympic gold and silver medals and 17 World Cup medals. She has been an advisor to the Fernie Nordic Society since the club started last fall and has been very helpful to the fledgling organization in raising money, and providing advice on trail layout and ski education programs.

Accompanying Beckie were City Councilor Patrick Burke and two of the directors of the Fernie Nordic Society, as well as Beckie’s husband, three time US team Olympic skier, Justin Wadsworth. The group looked at potential trails in the Coal Creek area as well as in Mt. Fernie Provincial Park, the Cedars development and Island Lake Lodge land. Beckie, who was instrumental in laying out the trails of the Beckie Scott Touring Center on the Greywolf Golf Course at Panorama Resort felt Fernie has an excellent future for cross-country skiing. “The club has accomplished a tremendous amount in their first year and with continued support they should be able to expand their program and connect areas throughout the Elk Valley.” The Fernie Nordic Society has grown to 223 members in less than a year.

From that initial dream and opportune beginning there has been an incredible collaboration between the non-profit, volunteer run organization that is the Fernie Nordic Society, the private landowners, funders and sponsors.

The City of Fernie reviewed and allocated $100,000 of the Resort Municipality Initiative funding towards the development of the centre that is now in Phase 2.

A third phase of development and trail refinement happens this summer and will result in a trail system that connects to Fernie Alpine Resort and trails that offer recreational opportunities for residents, visitors,and a venue for the growing Fernie Nordic Society to host their successful kids program and developing race team.
Thanks to Beckie Scott, the original members and present members of the Society, the landowners (Cedars and Galloway Lumber) and to the Province. CBT, Teck, RDEK and Mike Sosnowski, City of Fernie and BC Parks.
Acknowledgement and Congratulations have to be directed to all the volunteers who have worked so hard to make this project a reality.

Becky Scott with the champs!

They raised nearly $400,000 and also contributed a most substantial amount of in-kind aid.
Congratulations also to the youngsters that won the Kootenay championship and received their trophy from Beckie Scott.