The City of Fernie announced today that the Fernie Community Centre is closed as of June 12, 2024, for public safety.

The difficult decision to close the facility was made following a review of recently completed indoor air quality and building condition assessments.

The immediate work required to make the facility safe for continued public use is extensive and cost prohibitive.

The City acknowledges that this closure will cause significant disruption for facility users and event hosts who rely on this facility. They are dedicating resources to work with users to determine alternate arrangements at other facilities while exploring longer-term options.

The City emphasizes that public safety is the top concern and thanks the community for their understanding during the decommissioning of the Fernie Community Centre.

Fernie Community Centre Background:
Staff have noted significant deterioration of the Community Centre facility over the last ten years, prompting further investigation by Health and Safety and the Parks, Facilities, and Recreation department earlier this year to assess the state of the facility in more detail.

Following an initial site visit for air quality and indoor mold testing, the City received laboratory results indicating the presence of mold and mold spores in the facility.

Subsequently, a more comprehensive facility assessment was conducted, which identified several additional concerns regarding the structure and building envelope. This necessitated the difficult decision to close the facility and focus on relocating bookings and user groups wherever possible.

Source: CoF
Photo: Fernie Mountain Film Fest