By Nic Milligan, Fernie Mayor

A project like a firehall for a small city like ours is bound to create a lot of conversation, debate, and both opposition and support. I would like to thank everyone who has reached out to me personally to ask their great questions. As well, I would like to provide some perspective to the ongoing discussion and, in doing so, hopefully address some misconceptions that keep cropping up in conversation.

First, only one baseball diamond at Prentice Park is affected by the potential hall. We immediately reached out to the people who use the diamonds after the decision. We are committed to working collaboratively to create a solution that works for everyone and to ensure that no sports are impacted, and that not one baseball game is dropped from the schedule because of this project.

Second, 1.5 acres is what a firehall requires in a town of our size. Fernie, a desirable place to live, is currently the second fastest growing community in British Columbia and we want this hall to be a serviceable asset for 50-plus years. We do not want to pursue half-measures. We want Fernie Fire & Emergency Services to smoothly, safely, and efficiently answer any of the range of calls they receive now and into the future. This includes all-calls that draw on every available full-time and auxiliary firefighter. During their response we don’t want them wasting time looking for parking in residential neighborhoods. And we want them to train at their station, from where they will be dispatched, with their equipment, and their team.

Third, the site on the highway was suggested by the owner through the Expression of Interest process and was eliminated for size and a number of construction constraints, including the complete unknown as to whether it would be granted access to the highway by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. As well, this site, with all its limiting factors, would have to be purchased from the owner which adds a considerable up-front cost. Due to the level of interest by the community—how often it has been brought up as a why not—this site was looked at more than once but never rose to meet our community need.

Finally, another option was, of course, 902 2nd Avenue. This does not offer the same location advantage, nor the flexibility of the 5th Avenue site. Importantly, however, 902 2nd offers commercial and residential opportunities that would extend our downtown and generate property taxes to support local services that a firehall won’t. To that end, a mixed commercial and residential development downtown pays into our future in a way that a municipal building does not. The firehall generates value per acre in community safety and response, 902 2nd could generate value per acre in much needed commercial and residential space and in tax revenue to support growth.

Part of my future vision includes a hard look at our former landfill on Coal Creek Road as a site for redevelopment into sports fields. We cannot build habitable structures there but imagine a Coal Creek Sports Centre with full size fields including soccer/rugby pitches, baseball diamonds, and pickleball courts that is already serviced by a bike trail.

People want Mayor and Council to have a vision. That vision is partially detailed in our newly adopted strategic plan available on the City of Fernie website (https://www.fernie.ca/…/mayo…/vision-mission-values.html). A vision needs to be forward looking while honouring the community we are and where we have come from. If we choose to fight changes that safeguard our future, we will be doing a disservice to our children and to ourselves.

It’s a long game and it requires trust that the decisions being made are truly made in the best interest of the community and with an eye to our inevitable future. Together we need to keep our focus on the long-term goal of community authenticity, economic security, and our resilient social fabric. A once-in-a-generation firehall on the right location positions Fernie well for whatever is next on the horizon.

As always, please feel free to contact me directly at nic.milligan@fernie.ca