The Fernie Outdoor Rink is back to life, and if you’ve been waiting for that unmistakable sound of skates on fresh ice, this is one of those quietly big moments for our town.

With colder temperatures, volunteers from the Fernie Outdoor Rinks Society are once again flooding the rink, joined by support from Fernie Fire and Emergency Services. What’s happening right now didn’t just come together overnight—it’s the result of persistence, cooperation, and a whole lot of unpaid hours from people who simply want to see the outdoor skating rink remain part of winter in Fernie.

A key piece of that puzzle this year is a newly signed sub-lease agreement with the Elk Valley Field House Society. Credit is also due to Mayor Milligan and the team at City of Fernie, who stayed committed to helping the Outdoor Rinks Society navigate a few bumps along the way. Not every step was smooth, but what matters is that everyone stayed focused on the bigger picture: keeping a public outdoor rink alive for the community.

And then there are the doers. The kind of people who answer the phone and show up. Mitchell’s Excavating generously donated both time and equipment to clear snow and prep the surface for ice building. One call to Rick and Jeri Mitchell and—boom—a crew and machinery were on site. That’s Fernie in a nutshell.

The Outdoor Rinks Society opened the rink today and plans to operate it—weather permitting—through the end of February. Extra hands are always welcome to help keep the ice safe and skateable.

For updates on volunteering, ice-making progress and open timelines, keep an eye on the Fernie Outdoor Rinks Society’s Facebook group. When it’s time to help, lace up, you’ll hear about it there first.

Source: FORS