Janurary 2010 saw Fernie and District Historical Society formally open the doors to the new museum venue on Second Avenue with a fundraiser Robbie Burns Celebration.  The function proved a great success so this year the board determined to do the same.  This past January 22 they joined forces with the Fernie Writer’s Conference to present “A Traditional Burns Night 2011”.

Laura Nelson chair of the board was the main organizer with help from Randal Macnair, board members and volunteers.  The main floor was transformed into a party room with lights and greenery and tartan accents everywhere and a large oval photo of Burns hanging on a wall.

Before many guests had arrived the door to the Museum suddenly flew open and Laura said “It must be Robbie Burns”.  That lovely thought carried the evening as Celtic tunes played by local violinist Kerri Holmes wafted over the room while attendees enjoyed a table laden with savory and sweet treats donated by several businesses around town.

Master of Ceremonies Laura Nelson recited poetry from an original Burns book owned by Matt Brazeau passed down in his family for generations,  then gave a brief history and read a joke to the delight of the crowd. She introduced Society board members and thanked everyone for coming and all the volunteers that made the evening happen.


The traditional haggis was piped in by Mike Scott, Haggis Bearer was Pierre Dupont and Paying the Piper was Dr. Rod Geddes.  Helen Milligan performed the “Tae a Haggis”, address and then very aptly stabbed the haggis.  The Selkirk Grace by Burns was given by Krista Turcasso. 

Nic Milligan’s toast to the lassies brought a lot of laughter from the crowd as did the response to the toast given by Angie Abdou, the program ended with the Immortal Memory to Burns by Randal Macnair.

It was a grand evening with music by Jan and Terry Marshall aka Picked Thistle of Rossland singing charming Scottish tunes, amazing traditional highland dance by Donna Cameron accompanied by Mike Scott on bagpipes, a wonderful sing along led by Pickled Thistle and a most beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne by Sonia Roy that had everyone holding hands and swinging to and fro in unison to the nostalgic music.

The evening wouldn’t have been a success without the help of so many people who donated food, door prizes, flowers and who gave of their time not only for this evening but for all the days it took to make the new museum a reality.  Laura thanked everyone especially all the donors of time, materials, labour and money, too many to list here but on this evening Nic Milligan of Tech presented a large cheque for $100,000 to the museum that made the crowd gasp in surprise. The board had been aware that this large gift was being donated so special thanks to Tech for this huge support.

Laura said some of the major sponsors for this project have been the City of Fernie, Columbia Basin Trust, Fernie Alpine Resort Summit Fund, Island Lake Resort Group, Sombrowski Family and Fernie Rotary Club.  

This year Burns’ Night sponsors were Corner Pocket, Old Elevator Restaurant, Oolichan Books, Picnic Restaurant and Social, Sinful Sweetness, door prizes thanks to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Bunches, Le Grand Fromage, Yamagoya Restaurant, Livery Home, Oolichan Books, Fernie and district Historical Society.  Sound Equipment – the Brickhouse and flower arrangements by Greenpetal floral designs.

Sitting on the Historical Society board as City Liaison is a privilege I have enjoyed for some time, it’s also opportunity to notice how much work has been done by the entire Nelson Family and by its curator Mike Pennock, as well as board members Julie Langille, Terri Robbins, Dave O’Hare, Barry Dootoff, Krista Turcasso, Steve Kjyte and Rod Geddes and the many supporters of this project.
 
It’s also shown me what a continuously caring community Fernie is, when there is work to be done and funding needed to make a project a success everyone pulls together despite economic downturns and makes it happen.  This is also true for helping individuals in need who for one reason or another are experiencing difficult times.  It’s the people who call Fernie home that make it the great little town that it is, second to none, a place I will always be proud to call my home.