Though this discussion really has nothing to do with the original post, I will chip in with my 2-cents:
My family also moved to Fernie for a season as a trial period. We thought that the IDES school was excellent – very effective Principal and good teachers. Low-level drug use is prevelent in town, though I too didn’t witness much of the harder variety. We found it exceptionally easy to strike up friendships in this town – typically with the newer residents, but also with some of the old guard.
Two good and one troubling observation: there was a bit more tolerance of violence than I expected – this is a place where you really can find yourself in a bar fight for no good reason (just observations, never happened to me). I bet that some residents would take pride in this fact, which is the unsettling part. On the flip-side, the elementary school was distinctly bully-free. If you love the outdoors, you will find yourself surrounded by like-minded people.
Enjoy the move.
