Mary Giuliano arrived in Fernie in May 1953 and has lived here ever since, by choice, because she loves the Elk Valley and everything it stands for: good water, clean air, amazing mountains, wonderful vegetation, and a great quality of life. “On a clear sunny day, Fernie is as close as one can get to being in heaven,” says Mary.
Mary is married to Nick, and they have four grown children and two grandchildren who are very close to her heart. She is fortunate enough to have family and friends who still call Fernie home.
Mary’s love for Fernie inspired her to become actively involved in the community. She has participated in and organized numerous groups and special events. She served on the Fernie Library Board for 9 years, was a member of the Kinettes/Kinsmen Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Legion, PAC, Fernie Kids Club, and the Fernie Derrick Society. She is still a member of the CWL and Fernie Heritage Trust Society.
Mary joined the Elk Valley Coalition and helped organize several demonstrations to maintain health care services in the local hospital. She also organized a highway traffic stop to bring national media attention to keeping the hospital’s operating room open and advocated for changes to home support services. She was instrumental in successfully acquiring a dialysis unit at the Sparwood Health Center, ensuring that Elk Valley clients no longer had to travel to Fort Macleod or Trail for treatment several times a week.
Mary coordinated several projects, including the yearlong Festa Italiana in 1998, fundraising and coordinating the rehabilitation of the oil derrick site by forming a non-profit society to save the derrick, with ongoing improvements.
For twelve years, she hosted and produced a volunteer television show on Monach and Shaw Cable and online. Her interest in writing led her to contribute to the Free Press newspaper for over 28 years, as well as to Fernie.com, e-know, and several other publications.
In 2010, Mary was involved in preventing a water bottling plant from hooking up directly to Fernie’s water source. This action served as the catalyst for her decision to run for City Council in 2011. She recently finished serving three terms as Councillor and two terms as Mayor of the City of Fernie.
While in office, Mary introduced several programs, including the Junior Achievement Award, the addition of benches at the cemetery and at several bus stops around town, and an increase in preferred parking spots on Main Street. She initiated the renovation of the dilapidated Legion Cemetery entrance with a new gate and landscaping, initiated the beautification flower program, the windrow clearing program for seniors and those with disabilities, the Dumpster painting program, and coordinated the commemorative Fernie stamp and celebration in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 1908 Fernie fire.
She also facilitated the replacement of the Lizard Creek Bridge, to be completed by 2020, and successfully advocated for a wildlife corridor for the safety of animals in that area. Additionally, she fundraised and coordinated the Miners Walk Exhibit in front of City Hall.
Mary advanced the annual grant funding for the Seniors Center, allowing a part-time administrator to be hired, initiated the campaign against poor highway maintenance, and accepted the challenge from Mayor Nenshi of Calgary to introduce poetry readings in council, bringing it forward successfully.
Once on Council, Mary served on the boards of the Fernie and District Arts Council, Fernie Family Housing, the Historical Society, and the Heritage Library, not only as a liaison but also as an active volunteer.
