Big turnout for Fernie Tourism social event

More than 70 people came to the Bridge Bistro in Fernie on June 1 for a meet and mingle tourism event. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)More than 70 people came to the Bridge Bistro in Fernie on June 1 for a meet and mingle tourism event. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Brad Parsell (Fernie Chamber of Commerce), Cindy Sleeman (Mystic Mountain Adventures) and Andy Wilhelm (Lizard Creek Lodge) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)Brad Parsell (Fernie Chamber of Commerce), Cindy Sleeman (Mystic Mountain Adventures) and Andy Wilhelm (Lizard Creek Lodge) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Stephan Roy (Elk Valley Adventure and Dirt Riders Society) and Jeremiah Pauw (Fernie Fox Hotel) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)Stephan Roy (Elk Valley Adventure and Dirt Riders Society) and Jeremiah Pauw (Fernie Fox Hotel) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Mark Hatch (Mountain High Adventures), Kat Robinson (Mystic Mountain Adventures) and Andrew Hayden (Fernie Distillers) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)Mark Hatch (Mountain High Adventures), Kat Robinson (Mystic Mountain Adventures) and Andrew Hayden (Fernie Distillers) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Simon LaFrançois (Fernie Alpine Springs) and James Woodall (Bramasole) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)Simon LaFrançois (Fernie Alpine Springs) and James Woodall (Bramasole) at the June 1 2022 tourism social in Fernie. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Industry events have returned to Fernie, with local tourism operators and adjacent organizations coming together for a tourism social on June 1 in recognition of ‘Tourism Week’.

More than 70 people came to the Bridge Bistro in Fernie to mingle and talk about what they’re up to, in one of the first informal gatherings in a while for a sector that has been through a turbulent few years.

In brief remarks, Tourism Fernie chair, Andrew Hayden said that collaboration was key for the sector to be able to make up lost ground.

“It’s great to be able to come together like this again,” he said, stressing that working together and supporting each other was the way to go.

“We’re all looking forward to recovering and recouping losses from the last few years over the next season.”

Executive director of Tourism Fernie Jikke Gyorki said that the turnout was a good sign for collaboration in the local sector.

“There’s a lot of diversity in this room. Accommodators, non-accommodators, not-for-profit, government – everybody’s here.”

READ MORE: ‘We’re still standing’: Business, Banter and Beer events return to Fernie



scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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