Brad Parsell resigns from Fernie Chamber of Commerce

The face of the Fernie Chamber of Commerce for the last three and a half years, Brad Parsell, has resigned.

Parsell, who began as executive director of the chamber in early 2019, will be moving to Tofino where he has taken on a new role as executive director of Tourism Tofino.

“Fernie has been my home for almost a decade, and this job with the Chamber has been one of the most rewarding and challenging roles I have had in my career to date,” said Parsell.

“There are so many amazing people in Fernie that I got to work alongside of, but especially our incredible staff at the Fernie Chamber who I will miss dearly.”

Parsell was thrust into an unusually public spotlight as executive director of the chamber during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been front and centre for the business community for well over two years.

He was part of business outreach and lobbying, and played a role in supporting businesses through creative new endeavors amid difficult pandemic restrictions that saw many businesses around the province fold under financial pressure, and lack of business.

Membership of the Fernie Chamber of Commerce remained stable throughout the pandemic under Parsell’s leadership, and it even opened a new business of its own amid a handful of new ventures and key projects.

“I am proud of everything we have achieved during my tenure, and I wish the Fernie Chamber every success in its future endeavours,” said Parsell.

He will be vacating his role at the chamber from mid-November, making the October 15 election, and the 2022 Business Excellence Awards the last major events during his tenure.

The Fernie Chamber of Commerce has begun its search for a replacement.

READ MORE: New Chamber boss shares vision for Fernie (from 2019)