Fernie Chamber of Commerce elected new board members and announced plans to develop more local housing at its annual general meeting on April 26.
The AGM was hosted at Bayleaf Restaurant at the Fernie Golf Course and drew a sizeable crowd of 90 people. Guest speakers included Mayor Nic Milligan, MP Rob Morrison, Chamber president Antony McElwee, Chamber executive director Wendy McDougall and general manager of Teck Elkview Laura Gislason.
At the top of the chamber’s 2024 agenda, is building more affordable rental housing.
The chamber has received grant funding from the provincial government under the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program to support the development of a business plan to build workforce rental housing in Fernie. The plan will help guide the construction of rental housing for people in tourism, hospitality and service-oriented sectors. It will target people earning less than local living wage, which was classified as $23.58 per hour in 2022.
Three new people were elected to the 12 person board, including Teck manager of sustainable development planning Carter Clarkson, Western Financial Group account executive Penelope Simpson and Re/Max Elk Valley realtor Ryan Frazer.
Members re-elected to the board for another two year term, include general manager of Parastone Developments Simon Howse, owner of Fernie Distillers Andrew Hayden, and vice president of Hays Recruiting and 2023 Chamber president Antony McElwee.
All six people were elected by acclamation.
They join a group of pre-existing board members that includes College of the Rockies campus manager Anita Palmer, principal consultant with Capasiti Consulting Inc. Steve Thomson, owner of Independent Grocer Eldho Thankachan, controller at Gear Hub Sports and chief financial officer at Tunnel49 Adventure Ashley Swansborough, Fernie Central Reservations finance and operations director Derick Berry, and owner of Creek Stone Fine Homes Scott Lawrie.
A few board members are leaving, including Teck senior lead of Indigenous and community affairs Norm Fraser, owner of Foresight Accounting Jaime Hansen and manager of Island Lake Lodge Kirsten Madsen.