Fernie Fox Hotel donates $5K to Elk River Alliance

The Fernie Fox Hotel has donated $5,000 to the Elk River Alliance for their 2023 summer camp program for kids.

“This donation will fill a key role in ensuring we are able to continue to offer the Discovery Kids camps to youth from up and down the Elk Valley next summer,” said Elk River Alliance Executive Director, Chad Hughes.

“Teaching kids about water safety, and environmental stewardship are skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

The Elk River Discovery Camp is a week-long summer day camp in Fernie for youth aged 7-14 that focuses on developing outdoor skills, with an emphasis on environmental stewardship, learning about the natural environment, and water safety. In the last few years the camp has included a Ktunaxa perspectives component delivered by a Ktunaxa / Tobacco Plains knowledge holder.

Co-owners of the Fernie Fox, Jeremiah and Marina Pauw, have made a point of supporting local groups since the hotel went independent in 2020.

“Environmental stewardship is a key corporate value, as is supporting youth in their education and lifelong learning,” they said of the donation to the ERA. The hotel donated the funds under its ‘Community Appreciation Initiative’.

Other groups the hotel has donated to includes the Fernie Dog Park, the Elk Valley Hospital and more, while they also contribute significantly to the well-being of their own employees with scholarships for hotel employees and their families.

READ MORE: Fernie Fox Hotel donates $5,000 to seniors and community programs