All photos by Raven Eye Photography
It was a full house as the Fernie Skiing Heritage hosted their second induction into the Fernie Skiing Wall of Fame at the Corner Pocket Brasserie. The gala evening on March 29 honoured and recognized pioneers, builders and sport leaders who have contributed to Fernie’s rich skiing heritage and to Fernie’s mountain living culture.
In 2014, the following notable and worthy candidates were thanked, acknowledged and inducted:
Pioneer-Elk Valley Ski Touring Society-Ian Stokie, Pat Gilmar, Rick Schroeder, Blair Craig, Sean Staplin, Robin Siggers, Dr. Dave McBeath and Bob Morris accepted on behalf of the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club for building Fernie’s hut-to-hut system and many trails along the Lizard Range.
Builder-Randy Gliege of Summit Ski Lifts is a builder of ski lifts across the U.S.A. and Canada from a Fernie steel fabricating shop.
Builder-Dave Aikens is a snow safety expert and has been a builder of avalanche safety systems and protocols in the Southern Canadian Rockies Mountains for 35 years.
Sports-Dr. Geoff Seagram for his coaching which he began upon his retirement as a paediatric surgeon. Known for his mentorship, he was the chief of medical at the Calgary Olympics and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal.
Sports-Nancy-Jo O’Neill for her Fernie and provincial ski coaching, plus 25 years contributing to the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation and their curriculum development.
The evening was also a charitable fund raising evening benefitting snow sport organizations such as the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation and the Fernie Alpine Ski Team.
The Fernie Ski Wall of Fame was established in 2012 as a lasting record of the individuals and organizations, including the builders of ski operations and contributors to Canadian sports and athletes, whose passion and dedication have put Fernie prominently on the international ski map. The inaugural induction ceremony in March 2012 was part of Fernie Ski Heritage Week, a week-long series of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of lift-access skiing in Fernie.