April Mayor’s Update

By Mayor Mary Giuliano

Late night disturbances downtown are a problem for residents but bar owners are doing what they can to alleviate the situation and the city has implemented a nuisance bylaw, increased lighting, placed extra refuse containers and is working on a surveillance camera policy. Ideally this situation could improve with more of a police presence; however, conversations with the Police Chief and Superintendent last year confirmed that an increase in RCMP members isn’t feasible here.

I attended the Mayor’s Caucus hosted by Cranbrook/Kimberley and table discussions with mayors showed, regardless of size, communities face similar challenges. Topics included gas tax, ferry schedules, use of social media, healthcare, downloading onto municipalities and policing.

Canadian Pacific Railway director of Government Affairs Mike LoVecchio will be at council June 9 to present information regarding passing trains.

New banners have been produced for Main Street. Congratulations to those chosen and thanks to the artists that submitted their works.

This program depends on many volunteers and organizations to make it successful including the Arts Station and City of Fernie.

I want to mention Pat Gilmar of the Fernie Trails Alliance, who has been building and maintaining trails in and around Fernie for over 20 years. There are many members including Terry Nelson who are deeply involved. These trails are valuable to our community not just for the personal enjoyment of users but also for the economic benefit it brings. The Fernie Trails Alliance deserves a great deal of praise and thanks for the continuous work they do.

Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett and I were in attendance at the Rod and Gun Club Fundraiser and I must commend this group for the excellent work they do with adults and kids. This is the oldest club of this type in the province; it is vibrant with membership due to the dedication of its members towards the environment and all life that shares it.

Months of budget deliberations and the finalized plan was presented to the public a week ago. Thanks to City of Fernie Director of Finance Terry Holt for making the process relatively easy for council to study and discuss and achieve a balanced budget that didn’t require a huge tax increase.

City staff, employees and council observed the World Day of Mourning at the Workers Memorial in front of City Hall on April 28 with a short ceremony and a moment of silence. This is to commemorate workers hurt or deceased on the job.

Jodie Parker organized an Early Learning Fair at IDES consisting of many tables of information for parents regarding what services and programs are available for children and parents. I was impressed with the number of services offered in the Elk Valley.

This month residents of Parkland Terrace held a Community Clean-up. More than 40 people showed up to work despite the snowy weather. Clean up was also done by businesses fronting Manitou Road and students doing the annual Trash Bash. This is a fantastic thing to do and shows pride for where we live. Thank you everyone, you are a perfect example of the tremendous people that care so much for our town.

I attended the annual Canadian Cancer Society fashion show put on by the local chapter and Yvonne Molle of Odyssey. The models were local gals that looked absolutely beautiful showing off the latest styles.

For those who didn’t make the KAVU wing suit flyers demonstration organized by Lance Edwards you can view a video of it online. The flyers (pictured above) put on a remarkable display but the video shows the guys hanging outside of the helicopter and a view of Fernie that is spectacular.

A remark was made that my mayor’s updates make Fernie sound like Disneyland. I am amused and I assume the person making the statement believes I am wearing blinders or living in dreamland. In reality, I love Fernie and I do tend to see the best in it and the people who live here. When looking for the negative it can be found because nothing and no one is perfect. I happen to like highlighting the positive and in this town we are pretty darn close to living in a perfect place.

Of course I also understand that not everyone is pleased with council choices but for every decision made there will always be someone happy and another one frustrated and angry. But not one decision is made without a lot of debate and consideration of all points of view and sometimes the decision has to be made in mind with the good of the whole not only for the present but also for the future.

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