2025 Year-end Wrap-up

December 29, 2025

Nic Milligan, Mayor, City of Fernie

As another year draws to a close, many of us will reflect on 2025 as a year marked by both challenge and momentum. As a community, Fernie continues to demonstrate its resilience by engaging deeply in important conversations, working together to improve our community, and contributing solutions that strengthen the long‑term wellbeing of our City.

This year also reminded us of the growing impacts of climate change, with intense weather events that placed significant strain on our systems. These conditions contributed to the recent operational pressures we experienced in our wastewater system, requiring rapid response and sustained effort from staff across multiple departments. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all staff who responded during these recent events and who worked tirelessly to keep our community safe.

Strengthening Fernie’s resilience remains a central priority. Projects such as the Mountview Dike and Coal Creek Bin Wall Rehabilitation advanced this year, reinforcing flood protection and enhancing our community’s ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The City also advanced key steps toward long‑term wastewater compliance. In late October, we submitted our application to the Province for continual discharge approval under the Municipal Wastewater Regulation. Working closely with Provincial regulators, significant work has been completed to develop a phased approach to bring our system into regulatory compliance, marking steady progress on one of our most important environmental responsibilities.

I will not spend a great deal of time revisiting the Fire Hall project, as I know residents are very well informed. I sincerely respect every citizen’s position on this issue. While there continues to be disagreement, I believe we can also agree that we are all, from our own perspectives, trying to do what is best for our community. I hope we can continue these conversations in a respectful manner, as I truly believe that is the only way forward. I ask you to trust that your voices continue to be heard, while also understanding that listening and hearing is not the same as agreeing. This remains a challenging conversation for all of us, and one that will undoubtedly continue into the coming year.

Housing and childcare continue to be top priorities. More than $20 million in public and non-profit investment is advancing a project that will deliver 27 housing units and 100 childcare spaces, with construction anticipated to begin in the spring. The ongoing work of the Housing Working Group continues to demonstrate enormous value. The ongoing work on the project at 692 3rd Avenue — which will deliver 44 rental units, with 30 percent affordable — stands as a direct result of that collaborative effort and the partnerships with Elk Valley Family Housing Society, BC Housing, BC Builds, and New Commons Development.

2025 saw another year of record volumes of development and building permit applications, reflecting both confidence in Fernie’s future and the complexity of planning for growth. In response, Council recently approved a new resourcing plan for the Planning Department to ensure staffing levels are aligned with demand and that the City can continue to provide timely, high-quality service to residents and development partners.

Modernization efforts also continued with Phase One of Cloudpermit, bringing building permits fully online. Phase Two, including development permits and hazard lands applications, will follow shortly and support further process efficiency. Council also adopted updated Subdivision and Development Servicing, Building, and Land Use Application bylaws to align with best practices, clarify expectations, and reduce procedural uncertainty.

Recreation and community infrastructure also saw meaningful progress. The City finalized a lease with the Elk Valley Fieldhouse Society, and I want to recognize the remarkable dedication of the volunteers behind this project. This is an important step toward delivering this much‑needed community facility.

Another important milestone this year was the adoption of the Elk Valley Accessibility Plan, reflecting our commitment to creating a more inclusive city for people of all ages and abilities. The City also launched the City Connect newsletter, improving how we communicate project updates, decisions, and opportunities for engagement.

As we look ahead, the City will also be beginning the next major phase of our Official Community Plan (OCP) renewal, an important opportunity for residents to help shape Fernie’s long‑term vision for growth, housing, transportation, recreation, and environmental stewardship. With Round 2 engagement beginning in 2026, I encourage everyone to participate. Your voices will be essential in ensuring the renewed OCP reflects the values, aspirations, and character of the community we all care so deeply about.

Finally, I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has joined us at Council Café events this year. Your insights, questions, and lived experience help shape the work Council does, and your contributions to these conversations continue to be invaluable.

Fernie residents will never agree on every issue, nor should we expect to, but I firmly believe every perspective is valid and worthy of consideration. I look forward to continuing these conversations in 2026 and beyond. Your care, passion, and commitment to this community are what make Fernie such a special place.

On behalf of Council, I wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, and Happy New Year.